Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Digital this week from writer-director James Mangold, Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Studios comes the next adventure from the man we all know as INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY.

It is 1944 and Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and sidekick Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) are looking for the Lance of Longinus in the French Alps. Also looking for it is Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen) who tells his superiors the lance is fake. What he does find is a piece of Archimedes’ Dial which allows for time travel. As the Nazi’s try to stop him, Indy does things Indy’s way and escapes with Basil and the piece of the dial.

Years have passed and now Indy is retiring from Hunter College and Marion has left because Indy can not get over the death of their son in the war. Jumping back into his life is Shaw’s daughter and Indy’s god-daughter, Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and she is looking for the Dial as Indy tells her that although her father wanted it gone, he just put it away and didn’t tell anyone.

Once again, she isn’t the only person looking for the Dial, Voller is back and he has brought the CIA with him. Now posing as Dr. Schmidt to his who he really is, he tells Indy that Helena is responsible for putting antiquities on the black market. Leaving a trail of bodies, Indy is blamed for everything and friend Sallah (John Rhys-Davis) comes to the rescue.

Sallah tells Indy to head to Tangier where once again he must deal with Helena, Voller and meets the young Teddy (Ethann Isidore). When things turn chaotic, Indy and the gang make their way to Greece where Renaldo (Antonio Banderas) helps them dive to retrieve a tablet that could lead them to the Dial’s other half.

With Voller hot on their tale and another escape, Indy, Helena and Teddy look for Archimede’s tomb but something mysterious is amiss. Before they can figure out the mystery, Voller captures Indy and tells of his plan to time travel back to 1939 and why. What truly happens is more than Voller could have imagined and Indy makes the ultimate decision.

Ford as Indy is everything one would expect from our hero that has been in theatres since 1981. The brown fedora and leather jacket wearing, whip carrying, wise-cracking Indy doesn’t show signs that he has changed. Yes, he is older but still adventurous, curious and not about to let Voller be the next guy taking his finds. I enjoyed him as I always have as Indy, especially with the eels.

Waller-Bridge as Helena is not a character I enjoyed, to be honest. She is sneaky, and uses the good memories that Indy has of his god-daughter to get what she wants. Chasing down the Dial, Helena just puts the man she says she cares about in more and more mortal danger and, as an Indy fan, I didn’t appreciate. Helena does make changes in the end as all unruly characters in Indy’s life do.

Mikkelsen as Voller is a man who knows what he wants to do and he’s not about to let anyone get in his way. Fast with a pistol, he manages to show up like a ninja where ever Indy is. His desire to change history is calmly motivating and he never lets his emotions get in the way, well, except for one moment. Once again, I just find Mikkelsen awesome in this role but then again, I love pretty much everything he does.

Isidore as Teddy is the new Short-Round and just as smart. He works with Helena with his sticky fingers but also has the fascination with what Indy is trying to do. I enjoyed his performance and see how this young actor will go far.

Other cast include Shaunette Wilson as Mason, Thomas Kretschmann as Col. Weber, Boyd Holbrook as Klaber, Olivier Richters as Hauke, Martin McDougall as Durkin, Alaa Safi as Rahim, Chase Brown as Larry, Nasser Memarzia as Archimedes and Karen Allen as Marion.

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Bonus Features include The Making of INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY Chapter 1- Prologue – Harrison Ford Leaps back into action as Indiana Jones! Journey to 1944 as this featurette reveals the filmmakers, characters, stunts, locations, and incredible visual effects that make up the thrilling opening of Dial of Destiny. Chapter 2 – New York – Blast off to adventure as James Mangold showcases the re-creation of 1969 Manhattan for the Moon Parade chase. This featurette spotlights Helena as John Williams conducts his beautiful new theme for this compelling character.

Chapter 3 – Morocco – The man in the hat is back! Explore Morocco as this featurette breaks down the white-knuckle stunts of the medina tuk-tuk chase and hotel brawl. Meet Teddy, Indy’s precocious new ally in the hunt for the dial! Chapter 4 – Sicily – Meet Renaldo as he guides our heroes on a perilous underwater treasure hunt! Catch up with Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge on location in Sicily and explore the caverns, traps, and bugs surrounding Archimedes’ tomb!

Finally, Chapter 5 – Finale – This featurette breaks down the thrilling climax to the Indiana Jones series. Cast and filmmakers James Mangold, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Steven Spielberg, and Harrison Ford bid farewell to one of the greatest heroes of all time.

It is the end of the franchise (I hope because anyone replacing Indy just isn’t possible) and he goes out with some happiness in his life. The adventure is everything we have come to expect from Indiana Jones complete with chases, complex characters, mysteries to unravel and all done in the outfit that is all Indiana Jones.

It is time to say goodbye in style and add INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY to your home entertainment library. What an amazing way to revisit the adventure again and again!

In the end – history’s greatest hero returns!

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