As of this October, almost every Indiana Jones movie has joined Prime Video’s streaming catalog…except for Disney’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The latest entry in the franchise, starring Harrison Ford playing Henry Jones Jr. at the end of his legacy, Dial of Destiny is well worth a rewatch.
Unlike past Indiana Jones movies, 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny offers something much different from those earlier adventures, with a chance to examine the legendary archaeologist facing retirement and personal regrets, only to be given the chance for a new adventure. Directed by James Mangold, the titular Dial of Destiny is the Antikythera, an ancient device designed by Archimedes which can supposedly navigate fissures in time.
Joined by his goddaughter Helena Shaw as the duo faces former Nazi scientist Jürgen Voller, Dial of Destiny offers what feels like a fascinating conclusion to Ford’s time as Indy (though it’s by no means perfect). Keeping that in mind, here are the 10 biggest takeaways that stood out while rewatching Indiana Jones’ most recent, and likely final, cinematic adventure.
Dial of Destiny’s Opening Is Peak Indiana Jones Nostalgia
Without a doubt, the opening sequence is arguably the closest The Dial of Destiny gets to recreating the original trilogy’s magic. Set during the final days of World War II, Indy boards a Nazi plunder train carrying stolen artifacts in search of the Lance of Longinus, the spear that pierced Christ, only to find half of the Antikythera instead. Featuring plenty of action, stunts, and plenty of Nazis getting what they deserve, you can’t not love Dial of Destiny’s opening. It also does a solid job of establishing the history between Indy and Voller prior to their conflict years later in 1969.
De-Aged Harrison Ford Is One Of Disney’s Best CGI Feats
While Disney’s de-aging technology has produced mixed results project to project, Dial of Destiny provides a solidly convincing portrayal of a younger Indiana Jones during the opening sequence. Much like Grand Moff Tarkin’s appearance in Rogue One, the effect is quite impressive. The technology isn’t completely invisible by any means, though Harrison Ford’s performance underneath the CGI still shines through and makes it work pretty well.
Mads Mikkelsen Is A Perfect Indiana Jones Villain
Mads Mikkelsen’s Jürgen Voller is the perfect kind of villain you love to see in the Indiana Jones franchise. A former Nazi scientist who was recruited into the American space program, Voller’s cold determination to rewrite history the way he believes it always should have been written makes him the perfect rival for Indiana Jones, especially as two men who respectively feel as though they’ve been left behind by the worlds they once knew.
“She Doesn’t Want To Talk To Me”
One of the film’s most heartbreaking parts of Dial of Destiny is the reveal of Indy’s separation from Marion Ravenwood following the death of their son Mutt after enlisting in the Vietnam War. Likewise, an unmistakable parallel is formed when Sallah asks Indy if he’s talked to Marion after becoming a fugitive.
With Indy believing that Marion doesn’t want to talk to him, I always think about the similar sentiment shared by Ford’s Han Solo in The Force Awakens when he’s first asked about Leia. Having similarly separated after losing their son Ben Solo to the dark side, it’s remarkable that Lucasfilm found a way to make Ford’s two most famous characters even more similar than they already were.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena Shaw Is An Excellent New Partner
Helena Shaw is initially introduced in Dial of Destiny by following in Indy’s footsteps for all the wrong reasons. Seeking fortune and glory, Helena’s full evolution/redemption by the movie’s end is pretty satisfying as she spends more time with her godfather. Waller-Bridge brings plenty of charm and entertaining energy, creating a very fun contrast with Ford’s grumpier performance as “Old Man Indy”.
I also just love the fun connection for Star Wars fans with Waller-Bridge having previously played L3-37 in Solo: A Star Wars Story, sharing the screen with a younger version of Han Solo (played by Alden Ehrenreich).
My Favorite Scene Is With Indy’s Whip
One of the movie’s funniest moments in Dial of Destiny is when Indy cracks his faithful whip to ward off several thugs, only for multiple guns to be drawn on him. Of course, this is a perfect reversal of my favorite scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where a sick Harrison Ford famously improvised shooting a sword-wielding thug rather than engaging in an elaborate fight. It such a fun moment, relying on nostalgia in the best way possible.
“Things I Can’t Explain”
Indy’s conversation with Helena about his career and everything he’s experienced creates anther excelent Han Solo parallel I absolutely love. In Dial of Destiny, Jones reflects that “it’s not so much what you believe… it’s how hard you believe it.” The sentiment echoes Han Solo’s words to to Rey and Finn in The Force Awakens, having come to realize after all of his past experiences that the Force, the Jedi, and all the stories were all real. As such, it’s amazing to see how both Indy and Solo grew beyond their shared skepticism of the supernatural and unexplained.
Indiana Jones’ Time Travel Works For Me
Admittedly, Dial of Destiny’s use of time travel felt to many like a significant departure for the Indiana Jones franchise, with many feeling as though it was taking things too far. However, I feels as though I’m less bothered by it than most considering the Dial’s specific function. After all, it doesn’t offer widespread time travel like Voller believes. Instead, it’s revealed that the Antikythera was designed by Archimedes to identify a singular temporal fissure connected to the Siege of Syracuse in 214 BC. Sure, the audience is still being asked to embrace something extraordinary, but when hasn’t an Indiana Jones asked that of its audience, be it supernatural powers or even aliens. All things considered, I feel as though a mathematical device that opens a route to a specific historical moment doesn’t feel entirely out of place.
Dial of Destiny Needed More Marion Ravenwood
Marion Ravenwood’s brief appearance at the end of The Dial of Destiny provides the emotional resolution that Indy’s story desperately needed. After years of separation and grief, the two finally have an opportunity to reconnect. It’s a relatively small scene, but it reminds audiences that Indy’s legacy isn’t measured only by the artifacts he discovers or the enemies he defeats.
The film reportedly underwent significant story changes after Steven Spielberg departed as director and James Mangold took over, and Marion’s role was reduced along the way. Her eventual return is welcome, but the movie could have benefited from keeping her involved throughout the adventure.
Karen Allen has always brought out a warmer, more vulnerable side of Ford’s Indy. Giving Marion a larger role would have made the film’s exploration of grief and reconciliation even more powerful. Without that final moment, the ending would have felt considerably more hollow.
An Indiana Jones Past His Prime Was Always Going To Be A Hard Sell
The biggest challenge facing The Dial of Destiny was always going to be its portrayal of Indiana Jones as an aging man confronting the end of his legacy. Audiences understandably want to remember their childhood heroes at their most capable, not watching them struggle with loneliness, regret, and the physical limitations of old age.
Yet that’s exactly why I appreciate what Mangold accomplishes here. Much like Logan, his previous examination of an aging hero, The Dial of Destiny understands that a character’s final chapter doesn’t need to recreate the excitement of their prime, but can instead explore what made their life meaningful in the first place.
Indy makes mistakes, carries painful regrets, and sometimes seems unable to find his place in a changing world. But his final adventure ultimately argues that his story still matters, even when he can no longer outrun every danger or solve every problem. For a franchise built on the thrill of discovery, that’s a surprisingly fitting destination.
Ultimately, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny may not reach the heights of Raiders of the Lost Ark or The Last Crusade, it still offers a thoughtful, entertaining farewell to Harrison Ford’s legendary archaeologist.
- Release Date
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June 25, 2023
- Runtime
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155 minutes
