Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Image via Lucasfilm

The first 20 minutes of ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ are getting crucified for exactly what you think

It's hard to ignore.

WARNING: The following article contains minor spoilers for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Recommended Videos

Indiana Jones’ final showdown, his big send-off, finally arrived in theaters this week after what felt like an agonizing wait. Although reviews scattered online seem in favor of the fifth and final installment in the much-loved franchise, there’s one common gripe with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny that fans can’t seem to shake off.

In the opening 20-25 minutes of the movie, we see a younger Harrison Ford and his then-colleague Basil Shaw, a fellow archaeologist from Oxford, captured by Nazis while attempting to retrieve the Lance of Longinus. The pair are interrogated by the Nazis, but Jones eventually escapes and rescues Shaw, jumping from a train loaded with stolen antiques. On the surface, nothing seems particularly wrong with that scene, but plenty of disgruntled viewers have spotted a major flaw: poor de-aging technology.

As you’ll glimpse in the GIF below, Dial of Destiny‘s de-aging efforts are incredibly patchy. Rather than simply casting a younger actor in Ford’s likeness, the Lucasfilm made the decision to de-age Ford, who’s about to be 81 years old. As several tweets point out, the de-aged version of Indiana Jones doesn’t physically match up with Ford’s raspy, 80-year-old voice… and that can be rather distracting.

https://twitter.com/AnghusH/status/1674760175125684225

Although many are suggesting that Dial of Destiny succeeded where Crystal Skull failed, there are those who are willing to let bygones be bygones as Dial of Destiny proves to be just as stodgy as its predecessor. Overall, it’s quite the mixed bag of reactions; some agree that Jones’ swan song bid farewell to the franchise in the best way, whereas others are left unfulfilled by a sequel that chooses to cut corners.

There’s truly no definitive outlook on Dial of Destiny that isn’t a personal preference, but the de-aging segment is notoriously distracting, which takes away from Ford’s acting. Thankfully, newcomer Phoebe Waller-Bridge carries some of the Lucasfilm’s slack to make her mark on the Indiana Jones world. We’ll give credit where it’s due to Mads Mikkelsen, as well, who ticked off portraying both a Bond villain and an Indiana Jones villain in one eventful career.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is showing in theaters now.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Chynna Wilkinson
Chynna Wilkinson
Chynna has been a noteworthy presence within creative media for over seven years. As a self-proclaimed geek driven by a passion for horror, comic books, video games, and modern cinema, she takes pride in doing what she loves. In addition to her personal writing projects, Chynna is also an award-winning screenwriter, published poet, and accomplished academic writer, producing everything from short stories and screenplays to articles, features, and poetry. She enjoys watching anime, horror movies, and animated shows and her life revolves around cinema, video games, and tasteful literature.