Movie Review - Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Director: James Mangold
Genre: Adventure/ Action
Runtime: 154 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Toby Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, John Rhys-Davies, Antonio Banderas, Boyd Holbrook, Olivier Richter, Thomas Kretschmann, Karen Allen
 
Description: Archeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.

Review: When it comes to film, Indiana Jones is the adventurer. Harrison Ford gives the iconic character heart and soul.

In this final Indiana Jones adventure, Indy is after an artifact that could change the course of history. He is accompanied by his goddaughter Helena. But we start the movie in the past, where Ford has been made digitally younger. Here is explained what this artifact, a dial made by Archimedes, means to his friend Basil Shaw, Helena’s father.

Even though “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is a big step up from “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”, it is the first film without Steven Spielberg as a director. James Mangold takes over and does a good job, but you do miss Spielberg at times. It is entertaining and I always like going on an adventure with Dr. Jones. He is my favorite male movie character for a reason. And Ford hasn’t lost it. But this movie never reaches the level of the first three films in the franchise.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - Raiders of the Lost Ark

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Actie/ Thriller/ Adventure/ Romance
Runtime: 115 minutes
Year: 1981
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Alfred Molina, Wolf Kahler, Anthony Higgins, Vic Tablian, Don Fellows, William Hootkins, Bill Reimbold, Fred Sorenson, Patrick Durkin

Description: Archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

Review: When you think of adventure and action, you automatically think of Indiana Jones. The first installment, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is still the best in the franchise and also the best adventure movie ever made.
Indiana Jones is an archeologist who is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant, before the Nazis do. Director Steven Spielberg and his companion George Lucas, who came up with Indiana Jones, aren’t the only reasons for the success of this film. Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Indiana Jones is perfect. Charismatic, tough, funny. With that he has created my favorite movie character of all-time.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is a perfect movie. It has it all: adventure, action, humor, romance. It’s a movie you just can’t hate, that’s impossible. Everyone loves this film!  The film is filled with memorable and iconic scenes. The boobytraps at the start, the monkey, the drinking game, shooting the guy with the sword, the fight between Indy and the mechanic and the opening of the Ark.
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is a timeless adventure, that I still enjoy to this day.

 Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Director: Peter Jackson
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 201 minutes
Year: 2003
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monoghan, Christopher Lee, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham, Ian Holm, John Noble

Description: Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) lead the World of Men against Sauron’s army to draw his gaze from Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) as they approach Mount Doom with the One Ring.

Review: People said the books were impossible to turn into film. Well, they were wrong. Director Peter Jackson managed to translate Tolkien’s work to film, in what is probably the most ambitious and bravest film project in movie history.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” starts with a prologue, where we see how Smeagol became Gollum. How the ring changed him. The Fellowship is still broken. Frodo and Sam are lead to Mordor by Gollum, while Gandalf hurries to Minas Tirith with Pippin. Merry stays behind with King Theodon and Eowyn. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli take the Path of Death, to recruit an unearthly army. We follow all those different storylines, before the final battle for Middle Earth starts.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is a dark film, filled with war and misery. You finally understand the immense power the ring has and then there is also the threat of Sauron.
Peter Jackson made Middle Earth look as impressive as it is. It amazes me how much work and love had to be put into this project. The Orcs, the elephant like creatures, spider Shelob, it all looks scary and fantastic.
The love triangle between Aragorn, Arwen and Eowyn doesn’t manage to convince. The scenes feel forced and take away the attention from the actual events. Thankfully there are only a few scenes, so it doesn’t bother me that much.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is a fantastic film, a great end to an amazing trilogy.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Director: Peter Jackson
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 179 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Hugo Weaving, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monoghan, Christopher Lee, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Miranda Otto, Karl Urban, David Wenham

Description: While Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) adge closer to Mordor with the help of the shifty Gollum (Andy Serkis), the divided fellowship makes a stand against Sauron’s new ally, Saruman (Christopher Lee), and his hordes of Isengard.

Review: In “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” we saw how the fellowship was split in groups. In “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” we see all those separate groups on their journey. There is Frodo and Sam. By foot they have to bring the ring to Mordor. Frodo feels the power of the ring more and more, but het gets help from Sam and the shifty creature Gollum. Gollum knows he has to help the Hobbits, else the ring will fall into the hands of Sauron.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli can’t help Frodo and Sam anymore, so they decide to go on a rescue mission for the other two Hobbits Merry and Pippin. They have been taken by the Uruk-Hai.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” is again an amazing adventure. And close to being a masterpiece. The film doesn’t have the buildup like the first film. This is of course because it’s the middle part of the series. But it does have some great fight scenes, like the battle of Helm’s Deep. It looks spectacular and is exciting. I didn’t like the romance part of the film, the scenes between Arwen and Aragorn feel a bit unnecessary.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” is a good film, although probably my least favorite of the franchise.

Rating: 4/ 5