A Sad Rewatch of “Indiana Jones and the Dial Of Destiny”

 by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

March 12, 2024

 

Okay, it was time. As a big Indiana Jones fan, I’ve avoided doing the rewatch of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny since I first saw it in theaters last year, and wrote my initial review.  

Why the delay? Hmm. Life and work certainly are busy. But there was something else lingering, perhaps holding me back.

 

As I mentioned in my initial review of Dial of Destiny, this Indy fan had real trepidations heading into the movie theater. Indeed, an angst stayed with me throughout the movie: What would they do to one of my all-time favorite characters in fiction?

 

As the movie ended, I felt relieved, and gave the film 3.5 to 4 stars out of a possible 5. I concluded that review writing: “Well, coming out of the theater, I was at 3.5 stars. But I know that when I re-watch Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny free from worry and angst, I’ll enjoy it more in various ways (such as catching and appreciating more of the humor). And yes, my opinion of the movie will improve – most likely, pushing it up to a solid 4 stars.”

 

Well, is that how it turned out upon this first re-watch? Alas, no. 

 

In fact, I liked the film less, and would now give it 3 stars out of 5. While it’s entertaining for many of the reasons that I mentioned in the first review, it actually falls far short of the previous four Indy movies.

 

Why? Director James Mangold, who also served as a co-writer with David Koepp, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth, didn’t really know how to tell an exciting, fun Indiana Jones adventure. He captured some of that in the film’s opening scenes taking place on a train in World War II, but that was that. The rest of the film is spent with the audience largely watching an Indiana Jones beaten down and largely beaten by life. Who the heck thought this was a good idea? Well, obviously, Mangold did.

 

In the end, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny went against who the Indiana Jones character is. (This is similar to what happened with Woody in Toy Story 4 – what the heck, Disney?) 

 

In Dial, it was largely about what Indy has lost. And he is worn out by it all, and this Indiana Jones, lacking in heart and optimism, kind of hangs around throughout the entire movie. The film’s time-travel ending was too over-the-top for some reviewers. For me, it wasn’t the time travel, it was what Indiana Jones did – or didn’t do – while traveling in time. 

 

There is a very brief final moment in the movie when Indy’s hand reaches out and grabs his iconic hat. Is this supposed to tell us that the old Indy is back? If so, by that time, it was too late – especially since this most certainly was Harrison Ford’s last ride as Indiana Jones.

 

Indeed, we all would have been better off left with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and its near-perfect ending with Indy and Marion getting married, and Indy confidently taking that hat and putting it on his head.

 

Check out…

 

“My Indy Adventure, Part IV: New Reviews of Raiders, Temple of Doom, Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” by Ray Keating

 

“Movie Review – My Indy Adventure, Part VI: Angst and Enjoyment  for ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’” by Ray Keating

 

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Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com; and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, the Alliance of Saint Michael novels, and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.

 

The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?

 

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