Indiana Jones is one of my favourite movie characters and franchises of all time so I couldn’t wait to see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Sadly, this movie felt more like a greatest hits production than an Indiana Jones movie. In many ways, it was a shell of the past films and what made them great, and this left me feeling disappointed and slightly underwhelmed by the whole experience.

The opening sequence of the film is the true shining star here. It stars a de-aged Harrison Ford and it’s classic Indy all the way. It’s thrilling, action-packed, and gives us all the exposition we need. The de-aging work is absolutely fantastic and some of the finest I’ve seen on the big screen. This was the best part of the movie.

Aside from the fantastic opening sequence, the acting is the film’s strongest aspect. Harrison Ford is clearly having the time of his life playing Indy one last time and it’s one of his finest outings in recent years. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is an EXCELLENT addition to the film and I can’t wait for a Helena Shaw spin-off. Finally, Mads Mikkelsen, the man who can do no wrong, is so damn delightful as George Voller. The supporting cast, specifically Jonathan Rhys-Davies and Boyd Holbrook, also left a lasting impression on me as memorable characters.

The story and pacing are extremely jumbled and messy. Without going into too many spoilers, the Dial of Destiny is a very cool concept on paper, but it just ends up being a middling MacGuffin device. The pacing of this film feels like it drags on too long and doesn’t justify its 154-minute runtime.

James Mangold is a good director; this isn’t a secret. His direction in Dial of Destiny is good but I often found myself wondering “How would Spielberg have done this scene?” and unfortunately, that’s this film’s downfall. Mangold tries his best to recapture the whimsy and excitement of the first three films, but it ultimately ends up being a shell of itself, never living up to the great expectations.

After that phenomenal opening sequence, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a very bumpy ride. It lacks the Spielberg magic, but thanks to a strong cast and reliance on the old hits, it ultimately serves as a decent conclusion for the character of Indiana Jones.