The fifth film in the Indiana Jones adventure series, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, will be released on June 30. Nonetheless, the film’s early reviews have been contradictory, leaving some viewers wary. One review from IndieWire doesn’t hold back, calling the picture “an empty slog” that feels like it just exists to appease fans’ concerns and doesn’t have the same level of tension as the previous entries. Variety is also dissatisfied, calling the film a “dutiful but joyless piece of nostalgic entertainment” that tries too hard to be like Fast & Furious and instead loses part of the original Indiana Jones’ appeal. Not every feedback is bad, though. Critics have noted that Dial of Destiny does better than its 2008 predecessor, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, however this may not be a very high bar to surpass, given the influence of nostalgia and the willingness to suspend disbelief. The Times is not very enthusiastic, although they do acknowledge that it is an improvement over Crystal Skull. Empire has a more upbeat tone, arguing that the movie succeeds on its own terms provided the audience is open to it. Harrison Ford’s portrayal as Indiana Jones, however, is universally lauded despite the film’s polarizing reaction. The Independent applauds Ford’s commitment to the role, praising his scowl, tenacity, and caustic sense of humor. The Telegraph agrees that Ford gives it his best, but says the picture lacks the excitement and fast pace of the first three installments. It’s still up in the air whether or not Indiana Jones 5 is a good movie. However, starting May 31, fans will be able to relive the franchise’s heyday by seeing the first four films on Disney Plus. While it was formerly recommended to stop at the third film in the series, seeing Crystal Skull again might help viewers better understand the plot of Dial of Destiny. Every viewer’s opinion of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will depend on their own unique set of criteria.
