INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY [2023] [UK Release] Harrison Ford is back as Indiana Jones on one big roller coaster adventure!
The Man with the Hat returns for one last adventure where we find Harrison Ford reprising his iconic role as our favourite onscreen legendary hero archaeologist Indiana Jones for this fifth instalment of the iconic franchise and is a big, glob-trotting, rip-roaring adventure! Starring along with Harrison Ford is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, also Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richters, Ethann Isidore and Mads Mikkeksen. Directed by James Mangold, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indiana Jones adventure since the original ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ in 1981, and is once again composing a totally brilliant composed film score.
FILM FACT: ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ is the only film in the series that is neither directed by Steven Spielberg nor conceived by George Lucas, with them both serving as executive producers instead. It is also the first film in the series not to be distributed by Paramount Pictures, following the Walt Disney Studios’ acquisition of Lucasfilm and film rights for future sequels. Paramount retains the distribution rights to the first four films and a residual associate credit. Plans for a fifth Indiana Jones film date back to the late 1970’s, when a deal was made with Paramount Pictures to produce four sequels to ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ [1981]. Long-time franchise composer John Williams returned to compose and conduct the film's score, for which he was nominated for Best Original Score at the 96th Academy Awards and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, with John Williams winning a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for “Helena's Theme.” ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ premiered out of competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on the 18th May, 2023, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30, by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Critics praised the film for Harrison Ford's performance, noting that it helped bring the film some final bits of “cinematic treasure,” but criticised the film for not being as thrilling as earlier instalments. It grossed $384 million worldwide, becoming a box office bomb due to a lack of wide audience appeal and an expensive overall budget, with projections of a roughly $100 million loss for The Walt Disney Company.
Cast: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richters, Ethann Isidore, Mads Mikkeksen, Martin McDougall, Alaa Safi, Francis Chapman, Alfonso Rosario Mandia, Chase Brown, Nasser Memarzia, Amedeo Bianchimano, Anna Francolini, Gabby Wong, Adolfo Margiotta, Niccolò Cancellieri, Antonio Iorio, Manuel Klein, Holly Lawton, Guy Paul, Harriet Slater, Alton Fitzgerald White, Ian Porter, Daniel Anderson, Cory Peterson, Charles Hagerty, Ali Saleh, Amara Khan, Jill Winternitz, Billy Postlethwaite, Clara Greco, Arthur Sylense, Nicholas Bendall, Thulani Storm, Edoardo Strano, Angelo Spagnoletti, Hichame Ouraqa, Adil Louchgui, David Mills, Rhyanna Alexander-Davis, Gary Fannin, Gunnar Cauthery, Aron von Andrian, Nikola Trifunovic, Henry Garrett, Elena Saurel, Christian Sacha Mehja-Stokes, Angus Yellowlees, Matthew Staite, Corrado Invernizzi, Joerg Stadler, Thorston Manderlay, Basil Eidenbenz, Johann Heske, Joshua Broadstone, Bruce Lester-Johnson, Martin T. Sherman, Allon Sylvain, William Meredith, Kate Doherty, Duran Fulton Brown, Eliza Mae Kyffin, Anthony Ingruber, Mauro Cardinali, Mark Killeen, Bharati Doshi, Aïssam Bouali, Douglas Robson, Mohammed R. Kamel, Bryony Miller, Tiwa Lade, Brodie Husband, Hannah Onslow, Valéry Alteresco (uncredited), Elizabeth Ansari (uncredited), Cameron Ashplant (uncredited), Martin Ballantyne (uncredited), Matthew Barr (uncredited), Callum Bowyer (uncredited), Jonathan Cass (uncredited), Lily Catalifo (uncredited), Alex Cavanna (uncredited), Barnaby Chambers (uncredited), Nathan Laudrup Craig, Nick Davison (uncredited), Mike Dickman (uncredited), Hayden Ellingworth (uncredited), Stephane Fichet (uncredited), Craig Fox (uncredited), Cassius Hackforth (uncredited), Cris Haris (uncredited), Simon Hodgson (uncredited), Imogen Inman (uncredited), Liam Jarvis (uncredited), Rachel Kwok (uncredited), Darryl Lane (uncredited), Alex Madden (uncredited), Kenny-Lee Mbanefo (uncredited), Andy M Milligan (uncredited), Clément Osty (uncredited), Michael Otteson (uncredited), Glen Passingham (uncredited), Christian Peterson (uncredited), Daniel Rosenberg (uncredited), Linus Scheithauer (uncredited), Atul Sharma (uncredited), Sam Sharma (uncredited), Joakim Skarli (uncredited), Jonathan Sparrow (uncredited), Thomas Spiteri (uncredited), A.k. Steppa (uncredited), David Stokes (uncredited), John Lee Taggart (uncredited), Brian Trainor (uncredited) and Miranda Twumasi (uncredited)
Director: James Mangold
Producers: Anthony Dixon (co-producer), Blake Simon (associate producer), Candice Campos (co-producer), Frank Marshall (producer p.g.a.), George Lucas (executive producer), Kathleen Kennedy (producer p.g.a.), Marco Valerio Pugini (line producer: Sicily), Nathan Woods (associate producer), Simon Emanuel (producer p.g.a.), Steven Spielberg (executive producer) and Zakaria Alaoui (producer: Morocco)
Screenplay: David Koepp (written), George Lucas (based on characters created), James Mangold (written), Jez Butterworth (written), John-Henry Butterworth (written) and Philip Kaufman (based on characters created)
Composer: John Williams
Costume Design: Joanna Johnston
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael, A.S.C., G.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Visual Effects and Animation: Industrial Light & Magic / A Lucasfilm Ltd. Company
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio [Audio Description]
French: : 7.1 Dolby Digital Audio Plus
Isolated Composed Score: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish
Running Time: 154 minutes
Region: Region Free
Number of discs: 1
Studio: The Walt Disney Company / Lucasfilm Ltd. / Paramount Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ [2023] once again brings us Harrison Ford as intrepid adventurer Indiana Jones, and there is still much to celebrate about the octogenarian archaeologist as he teams up with actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena to defeat the Nazis! It’s the first Indiana Jones film not to be directed by Steven Spielberg, but director James Mangold is now at the helm – but despite that, because here you get to experience a bit of zip and fun and narrative ingenuity with all its MacGuffin, which is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself. The term MacGuffin was originated by Angus MacPhail for film, and was adopted by director Alfred Hitchcock, and later extended to a similar device with other types of fiction.
What helps is John Williams’ iconic composed score once again totally elevates the film, perfectly capturing the spirit and excitement of Indiana Jones’ great intrepid escapades. The familiar theme music resonates with nostalgia, transporting us back to the classic era of adventure cinema while again injecting new life into the Indiana Jones franchise. On top of all that, Indiana Jones movies always showcases significant dynamic characters, convincing comedic punches and most importantly, the quirky, over-the-top nature imbued deeply in their expositions.
The opening begins with time travel, and taking us back to the end of the Second World War when a digitally-created youthful Indiana Jones gets among the Nazis to snatch away the Archimedes of Syracuse [Greek mathematician and physicist] Dial of Destiny treasure from under the nose of Mads Mikkeksen’s wicked Jürgen Voller. There is of course the amazing and totally thrilling chase on the roof of a fast moving train, which is of course the trade mark of any Indiana Jones film. On top of all that, we have the brilliant John Williams composed score; and especially Phedon Papamichael, A.S.C., G.S.C. iconic cinematography is truly spectacular.
Of course Indiana Jones want to grab what the Germans want: a much-desired artefact created by Archimedes of Syracuse, which is of course the actual Dial of Destiny, which allows its owner to control the forces of space and time, which Archimedes of Syracuse prudently split into two and hid the other half. Then we have a chase with a nasty German character Doctor Jürgen Voller [Mads Mikkeksen] and leaves this whole business unresolved but fast-forward to the present day – the Space Age in the late 1960’s, and grumpy old Indiana Jones has decided to teach younger students, and of course is miserable at his irrelevance in the modern world. But with the Dial of Destiny, Indiana Jones bursts back into a roller coaster action that can leave you breathless sometimes.
‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ is an absolute masterpiece that brings back the magic of the iconic Indiana Jones archaeologist in the most exhilarating way. From the very beginning, this action-packed adventure had me on the edge of my seat, taking me on a journey filled with pulse-pounding excitement, intriguing mysteries, unforgettable characters and of course the edge of your seat Tuck Tuck driving sequences through the narrows streets of Morocco.
Harrison Ford's return as Indiana Jones is nothing short of legendary, and his portrayal of the beloved character Indiana Jones is as captivating as ever, blending his trademark wit, charm, and ruggedness effortlessly. It's a testament to Ford's talent that he can effortlessly slip back into the role, reminding us why Indiana Jones is one of cinema's greatest heroes.
‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ reminds you how much Hollywood has changed. This is a series preoccupied with time and mortality, from the characters’ relentless pursuit of the ancient world’s secrets to the poignancy of Indiana Jones’s relationships, and of course his adventures are frequently preceded by the revelation that someone or something in his life has died in her personal life, like friend, a family member, and a relationship.
The film's storyline is a brilliant blend of history, mythology, and ancient artefacts. The quest for the “Dial of Destiny” takes us across breath-taking landscapes and exotic locations, showcasing stunning cinematography by Phedon Papamichael, A.S.C., G.S.C. that adds depth and beauty to the already captivating narrative. The attention to detail in recreating historical periods is remarkable, immersing us in a world that feels both authentic and larger than life.
The supporting cast deserves special mention for their outstanding performances. The chemistry between Harrison Ford and the talented ensemble is totally electric; bringing a depth and complexity to the relationships that adds emotional weight to the adventure.
But most of all, Indiana Jones is back, and with ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ and the iconic adventurer takes us on an exhilarating journey that truly captures the essence of the beloved series. Totally packed with amazing roller coaster action, heart-stopping leaps, and thrilling action fight scenes, because ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ film reignites the magic that made the Indiana Jones franchise so unforgettable. All in all, it is a totally cinematic all-encompassing experience that I would gladly watch again and again.
One of the film's greatest strengths is the exceptional acting. Harrison Ford once again embodies the role of Indiana Jones with his trademark charm, wit, and ruggedness. Also Harrison Ford portrayal of Indiana Jones brings back a flood of fond and joyous memories and reminds us why Harrison Ford is the definitive Indiana Jones. The supporting cast is equally impressive, and of course with Harrison Ford is once again helping breathing life back into the other vibrant characters that aid or hinders our hero Indiana Jones quest and Indian Jones also argues, explicitly, that you have to leave the past in the past, that the only way to ensure the world continues is to put ones foot down and then another, to be moving into the future and beyond.
INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY MUSIC TRACK LIST
LILI MARLEEN (Written by Hans Leip and Norbert Schultze)
MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR (Written by John Lennon and Paul McCarthy) [Performed by The Beatles]
SPACE ODDITY (Written by David Bowie) [Performed by David Bowie]
THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA (Written by Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes and Norman Gimbel) [Performed by Stan Getz and João Gilberto featuring Astrud Gilberto]
PULSE OF THE CITY (Written by William Ross)
FLY ME TO THE MOON (Written by Bart Howard) [Performed by Tom Jones]
CHOMBO MERINGUE (Written by Raymond Cellini and Michel Nerplat) [Performed by Les Aiglons de Basse Terre]
LA FOGARACCIA (Written by Giovanni Rota) [Performed by Nino Rota]
I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM (Written by Howard Johnson, Robert King and Billy Moll)
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Blu-ray Image Quality – The Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Pictures presents us the amazing film ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ an amazing 1080p images and of course is shown in the equally awesome 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The film has a nice, sharp, polished image that really hands all the yellow, brown, gold desert aesthetic with ease. Blacks are deep and natural and really accentuate the cavern dwelling, deep sea diving, night-time beauty and shadowy interiors the film has to show off. The amazing Indiana Jones adventure is very desert based with plenty of golds, browns and yellows in various displays on the palette. We get some wonderful reds, and more colourful garments showcased at the start of the film. Skin tones are natural and consistent from start to finish. All in all, it is a really image experience and most of all offers the best home cinema experience.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The Walt Disney Company, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Pictures brings us the amazing film ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ with a very nice awesome 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience delivers a pretty rock solid and fun audio track. From above you get planes, sounds from the fair, bullets whizzing, wind, debris falling, echoes and plenty other things that feels natural fun. The subwoofer roars and hits with the punches, gunshots, rushing trains, crashing waves, plane engines, bombs exploding, gas shattering and anything that’ll pound the ground. From around the room you get the full quadrant adventure with terrific ambiance and action tracking on the side and rear channels. Rolling sound powers naturally and effectively in any given direction the film calls for. But most of all, vocals are clear and crisp.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: The Making of ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ Chapter I: PROLOGUE [2022] [1080p / 480i] [2.38:1] [1.78:1] [1.37:1] [11:20] With this featurette, we get to view some exclusive behind-the-scene filming, especially at Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland. England, as well as seeing the technology that turns the older Indiana Jones into a much younger man, and also get to view behind-the scene filming of stunt pre-visualisation. Contributors include: Steven Spielberg [Executive Producer], Frank Marshall [Producer], Kathleen Kennedy [Producer], Harrison Ford [Indiana Jones], John Williams [Composer], Phedon Papamichael, A.S.C., G.S.C. [Director of Photography], Andrew Whitehurst [British Visual Effects Artist Supervisor], Adam Stockhausen [American Production Designer], Ben Cooke [English Stunt Performer Coordinator and Actor], Simon Emanuel [English Film Director and Producer], Donald Sylvester [American Co-supervising Sound Editor], Martin Foley [Supervising Film Art Director], Christian Short [Props Workshop Supervisor], Toby Jones [Basil Shaw], Alistair Williams [Special Effects Supervisor], Thomas Kretschmann [Colonel Webber], Joanna Johnston [English Film Costumer Designer] and Mike Massa [Stunt Double Coordinator / Stunt Double for Mr. Harrison Ford].
Special Feature: The Making of ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ Chapter II: NEW YORK [2022] [1080p / 480i] [2.39:1] [1.78:1] [1.37:1] [10:33] With this featurette, it all blasts off showcasing the re-creation of the behind-the-scene New York 1969 Apollo 11 Astronauts Moon Parade created in Glasgow, Scotland. We also get informed that they shipped in from America all kinds of 1969 American vehicles. Contributors include: Adam Stockhausen [American Production Designer], Harrison Ford [Indiana Jones], James Mangold [Co-writer / Director], Anna Pinnock [Set Decorator], Frank Marshall [Producer], Alex King [Action Vehicles Supervisor], Shaunette Renée Wilson [Mason], Laura Dishington [Lead Graphic Designer for the Film and TV production], Simon Emanuel [English Film Director and Producer], Mike Massa [Stunt Double Coordinator / Stunt Double for Mr. Harrison Ford], Karen Asano-Myers [Hair Stylist for Mr. Harrison Ford], Bill Corso [Make-up Artist for Mr. Harrison Ford], Kathleen Kennedy [Producer] and John Rhys-Davies [Sallah].
Special Feature: The Making of ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ Chapter III: MOROCCO [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2.39:1] [10:11] With this featurette, we get to see exclusive behind-the-scene filming in Morocco and of course the amazing edge of your seat breaks down the white-knuckle stunts of the medina Tuck Tuck driving sequences through the narrows streets of Morocco and the hotel brawl. We also get to view some more behind-the scene filming of stunt pre-visualisation. We also get to view exclusive exteriors shot in the city of Fez, and also the lavish interiors of the Hotel L'Atlantique. Contributors include: James Mangold [Co-writer / Director], Frank Marshall [Producer], Simon Emanuel [English Film Director and Producer], Harrison Ford [Indiana Jones], Kathleen Kennedy [Producer], Phoebe Waller-Bridge [Helena], Adam Stockhausen [American Production Designer], Ben Cooke [English Stunt Performer Coordinator and Actor], Ethann Isidore [Teddy], Charlotte Malynn [Art Direction, Draughtsman, Art Department Assistant, and Assistant Art Director], Daniel Bradley [American Stunt Coordinator and Second Unit Film Director], Zakaria Alaoui [Film Producer for Morocco Unit], Alistair Whitton [Stunt Performer], Kyrsten Mate [Sound Editor Designer] and Alex King [Action Vehicles Supervisor].
Special Feature: The Making of ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ Chapter IV: SICILY [2022] [1080p / 480i] [1.78:1] [2.39:1] [1.37:1] [11:22] With this featurette, we get to view quite a bit of behind-the-scene filming on the Island of Sicily, We also get to meet Antonio Banderas who plays the character Renaldo. We also get to view lots of behind-the-scene underwater filming with Antonio Banderas, Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Catch up with Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge on location on the Island of Sicily and explore the caverns, traps, and bugs surrounding Archimedes of Syracuse [Greek mathematician and physicist] tomb! We also find out that Archimedes of Syracuse was an Ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor from the ancient city of Syracuse in Sicily where he lived all of his life. We get to view exclusive behind-the-scene filming on 007 Stage Pinewood Studios of the massive built caves for the Island of Sicily scenes in the 2023 film. We also get to view the actual creepy crawlies used when we see crawling all over Indiana Jones and Helena in the 2023 film. Contributors include: Kathleen Kennedy [Producer], Antonio Banderas [Renaldo], Phoebe Waller-Bridge [Helena], Oliver Van Der Vijver [Senior Art Director], Andrew Whitehurst [British Visual Effects Artist Supervisor], Ian Seabrook [Underwater Director of Photography], Mads Mikkeksen [Doctor Jürgen Voller], Adam Stockhausen [American Production Designer], Harrison Ford [Indiana Jones], Lex Donovan [Location Manager at Lucasfilm Ltd.], Maurizio Licciardello [Key Location Manager in Sicily], Donald Sylvester [American Co-supervising Sound Editor], Emma Hanson [HOD Sculptor Production Designer], Mark Amey [Insect Handler], John-Henry Butterworth [Co-writer] and Jez Butterworth [Co-writer].
Special Feature: The Making of INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ Chapter V: FINALE [2022] [1080p / 480i] [2.39:1] [1.78:1] [1.37:1] [13:18] With this featurette, it breaks down the thrilling climax to the Indiana Jones franchise series and bid farewell to one of the greatest heroes of all time. We get to view exclusive behind-the-scene filming of inside the mock up airplane sequence that we eventually get to view in the 2023 film when it crashes onto the Island of Sicily. We also get to view close-ups of all of the amazing Joanna Johnston costume designs and also her amazing professional team that made the costumes from scratch. We also get to see more exclusive behind-the-scene filming on the Island of Sicily and mainly the massive dramatic battle scenes. We also get to view intimate behind-the-scene filming in the apartment in New York with Harrison Ford and Karen Allen that you get to view at the end of the 2023 film. Contributors include: Phoebe Waller-Bridge [Helena], Mads Mikkeksen [Doctor Jürgen Voller], Andrew Whitehurst [British Visual Effects Artist Supervisor], James Mangold [Co-writer /Director], Joanna Johnston [English Film Costumer Designer], Simon Emanuel [English Film Director and Producer], Martin Joy [Unit Production Manager], Steve Wilkerson [Supervising Armourer], John-Henry Butterworth [Co-writer], Jez Butterworth [Co-writer], Kathy Siegel [Visual Effects Supervisor and Producer], Harrison Ford [Indiana Jones], Nasser Memarzia [Archimedes], Martin Foley [Supervising Art Director], Karen Allen [Marion], Steven Spielberg [Executive Producer], John Williams [Composer], Frank Marshall [Producer] and Kathleen Kennedy [Poducer].
Finally, with ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ was for me and given a really satisfying ending to this brilliant franchise, and of course fans of Harrison Ford have sadly been waiting over five years for this movie and it was well worth the wait, as it is a Great movie. ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ is an absolute masterpiece that brings back the magic of the iconic archaeologist in the most exhilarating way. From the very beginning, this action-packed adventure had me on the edge of my seat, taking me on a journey filled with pulse-pounding excitement, intriguing mysteries, and unforgettable characters. So all in all, ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ is packed with amazing thrills and intrigue, and will keep you on the edge of your set throughout the film. Because Harrison Ford's return as Indiana Jones is nothing short of legendary. Harrison Ford's portrayal of the beloved character Indiana Jones is as captivating as ever, blending his trademark wit, charm, and ruggedness effortlessly. It's a testament to Harrison Ford's talent shows us that he can effortlessly slip back into the role, reminding us why Indiana Jones is one of cinema's greatest heroes. ‘INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY’ is a true love letter to fans of the series. It successfully captures the spirit and adventure that made Indiana Jones a cinematic legend. The film is a rollercoaster ride of thrills, spills, and unexpected twists, ensuring that you are on the edge of your seat throughout the entire film. It pays homage to the classic Indiana Jones formula while also presenting a fresh and exciting narrative that keeps you engaged until the very end of the film. So all in all, give em hell Indiana Jones. Very Highly recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
