It’s not perfect. It doesn’t reach the magic of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the heart of The Last Crusade, or even the dark charm of Temple of Doom. But Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny achieves something truly difficult: saying goodbye to one of the most iconic adventure characters in cinema with respect, emotion, and, above all, pure entertainment.
Harrison Ford, now in his 80s, still has strength, charisma, and that unique blend of clumsiness and brilliance that always defined Indy. You can tell he’s older, of course, but that also makes him feel more human. And it fits: this story isn’t just about magical gadgets and wild chases — at its core, it’s about time passing, loss, and learning to let go.
James Mangold keeps the film steady, with an energetic start and a pace that holds up for a good while. The action mostly works, though some scenes in the second half feel a bit off, weighed down by too much CGI. John Williams’ music is still a joy, even if the classic themes are used more sparingly this time.
What truly stands out is how the ending ties everything together. It’s not just a narrative conclusion — it’s a tribute to the character, to the journey, and to Ford himself. The final scenes are moving not because of what they show, but because of what they mean, especially to those who’ve grown up with the saga.
This may not be the ultimate Indiana Jones film, but it’s a worthy send-off. It doesn’t break new ground, and it doesn’t need to. It gives us exactly what we hoped for: classic-style adventure, heartfelt nods to the past, and a tired hero who still knows how to stand up and fight for what matters.
The beginning of this film was very engaging with entertaining action scenes that made the movie start off with a bang. I thought for the most part the de-ageing of Ford (that is only a feature for the first 15-20 minutes or so) looked good. There are small moments where it doesn't quite look right, but I don't have complaints about it. The main issue from the opening though was the silhouette-like distance shot of Indy running across the roof of the rain. They really needed to reanimate that before pressing the movie.
It petered out a little bit towards the end, (the kid flying the plane with no experience was fairly ridiculous as was the pilot sleeping through it), but despite knowing how these movies always end on a good note, it also went some places I didn't expect it to. It does annoy me how so many of these kinds of movies have to have an obnoxious character. Here it's Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena who I'm glad didn't have anymore screen time. A satisfying end to the pentalogy.
Comments