by ECI Released : 2023-06-30
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the fifth and final installment in the Indiana Jones franchise that was first launched with the 1981 classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film fails to reach the heights of the franchise's best installments, namely Raiders and 1989’s Last Crusade. However, the film still does many things that make those superior installments fantastic.
There are multiple action scenes that are enjoyable, particularly in the opening scene in 1944 in Nazi Germany and a chase scene through New York at the beginning of the film. The film's third act will definitely divide fans of the franchise. I believe it was ambitious and worked well. But many fans may find it leaning towards the absurd in a way that made the fourth film, Crystal Skull, more lackluster with its introduction of aliens.
The film shined when it focused on Indy the man and less so on the action set pieces. Indiana Jones has been an adventurer and archaeologist for over 40 years. Seeing him reflect on his past mistakes and a fantastic performance by Harrison Ford make the film a must-watch for any franchise fan.
While the film may not reach the heights of the original trilogy, it is a vast improvement over the previous installment. Despite the clunkiness of the third act, I’d recommend the film to any fans of Harrison Ford, the Indiana Jones franchise, and action-adventure films.
