Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. For the fifth time… and the last?

It has been an incredible forty-two years since Professor Henry Jones Jr., better known as Indiana Jones, first hit American theaters. The stories about the “James Bond of archaeology” captured the hearts of millions of fans and undoubtedly inspired entire generations of today's archaeologists. Indy is a hero, an icon, and a survivor, just like the man who plays him, Harrison Ford (80).

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny came with high expectations. A large part of the audience still hadn't swallowed the bitter pill called Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and another potential disaster was already looming. Let's be honest, Harrison Ford is an old man. The fact that he is still filming at nearly 81 is nothing short of a miracle. But the charisma of this Chicago native knows no bounds, and the character of Indiana Jones (unlike Han Solo) is one of his favorites. If Harrison says there will be another Indy, there will be.

James Mangold (Walk The Line, 3:10 to Yuma, Logan) co-wrote and directed the film. He managed to preserve the atmosphere and storytelling style. The action scenes are on par with those from previous films; an observant viewer will easily spot how similar the choreography is. A departure from the familiar is Indy's life situation, which many of us probably didn't expect. And honestly, probably didn't want. A strange, heavy thread runs through the entire film, preventing the viewer from fully enjoying what should be a slightly absurd, yet always immensely entertaining and far-fetched ride for rare artifacts.

It is logical that a hero needs to evolve. It is understandable that we won't see some characters again because their actors have fallen out of favor in Hollywood. But growing older doesn't always have to mean flat resignation. While the paradoxically unpopular Kingdom of the Crystal Skull turned Indy into a grump just like his father (which was fun), in the Dial of Destiny, we see a man who has very little in common with Professor Jones anymore. He still dresses the same, he is still smart and resourceful. Unfortunately, the drive that drew audiences to screens is gone. And honestly, I don't think it's because of Ford's age.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny feels more like a cautious ride that only excels in memories of the good old days. But Indy was never just about the action; he was also about the unconventional archaeologist many of us admired. The final scene of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, where Mutt wants to put Indy's iconic hat on his head, felt like a message to fans that there is only one Indy. And there will never be another. No one can replace Harrison Ford. Not even Harrison Ford.

Ultimately, the fifth Indiana Jones film is a fairly entertaining but completely unnecessary endeavor that didn't provide any real closure for the audience (or for Indy). It is purely a popcorn ride. I don't think I'm the only one who expected to shed a tear at the announced truly final Indiana Jones and leave the cinema sad but satisfied. That didn't happen.

I am probably still waiting for my truly final Indiana Jones movie. How about you?

Did you know that…

• R2D2 and C3PO are in the Well of Souls? It's true! In the shot where Indy and Sallah are about to carry the Ark, you can find the two mechanical friends from Star Wars on a pillar to Indy's right
  
  

  
  

• The iconic marketplace scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indy shoots the dangerous swordsman, was improvised? Harrison Ford was fed up with running under the scorching sun that day. He simply wasn't in the mood for another fight
  
  

  
  

• Interestingly, in the original, Indy doesn't say a single word to the swordsman. However, in the Czech dubbing, he says: “Go to hell.” For some reason, this is one of the few cases where the dubbing is better than the original
• Sean Connery was only 12 years older than Harrison Ford? However, Steven Spielberg always saw Indy as the “James Bond of archaeology.” And who better to be Bond's father than Bond himself!
  
  

  
  

author Eva Lassler