Nikolaevna1899

Dial of Destiny had a budget that was almost five times larger than Raiders of the Lost Ark, even when adjusted for inflation. Did it result in a movie that's five times better than Raiders? Sadly no.

I enjoyed the opening sequence as well as the sound effects. However, the rest of the movie was disappointing. Runtime is too long for an Indiana Jones film and the CGI sometimes feels weightless, even immersion-breaking. Practical effects, a key component of the original trilogy, is virtually absent. For a film that had a whopping $300 million production budget, the lack of practical effects is inexcusable.

Perhaps the biggest letdown is the lack of horror elements. For example, human sacrifice is depicted in Temple of Doom. Nothing as disturbing or horrifying happens in Dial of Destiny. Disney has gone soft.

The humour doesn't compare to the original trilogy. I only heard a few half-hearted giggles from the audience. No bursts of laughter, not even from children. I was only a child when I saw the original trilogy and even though I was too young to understand the stories, I still fondly remember the comedic moments eliciting laughs from me and my siblings.

Ford isn't getting any younger and this is probably the last time we'll ever see him as Indy. I'm glad I saw it, but I can't help but think that Ford could've had a better send off. Dial of Destiny is overall an underwhelming end to the iconic character.