Movie Reviews

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’: Movie Review

Published

1 year ago

June 29, 2023

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’: Movie Review

Anyone who believed 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull would be the last we’d ever see of Harrison Ford’s rugged action hero probably based that on the thought that the star, now 80, couldn’t possibly squeeze into the fedora one more time – let alone carry out the body-taxing adventures that come with the famous hat.

But that thinking ignores the resilience of a hit franchise and old-fashioned Hollywood magic. For Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Ford, executive producers Steven Spielberg (who directed the previous four outings) and George Lucas (who co-wrote the other movies but is absent here), and new director James Mangold (best known for Logan, Ford v Ferrari and Walk the Line) pile on everything fans love about the series. But more often than not it feels like a homage to Indiana Jones rather than the real thing.

A sequel to Crystal Skull (which is better than its reputation lets on), Dial of Destiny is set a dozen years after the previous film, in 1969, just days after a man walked on the Moon. Indy has just retired from his teaching position when he is approached by his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the daughter of a late archaeologist friend looking for a real-life Greek mechanism called the Antikythera. The mystical dial, part of which Indy from wrestled from a Nazi scientist (Mads Mikkelsen) 25 years earlier, poses a bigger threat than anyone, including Indiana Jones, is aware.

Like its predecessors, this fifth movie wastes no time throwing Indy, and the audience, straight into the action with an establishing scene set in 1944. When we first see him, he’s been captured by Nazis and left swinging by a rope as Allied forces attack from above. He narrowly escapes, only to find himself part of a Nazi caravan of cars, motorcycles and a train.

It’s all set up for Dial of Destiny’s main story concerning the recovered Antikythera from the film’s opening adventure and its power to create a “fissure in time.” Helena, eager to get her hands on the section of the dial once owned by her father, enlists Indy – grizzled, cranky and in no mood for another exploit – for one final escapade. From here on out, action scenes appear about every 20 minutes, bringing Indy to Tangier, on horseback, undersea and, once again, into a deadly and mysterious cave.

There are some fun moments, but the late-’60s period setting – complete with hippies, war protesters and Beatles music – initially clashes with the image of Indiana Jones we are used to. When the adventures eventually land in more exotic and timeless locations, the long and exposition-heavy Dial of Destiny improves. Without saying as much, the movie wants to send Indy, and Ford, away with one final episode that looks like the ones he had in the past. So there are scenes where he dons the famous hat, cracks the trusty whip, banters with the woman lead and dispenses villains in often funny and extravagant ways. Plus there’s the crucial third act that combines science, history and the supernatural.

Ford has long worn into the character, so Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny doesn’t need to spend much effort confirming his position. Yes, his age figures into the plot, but there are also more layers to the character this time; a story about the fate of his son (introduced in Crystal Skull) and separation from his wife Marion (a returning Karen Allen) is poignant.

So is the last scene, which offers a fitting conclusion to the Indiana Jones saga. But who’s watching Indiana Jones movies for character development? That leaves Dial of Destiny with a bit of a problem: How does an old action hero age gracefully? The movie attempts to answer that question, and seems to be heading there at one point, but instead falls back on its familiar ways, one last time, for old times’ sake.

Indiana Jones Movies Ranked

From thrilling escapades to sleepwalking adventures, Harrison Ford’s eternal action hero has done it all.

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Movie Reviews

Despicable Me 4 movie review: Still fun the fourth time around

Published

3 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

Despicable Me 4 movie review: Still fun the fourth time around

Despicable Me 4 English (Theatres)

2024

Director:Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage

Cast:Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin

Following a few insightful but intense releases in the animation sphere, Despicable Me 4 comes as a welcome change. Despite my initial sequel scepticism — arguably well-founded, considering this was the fourth instalment of scenes from the lives of Gru, his girls and the minions — I was very pleasantly surprised. The expected drop in quality that often comes as a series progresses never arrived with this one.

The fourth film features a storyline that maintains the key elements of chaotic good that characterises the series. Yet, as a few new characters and challenges are introduced, the resultant town and family dynamics are amusing. As expected, the minions continue to find themselves in ridiculous, funny and adorable pickles. In terms of the cute quotient, the movie definitely rises to the challenge, with the sweet, curious young girls and the introduction of a few furry friends.

The winning factor was the pace — the plot developed smoothly and quickly, in a way that really made one-and-a-half hours fly by. In typical Despicable Me fashion, the balance between physical comedy and character quirks work for both, young children and older audiences.

Steve Carell makes a reappearance as his classic Gru self, seeming to only get more comfortable in his wacky and endearing characterisation. Lesser screen time and predictable lines did not enable other voice actors to shine as much as the leads.

The soundtrack is cool and fresh, typical of what Pharrell Williams has done throughout the series. It has you grooving along as you hear it, and also sticks around as you hum it while leaving the theatre.

In all, the film promises easy laughs and a fun viewing experience. Particularly if you’re a fan of the mischievous minions or good ol’ Gru, this is a must-watch for the weekend.

Published 05 July 2024, 20:44 IST

Movie Reviews

‘Despicable Me 4’ movie review: Surf this tide of multi-hued super-villainy including the blue-and-yellow kind

Published

9 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

‘Despicable Me 4’ movie review: Surf this tide of multi-hued super-villainy including the blue-and-yellow kind

A still from ‘Despicable Me 4’

The sixth entry in the Despicable Me franchise and a sequel to 2017’s Despicable Me 3, Despicable Me 4 sees Felonious Gru (Steve Carell) heading to his school Lycée Pas Bon for a reunion. But he is also undercover for the Anti-Villain League (AVL) to capture Maxine Le Mal (Will Ferrell).

Maxine and Gru have a long-standing rivalry from their school days especially after Gru sang Culture Club’s ‘Karma Chameleon’ dressed as Boy George at the talent show. Maxine, who was planning to sing the same song, also dressed as Boy George, could not do so as everyone would think he was copying Gru (shudder).

Despicable Me 4

Director: Chris Renaud

Voice cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Sofía Vergara, Steve Coogan, Chris Renaud, Madison Polan, Dana Gaier, Chloe Fineman, Stephen Colbert, Will Ferrell

Story line: Gru and his family are relocated to a safe house after some of his activities at the AVL. There, however, is no rest for the wicked as he is hounded by an old school rival and a new fan

Run time: 94 minutes

Maxine has developed many villainous properties including a machine to turn people into enhanced bugs. Gru arrests Maxine who promptly escapes the AVL’s maximum security prison with help from his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara) and swears vengeance on Gru and his family.

The former director of AVL Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan) comes out of retirement to get Gru and his family, which includes his wife,Lucy (Kristen Wiig) adopted daughters Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), and Agnes (Madison Polan) and son Gru Jr, (Tara Strong) to a safe house in the upscale Mayflower neighbourhood.

A still from ‘Despicable Me 4’

Though the Grus, with the cover name of Cunningham, try to blend in, they do stick out. Gru’s attempt at making friends with his neighbour the super-rich Perry Prescott (Stephen Colbert) fall flat while Lucy’s efforts at the hair salon end up in an epic fail with burning a customer, Melora’s (Laraine Newman) hair. Perry’s wife Patsy (Chloe Fineman) invites the Cunninghams to a game of tennis, which Lucy knows is no sign of being accepted.

The Prescott daughter Poppy (Joey King), however recognises Gru and blackmails him to joining her on a heist to steal the school mascot. Apart from the three minions (Pierre Coffin) who accompany the Gru family, the rest are at AVL headquarters and Silas puts five into a programme for the creation of super-powered Mega Minions. The programme is quickly shut down as the Mega Minions unleash all kinds of mayhem under the guise of helping.

The voice work is fun with most of the gang reprising their roles. Romesh Ranganathan as Gru’s quarter master Dr. Nefario and Chris Renaud as the tough-as-nails principal Übelschlecht have a blast as do Ferrell and Vergara. Some of the sequences are inventive, especially the one with the mega minion and the Swiss cheese.

Stuff keeps happening through Despicable Me 4’s 94 minutes and before you know it, the credits are rolling, which might be a good thing if you want to pounded into submission with a relentless procession of gags. Despicable Me 4 is fun while it lasts, but might not stand as a synonym for enduring.

Despicable Me 4 is currently running in theatres

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: MAXXXINE – Assignment X

Published

15 hours ago

July 5, 2024

Press Room

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN / Staff Writer

Posted: July 5th, 2024 / 01:29 AM

Rating: R
Stars: Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Uli Latukefu, Giancarlo Esposito, Chloe Farnworth, Halsey, Kevin Bacon, Lily Collins, Simon Prast
Writer: Ti West
Director: Ti West
Distributor: A24
Release Date: July 5, 2024

MAXXXINE, not counting its flashbacks and flash-forwards, is set in 1985. However, it feels more like a ‘70s indie, with its mix of very tough female protagonist, soft porn (meant to be hard porn where we don’t see all the details), detective story, and horror.

It’s a completely fun blend, and star Mia Goth commits two hundred and twenty percent to everything she’s doing.

Maxine Minx (Goth), nee Miller, is a star on the XXX movie circuit in Los Angeles. She adds to her income by doing stripper gigs and peep shows. But Maxine wants to break into mainstream films. No one who saw 2022’s X, the film that introduced Goth as Maxine, will doubt her determination.

Maxine has the talent to book a lead role in a horror movie sequel, directed by hard-nosed Elizabeth Bender (Elizabeth Debicki), who will brook no tardiness or excuses from her cast.

This puts Maxine in a difficult position when her porn colleagues and friends start getting murdered in horrible ways. Marks left on their bodies suggest cult killings. Meanwhile, L.A. is being terrorized by the Night Stalker.

Maxine doesn’t want to talk to the two detectives (Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale) on the case. She wants to talk even less with a private eye from Louisiana, John Labat (Kevin Bacon), who seems to know way too much about events that happened in 1979 Texas (covered in X).

MAXXXINE writer/director Ti West also helmed and scripted X and its follow-up prequel PEARL, set in 1918 and co-written by and starring Goth as its title character. In fact, in heavy makeup, Goth had dual roles in X, as Maxine and the aged version of Pearl.

West shows great love for recreating Hollywood and particularly Hollywood Boulevard in all of its freak-flag-flying ‘80s heyday, with its styles, songs and subcultures. He also is clearly in his element with the slasher sequences, which have a bit of ‘80s flavor but also fit just fine in their present-day context.

Goth lives up to expectations, which is to say that she is terrific. Debicki, Uli Latukefu as a loyal friend and Giancarlo Esposito as Maxine’s multifaceted agent also make strong impressions. Bacon is overdoing it a tad as the out-of-town slimeball, but since the character is the type who would lay it on thick, the performance suits the purpose.

MAXXXINE has a couple of moments where it is teetering on being funny or scary and doesn’t quite commit fast enough to be either. There aren’t enough of these to severely dent the overall mood, but they register.

While West and Company never overtly promised this, it’s a little surprising to find that MAXXXINE doesn’t provide more narrative throughline with X and PEARL. There is, of course, Goth at the center of all three, and there are tonal similarities in places.

However, there isn’t some “aha” moment or plot point that makes each essential for the others. X informs Maxine’s character to the extent that we know she’s not easily intimidated (to put it mildly). It’s not necessary to have seen X to understand this, though; Goth makes it wholly clear in MAXXXINE.

PEARL factors in even less to the current proceedings. It is in no way obliged to do so. it’s just that the idea that the three films form a trilogy in the conventional sense will have viewers anticipating a kind of emphasis that doesn’t surface.

MAXXXINE is certainly a kick for fans of the type of moviemaking it celebrates. Moreover, there’s no doubt Maxine herself would love it.

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