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The Indiana Jones series is now on its third ending.The Last Crusadewas meant to wrap up a trilogy in 1989, beforeCrystal Skullcame along and revived the hero for one more adventure in 2008. Met with a lukewarm reception by fans upon its release,Crystal Skullwas considered by many to be the worst film in the franchise… that is until the release of this year’sIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Billed as the “last hurrah” for Harrison Ford donning the hat and whip, the movie follows the archaeologist as he partners up with his thieving granddaughter (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) to retrieve an artifact that could change the course of history before the wrong people get their hands on it. It’s clear that this is meant to be a send-up to the glory of the originals, but it’s really just dreadfully dull.
After seeingDial of Destiny, maybe we were being too harsh onCrystal Skull. Let us explain why.
If you haven’t yet seenIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny(orCrystal Skull, for that matter), stop reading here because this article does contain spoilers.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull may not be that bad…
Perhaps the biggest issue withDial of Destinycompared to previous entries in theIndiana Jonesseries is its length. The movie is over two and a half hours long — more than 30 minutes longer thanCrystal Skull. And while long does not necessarily equate to bad, you may really feel the length of this film, as it feels like everyone involved was laboring through the motions of making it.
There’s no way around it — Harrison Ford is getting old. He can’t do a lot of the things he once did, so naturally, the action involving him isn’t going to be as exciting as it was 15 years ago, much less 42 years ago. However, whereasCrystal Skullembraced Ford getting older,Dial of Destinyis seemingly attempting to fight it.Crystal Skullgave the brunt of the weight of the action to other actors or stunt doubles, butDial of Destinyuses digital de-aging and easier choreography in an attempt to keep Ford in the action, and the result is frustratingly lifeless.
Also Read:Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review: Fun Enough, But the Series Finally Jumps the Shark
Even beyond the de-aging — which is mostly confined to the first sequence, a flashback to Indy’s younger years as an adventurer —Dial of Destinyhas numerous set pieces that are frustratingly dependent on CGI. The entire third act, in which Indy et al. travel back in time to witness a battle in the Siege of Syracuse, is a CGI monstrosity, abandoning the practical effects and stunts that made the franchise memorable in the first place.
Dial of Destinyis helmed by filmmaker James Mangold, who has made several acclaimed action movies — from the belovedX-MenspinoffLoganto the Western remake3:10 to Yuma. Thus, it is thoroughly surprising that the epic send-off to this character we all know and love doesn’t feel very epic. The final act at least makes an attempt, but other than that, we just get an action sequence on a train, one on horseback, a car chase, and a couple of scenes of Indy and co. raiding lost sites for treasure. It just feels like more of the same — and not in a good way.
When it comes to the whimsical, fantastical storyline of the series, there’s always been a required element of suspension of disbelief. Indiana Jones has always chased mysterious artifacts with some sort of supernatural power — or, in the case ofCrystal Skull, aliens. But the idea that, through mathematics, the characters are able to rip a hole in the space-time continuum is simply too far-fetched, even for the Indiana Jones series.
It would have helped if the movie were able to be tongue-in-cheek about the ridiculousness of the premise, but nearly everyone involved in the film seems to be approaching it with too straight of a face. Only Boyd Hollbrook gives a fittingly campy and over-the-top performance as one of the secondary antagonists.Indiana Joneswas never something that was meant to be taken entirely seriously. The series was created as a fun throwback to the adventure serials of the 1930s and ‘40s.
Another frustrating thing aboutIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyis that the villain feels so generic despite having an enormously talented actor in Mads Mikkelsen in the role. As the Nazi scientist who wants to find the artifact MacGuffin to restore the “glory” of the Third Reich, it’s clear that Mikkelsen’s performance was intended to be a “return to form” of sorts to the Nazi villains of the well-likedRaiders of the Lost ArkandLast Crusade. Cate Blanchett’s Soviet agent inCrystal Skullwas much more menacing, not to mention more entertaining.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a weak note to end the franchise on
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyis the worst film in the franchise — not because it is incompetent — but because it’s merely average. There’s not a whole lot of energy to be found in this final installment. No wit. No sense of adventure. At leastIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullwould have been a bonkers — if ridiculous way to end the series. This just feels like Indy is going out with a whimper.
Also Read:“This is the best Indiana Jones movie”: Ahead of Dial of Destiny Release, Harrison Ford Fans Brand $474M Movie Released Decades Ago the Best Film in the Franchise
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Sean Boelman
Managing Editor for Film and TV
Articles Published :441
Sean is the Managing Editor for Film and Television, working to determine editorial strategy for the critics team. He has been on the FandomWire team since 2022.In addition to writing reviews himself, Sean helps match writers on the FandomWire team with assignments that best fit their interests and expertise.
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Cate BlanchettHarrison FordIndiana JonesIndiana Jones and the Dial of DestinyIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal SkullJames MangoldMads MikkelsenPhoebe Waller-Bridge
