Dr. Henry Jones Jr. is back, in a race against Hitler, to retrieve yet another legendary artifact, before the Nazi’s change the course of history…
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76% Hot
Overview:
– AppFlicks JoulePepper Rating: 3.5/4 – Mostly Hot!
– Brief Summary: Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.”
Synopsis:
“In 1969, American archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones lives against the backdrop of the Space Race. Jones is uneasy over the fact that the U.S. government has recruited former Nazis to help beat the Soviet Union in the competition to make it to space. His goddaughter, Helena, accompanies him on his journey. Meanwhile, Jürgen Voller, a NASA member and ex-Nazi involved with the moon-landing program, wishes to make the world into a better place as he sees fit.”
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny is an upcoming American action-adventure film directed by James Mangold and written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Mangold. It stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas and Karen Allen. The film is set to be released on June 30, 2023.
Studio: Lucasfilm, Ltd. / The Walt Disney Studios
Streamer: Disney+ after theatrical run
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Format: Film
Genre: Live Action
Sub-Genre: Action, Adventure, Historical
Runtime: 2 hour, 22 minutes
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Simon Emanuel
Director: James Mangold
Writers: Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, James Mangold
Cast: Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Antonio Banderas as Renaldo, Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, Shaunette Renée Wilson as Agent Mason, Mads Mikkelsen as Jürgen Voller, Ethann Isidore as Teddy Kumarand and many more…
Characters By: George Lucas & Steven Spielberg
Music By: John Williams
Box Office Projection vs. Actual Box Office Results:
According to Comscore, “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” debuted atop the U.K. and Ireland box office with £7.1 million ($9 million), marking the fifth biggest opening weekend for a film in 2023 in the territory, including previews, with a market share of 43%. The film was projected to have an opening weekend box office of $80 million to $85 million through the Fourth of July holiday.
Critical Review Summary:
Critics have described “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” as mostly mixed with a 60% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised the film for its action sequences and Harrison Ford’s performance but criticized it for its plot and pacing.
– “The action sequences are thrilling and Harrison Ford is still great as Indiana Jones, but the plot is convoluted and the pacing is uneven.” ~Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
– “The movie is a mess, but it’s an entertaining mess.” ~Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
Audience Review Summary:
Audience reviews have been mostly positive with an 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes⁴. Fans have praised the film for its action sequences and Harrison Ford’s performance but criticized it for its plot and pacing.
– “It’s not perfect but it’s still a fun ride.” ~John Doe, IMDB
– “Harrison Ford is still amazing as Indiana Jones.” ~Jane Doe, Rotten Tomatoes
Trailer:
You can watch the trailer for “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” on YouTube here.
Full Trailer: https://youtu.be/ZfVYgWYaHmE
Big Game Trailer: https://youtu.be/TQpwONzpcy4
AppFlicks Exclusive Review:
Have you watched the trailers for Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023) or have you gone to see it in the theaters yet, like I did on opening weekend?
For a bit of context, I am an Indy Jones fan! I saw the first film in the series, Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981) in the theater, as a boy, along with the four subsequent films, throughout my life. Reviewing this film without rose colored glasses is a double edge sword. Here are my thoughts…
Harrison Ford as a naturally aged Indiana Jones is a terrific hero! The de-aged Indy Jones, in flashbacks, was also totally convincing and did not distract from the film in any way, whatsoever. Critics of this technology are whining about nothing, for the first time, there was not even a hint of “uncanny valley” in my opinion. I say, when it makes sense in storytelling, give us more!
Outside of the awesome Indy Attraction found in a couple of Disney Theme Parks, John Rhys-Davies return to the big screen, as Sallah, was both welcomed and something missing, from prior Indy sequels. Karen Allen’s surprise return and the use of her character, Marion Ravenwood, was brilliant and wrapped-up Indy’s story (for now) at the end of this film, perfectly.
I am undecided on how I feel about Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character, Helena Shaw, who is Dr. Jones’ semi-troublesome, Goddaughter. Waller-Bridge is the de-facto co-star of this film and while she did not take away from the movie or subvert the star, as many predicted, I would absolutely oppose her taking-up the mantle, in future Indiana Jones stories. Why? The character of Helena Shaw and Waller-Bridge’s portrayal of Shaw, if not counter-balanced by Ford’s Jones, would come-off flat and…annoying!
Speaking of annoying, young actor Ethann Isidore’s character, Teddy Kumar, is Dial of Destiny’s clone of Short Round, without the charm of actor Ke Huy Quan from 1984’s Temple of Doom. This review is neither here to knock the character, nor the actor, it’s just that the character of Teddy, is a knockoff, a gimmick that didn’t work as well, in Dial, as Short Round did, in Doom.
Screen time for guest star, Antonio Banderas, was too brief, making me wonder if his role as Renaldo, was reduced due to re-shoots or editing? Marvel’s Shaunette Renée Wilson as CIA Agent Mason was good and Mads Mikkelsen’s role as Nazi Scientist Jürgen Voller, further cements him, as a go-to, multi-dimensional villain, whenever a script calls for one.
The film, directed by James Mangold, was good overall, but not great. Surprising, given his screen credits. Why was this? In my opinion, it was because the action sequences were too frequent, too redundant and too long. As a fan, I found myself taken out of some of the sequences, mostly due to their length, similarity to one another and their back-to-back placement in the film.
Without changing a single story-beat, if 22 min were simply edited out of these chase scenes, the pacing of the film would have been accelerated, thus making, what should have been a high-adrenaline, adventure film – just that, a fast-paced action film that would have had you on the edge of your seat, not resting back, into it. Faster pacing and a stronger musical score, in my opinion, would have increased, overall audience enjoyment of the very same adventures that unfolded before our eyes.
Outside of this pacing issue and the need for John Williams score to be given a more prominent slot, at the front of the film’s sound mix, I liked this film. I just would have loved this film, if both of these changes had been made in post production.
I find it odd, that no one at Lucasfilm nor Disney, who viewed the film, did not feel that the story needed more forward momentum, an Indy-styled punch in the face or crack of the whip, if you will, that these simple changes would have made to improve the experience.
In my opinion, first Lucasfilm, Ltd. and now The Walt Disney Company, have sat on this once lucrative and beloved franchise, far too long and far too often. Think about it, Raiders (1981), Doom (1984), Crusade (1989), Skull (2008)…now Destiny (2023), what a waste! Imagine MGM (now Amazon), denying Ian Flemming’s James Bond fans of their favorite spy, the way we have been denied seeing one of our favorite George Lucas & Steven Spielberg characters, Indiana Jones, portrayed by THE Harrison Ford, in his prime? It’s almost criminal!
That said… now that Ford has announced his “retirement” from the character, I encourage Disney / Lucasfilm, to unleash an all-new “Adventures of Indy Jones” film trilogy, starring Jurassic World / Marvel’s Guardian of the Galaxy star, Chris Pratt. As a $DIS stockholder, it is a no brainer. This trilogy should be directed and written by the Russo Brothers (aka Anthony & Joe of Captain America / Avengers / Extraction fame) and green-lit by Disney CEO Bob Iger, yesterday. If they need help, I am happy to pen the script myself.
So, what are your thoughts? What did you think about this film, its direction, cast, the story, cinematography, John Williams score and overall themes? Are / were you as excited as I am for the return of Harrison Ford as Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones? Is there a future for this franchise?
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I look forward to your JoulePepper rating of Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (2023) and I would love to read your comments in the JouleView section, below. While I enjoyed the film and feel that it is a worthy entry in the Indy Jones franchise, based on the above, I give this film 3.5–4 JoulePeppers – it’s Mostly Hot!
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