Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

  

      

      Inevitably a plot point involving time travel makes perfect sense for this new Indiana Jones adventure as it it seeks to recapture the thrills and excitement of the original franchise. While it certainly doesn't disappoint in the action sequences, it's joy for an audience comes from the nostalgic feeling we get when we hear the familiar theme music and crack of that weathered bullwhip.

      Harrison Ford returns once again as Indiana Jones and the CGI department works their magic to "de-age" Mr. Ford for the 25 minute prequel. The effect is almost flawless and the opening sequence is quite exciting (and in an odd way mirroring a similar scene in the new Mission Impossible film). For the rest of the film, Mr. Ford acts his age and still manages to succeed in the action scenes helped by a very capable Phoebe Waller-Bridge, playing his goddaughter.

      The plot involves the hunt for two pieces of a clock like apparatus created by Archimedes that can affect time. Mr. Ford's nemesis, a Nazi scientist trying to change history, is well played by Mads Mikkelsen. The film also co-stars Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Ethann Isidore and in cameos, John Rhys-Davies and Antonio Banderas.

      Director and cowriter James Mangold keeps the story and the action well paced, making great use of exotic locations and set pieces. There are even a few nods to the previous films in the franchise. As the fifth film in the series, it makes for a much better Indiana Jones sendoff than it's predecessor, "The Crystal Skull". And while the last third of the film could be considered "jumping the shark", it redeems itself with an excellent surprise ending.