Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (June 30th, 2023)

[Wor-Gar]

I don't care too much for the silly opening of Last Crusade (despite River's good mock).

I like the white tuxedo Indy opening up to the silly fight and escape in ToD. Also don't like the weird dance number that goes out onto some 3rd plane of existence in the dragon's mouth.

Crystal Skull's opening was so slow and plodding, I barely remember it aside from that ***** saying "Jonesy" constantly. The "fight" on the rocket car could have been great, but wasn't.

Raiders opening was perfection -- it was supposed to match the best of the Bond openings and I'm surprised the filmmakers could never come up with a worthy opening sequence again that wasn't jokey.

Dial of Destiny sounds too long to be considered an "opening sequence", but it actually has a chance of being the 2nd best Indy opening of the movies... which is quite something.

 

[The Buffinator]

Yep! Correct!

It’s hard to call the new film a favorite. Nostalgia will always edge out TOD over this but ad far as the films in order of the best films IMO it goes like this.

Raiders
Last Crusade
Dial of Destiny
Temple of Doom
Crystal Skull

Yes, I have to agree that ToD just edges out DoD due to the presence of an in-his-prime Ford. He was great in ToD, but then he had to be to offset the terrible, grating performance turned in by Kate Capshaw. Of course we all know how she landed the role lol. Anyway, anyone bitching about Helena Shaw needs to cue up ToD and get reacquainted with the textbook definition of a truly annoying character.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Does that include the part where Indy and co are in the plane up to the point where their dingy ends up by the Indian Village?
I like that whole section.

Exactly. As soon as Indy says 'India', the movie comes to a dead stop and doesn't pick up for more than 40 minutes later until they go into the ceiling trap room. After that, I skip everything until the mine cart chase and the rope bridge.

Raiders and Last Crusade are far more interesting, probably because of the core MacGuffin is more interesting to me. Plus seeing Harrison in the same frame as Sean Connery is capturing lightning in a bottle. The film only gets better and better from there.

The fire scene, motorbike chase, no ticket, the father and son chat where you really feel their history and estranged relationship, biplane and car chase, tank chase, then the final three challenges. It's amazing.

 

[jedibear]

No, I’m not speaking subjectively I’m speaking objectively about Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s near universal acclaim.

I wasn’t a big fan of fleabag, but it seems the critical and mass audience consensus disagrees with me and I can’t argue behind her talent.

Single-handedly she had received best writing, acting and best series awards… britanica outstanding artist of the year… time magazine most influential people…

She is one of the most coveted talents in Hollywood. For example Daniel Craig refused to continue with No Time to Die unless Phoebe was brought in to rewrite most of the script knowing her voice was imperative to bring credibility to that project.

No one can “Mary sue” argue her out of this.
Like it or not, she’s one of the most credible and coveted choices for a film like this.

Her agreeing to be in this film is actually kind of a big deal… She doesn’t need it, she actually brings the role and the film up.

Now that's what I like to see sprinkled in the thread. Satire tinged with irony. Keep that flag flying!

 

[Brett Banner]

Just got back. Movie was a total snooze-fest, unfortunately. I did enjoy how bonkers the ending went, so I guess there’s that? In general though it was just missing any sense of fun or adventure from the Spielberg films. In retrospect I’m not sure why anyone thought the director of Logan would be a good choice to write and direct a fun adventure film. Also the de-aging CGI was real bad, and way too much CGI in general. I don’t get how they didn’t learn that lesson after Crystal Skull, Disney even made it a point back with Force Awakens to do as much practical stuff as possible after all the complaints about the prequels. Anyway, I haven’t seen KOTCS in years but honestly that might be the better film, or at the least the more entertaining film. I’m going to rewatch that one again this weekend and see how I feel.

 

[Ramman81]

Some people are just so distracted by shiny newness they lose all sense of perspective and sane reasoning.

View attachment 647494

There is some definate crack smoking in here

 

[Raymond F.]

Yes, I have to agree that ToD just edges out DoD due to the presence of an in-his-prime Ford. He was great in ToD, but then he had to be to offset the terrible, grating performance turned in by Kate Capshaw. Of course we all know how she landed the role lol. Anyway, anyone bitching about Helena Shaw needs to cue up ToD and get reacquainted with the textbook definition of a truly annoying character.

Finally someone that gets it.

 

[Raymond F.]

My 2 cents on the boringness- yes it’s boring in parts and felt a bit too long .

And I personally believe action movies are the most boring movies of all time in a general sense unless you have one that has heart, humor, and character development like a Tom Gun Maverick for example and those are the notes that this movie fell flat in.

But it’s not a dumpster fire.

I promise anyone wanting to rewatch KOTCS you’re going to be reminded of what bad CGI actually is.

And I hate the de aging gimmick but this is the best I’ve ever seen. It still looks fake and weird but compared to the Irishman the marvel movies or Luke Skywalker in the Mandalorian which all look creepy as hell this is by far the closest thing I’ve seen to looking good.

When it’s the stunt guy doing his stuff it’s all good but when it’s ford walking around and talking you can tell.

But from a timeline perspective on the opening I understand he’s between the age of Last crusade and Crystal skull and I think they totally nailed thst to be honest.

 

[a-dev]

Seems to me that de-aging CGI and Deep Fakery are always going to elicit diametrically opposed reactions in people.

 

[xipotec]

No, I’m not speaking subjectively I’m speaking objectively about Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s near universal acclaim.

I wasn’t a big fan of fleabag, but it seems the critical and mass audience consensus disagrees with me and I can’t argue behind her talent.

Single-handedly she had received best writing, acting and best series awards… britanica outstanding artist of the year… time magazine most influential people…

She is one of the most coveted talents in Hollywood. For example Daniel Craig refused to continue with No Time to Die unless Phoebe was brought in to rewrite most of the script knowing her voice was imperative to bring credibility to that project.

No one can “Mary sue” argue her out of this.
Like it or not, she’s one of the most credible and coveted choices for a film like this.

Her agreeing to be in this film is actually kind of a big deal… She doesn’t need it, she actually brings the role and the film up.

Man you are arguing with someone who has a bone to pick with Disney, KK and women in general......

Wasting your breath engaging people like that. Thanks for your review.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Seems to me that de-aging CGI and Deep Fakery are always going to elicit diametrically opposed reactions in people.

I really loved "Tarkin" in Rogue One. Leia looked terrible to me.

I hope this Indy is Tarkin good. To hold a 20 minute "opening", it must be, right?

 

[xipotec]

LOL

Smugness sums her up perfectly. With no likeable character traits. Sadly in the current climate, if you criticise a female character/actress you get called out with the same old juvenile nonsense of being a misogynist old fart.

LOLOLOL

Ask yourself this....why isnit always you and your 3 fan-club members who are all posting non stop about them?

Same guys, hating every modern hero thats not male, bashing any film thats not the great white hero trope.

We know who we are talking about.

I could cut and paste your typical replies to female film stars that do anything besides look like a *** object.

 

[The Buffinator]

I really loved "Tarkin" in Rogue One. Leia looked terrible to me.

I hope this Indy is Tarkin good. To hold a 20 minute "opening", it must be, right?

Wow, I thought Tarkin was terrible in Rogue One. Leia was 10 times worse, but Tarkin was still bad and it was painfully obvious that it was fake. From day 1 I said he should have been talking to Krennic via a hologram or distorted video screen such that the limitations of the technology could have been masked. This Indy is much better than that attempt at Tarkin, but it fails at sustaining the illusion for the full 20 minutes.

 

[T8OO]

Just got back. Movie was a total snooze-fest, unfortunately. I did enjoy how bonkers the ending went, so I guess there’s that? In general though it was just missing any sense of fun or adventure from the Spielberg films. In retrospect I’m not sure why anyone thought the director of Logan would be a good choice to write and direct a fun adventure film. Also the de-aging CGI was real bad, and way too much CGI in general. I don’t get how they didn’t learn that lesson after Crystal Skull, Disney even made it a point back with Force Awakens to do as much practical stuff as possible after all the complaints about the prequels. Anyway, I haven’t seen KOTCS in years but honestly that might be the better film, or at the least the more entertaining film. I’m going to rewatch that one again this weekend and see how I feel.

I thought the de-aging was excellent and I was quite surprised how good it actually looked.

I watched Indy 4 right before this, I haven't seen t since 2008. Indy 4 makes Dial of Destiny look like Citizen Kane.

 

[Wor-Gar]

This Indy is much better than that attempt at Tarkin

Well good. That's all you had to say.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Indy 4 makes Dial of Destiny look like Citizen Kane.

That's a good thing, right?

 

[lordnastrond]

Watched Raiders opening night, was blown away.

Watched TOD opening night, was blown away.

Watched TLC opening night, was amused.

Watched KOTCS opening night, was suicidal.

DOD my first Indy movie I didn’t go opening night.

Not even upset, just indifferent.

I have the exact experience with Star Wars (well, except the original):

Star Wars - 2nd week after opening - mind-boggling experience - saw it 30x over the year it was out

ESB - opening day - insane, ditched school and sat thru it twice - saw it 10x that summer

ROTJ - opening day - kinda felt hokey but I still loved it - saw it 3x in theater

TPM - opening day - disappointed - saw it 3x in theater

AOTC - 2 weeks after opening - really disappointed - never saw it again in theater

ROTS - opening night - loved it despite the obvious - saw it 3x in theater

TFA - screening - liked it for a moment, saw it a 2nd time and didn't like it

TLJ - screening - hated it

TROS - saw it on tv (first SW movie NOT seen in a movie theater)...




I've seen every Indy opening day/night...

I'm seeing this on Sunday, first time NOT seeing it opening day... but at least I'll still wade through it on the big screen

Not to make you chaps feel old (even though thats exactly what I am trying to do! ) but I couldn't tell you what my reaction was on the opening night of any of the original Indiana Jones films on account of not having been born until 4 years later!
How time flies!

My older brother went to see it, despite my warnings re: the alleged plot, and he is actually pretty upset about it all.
Said the opening raised his hopes a little (though he wasn't blown away - just that it was enjoyable overall despite the slight uncanny valley of Indy) and the rest of the movie was just awful, and to put that in perspective KOTCS grew on him over the years (admittedly from hatred to mere dissapointment)
He said its less cheesy/embarrasing than KOTCS, but Indy's story was just depressing and the movie itself was boring and dour.
He said the ending half was mind-blowingly bad, like WTF were they thinking, what is this, can I GET MY MONEY BACK IF I WALK OUT NOW bad.
He didn't like the new lady character (I know some people seem to love or hate the actress but I will be honest in saying I nor my family have seen her in anything so we have no ideas about her one way or another, I didn't like what I saw in the trailers and my brother seems pretty sour on her in this film)
He felt introducing a new character and making her such a focus in the last Indy film was a huge mistake/borderline insult, as he felt they should have had Indy's son back (either recast or not) or Short Round or both with Indy being the older more distinguished Professor with a fun wicked streak like his dad once was in Last Crusade. Or have him go on an adventure with Marion as a married couple.
With that said he found her less annoying than Willie in Temple of Doom (he loathes her and I agree with him that she may be one of the worst characters ever) or Mac (Ray Winstone) from KOTCS.
He thought the villain was okay, nothing mindblowing, not as charasmatic or watchable as Belloq, Toht or Mola Ram, nor "so bad its almost good" like Cate Blanchett in KOTCS. He felt Mads had a touch more screen presence than most of the Nazis in Last Crusade.
Overall he said its the worst Indy movie, followed closely by KOTCS.
He said that while some individual elements may not be the worst out of the entire series, he felt this movie was overall the worst and felt that they did a massive disservice to Indy's character. He also said that this is the first time an Indy movie was boring him most of the way through, and say what you will about KOTCS its not boring (though I personally wonder if boring would be an improvement for KOTCS)

I love Indiana Jones, but my brother loves Indiana Jones - so its possible his anger/disappointment wouldn't match that of a more casual viewer.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Wow... lordnastrond (junior) has burst what little bubble I had going here from the semi positive reviews.

 

[T8OO]

That's a good thing, right?

I didn't love Dial of Destiny and there's plenty to pick at but I did enjoy it and it's my 3rd fave after Raiders and Crusade.

 

[Raymond F.]

Man you are arguing with someone who has a bone to pick with Disney, KK and women in general......

Wasting your breath engaging people like that. Thanks for your review.

100% that’s why I didn’t take the bait and engage any further. I have no doubt that eyes were opened there, whether they want to admit it or not though.