THB #386: Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny

“I should have peed before we left!”

Why isn’t “just” making an Indiana Jones movie enough?

The Dial of Destiny - aka “worst title ever” - is really 5 different movies that don’t hold together terribly well.

1. Indiana Jones movie

2. Movie about aging and accepting what your life has been with grace movie

3. Nazi who won’t die until the Nazis win movie

4. Feminist movie undercut by the woman being as bad as any of the men

5. Somewhat magical young boy of color movie

Any 2 of these movies could have made a very good Indiana Jones movie. But however this film was developed, someone in charge kept deciding to add to the pile, not to edit it along the way. Make a choice!!!

This has become somewhat of a theme for me lately. I think it’s because, in part, the focus on IP is now pushing a lot of the franchises past the point of feeling they can just deliver more of the same. I would argue that, whether critics like it or not, this is exactly the opposite of what movie audiences want… they are thrilled when they ge…