Weekend Watch: Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, Nimona
Dr. Jones goes on one last adventure, while a new animated classic is born
Image Credit: Disney
Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, in which I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, Indy’s ready to retire and a young woman looks for acceptance. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite
When I was young, a new Indiana Jones film was an event –– at least, until for me The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, which suffered from A) being seen through more cynical, critical adult eyes and B) really not being all that great compared to what came before (though I know it has its defenders).
Which brings us to Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, which sees James Mangold taking over the directorial reins from Steven Spielberg and finds Harrison Ford’s title character much older and in more reflective mood than even Crystal Skull.
Yet for all the passion that Mangold and his colleagues have clearly poured into the film, it has ended up somewhat wanting, and overly reliant of snatches of John Williams’ iconic theme to truly get the blood pumping.
It’s no fault of Ford, who commits to this final outing, and is still the perfect embodiment of the character he’s been playing since the 1980s. Yet around him, the film itself is fun but only mildly entertaining compared to, say, Raiders Of The Lost Ark. There are too many car chases with too little invention and the story feels like it can’t stretch to fill the running time.
An opening prologue set during Jones’ 1940s glory days (with a mostly successful de-aged Ford) is the best thing about it, but unfortunately things go downhill from there –– and even that sequence has a few logic gaps, such as how Mads Mikkelsen’s Voller survives what happens to him in that time period.
Other elements that worked for me? Phoebe Waller-Bridge is entertainingly sneaky as Indy’s god-daughter Helena, who has her own designs on the title artefact
If this truly is to be the final outing for the man in the hat, it’s regrettable that it’s not a really fitting one.
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny is in UK and US cinemas now.
Image Credit: Netflix
Nimona almost never made it to screens. But we should all be very, very glad it did. Because this is one of the most inventive, heartfelt, and honestly wonderful animated movies to come along in a while. Which is saying something in a year where Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse exists.
Originally developed at Blue Sky (where the Ice Age franchise was created), it was in production when Disney bought the company’s corporate parent, 20th Century Fox and decided that Blue Sky was surplus to requirements. Fortunately, the story has a happy ending: Annapurna picked it up and partnered with Netflix to finish and release it.
Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane from a script by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor (adapted from ND Stevenson’s graphic novel), Nimona is set in a fascinating world that blends medieval with hi-tech (think Game Of Thrones meets Blade Runner). A thousand years ago, a warrior defeated a massive, dangerous creature and established a lineage of knights to keep everyone safe.
Finally, the organisation is ready to admit someone who isn’t from the high families, and Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed, who puts his heart and soul into the role, while also finding the funny) has risen from the streets to rank among the latest training class. But on the day he’s knighted, his sword unexpectedly opens, killing the Queen (Lorraine Toussaint).
Branded a “Queen Slayer”, he becomes a wanted man, hiding from the entire kingdom and his former comrades, including the man he loves, Ambrosius Goldenloin (Eugene Lee Yang). Which is where Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz) comes in. A young punk rebel, she’s decided that she’d make the perfect sidekick for Ballister for all his evil deeds. Except… Ballister is innocent, and only wants to clear his name. Still, Nimona thinks she can bring her shape-shifting abilities to bear no matter what –– mostly to create chaos.
The result is a freewheeling, frequently hilarious adventure and buddy bonding story that takes some imaginative left turns while also meditating on acceptance, life, status and paranoia.
And unlike the recent Elemental, which for all its invention felt like its main city was designed on autopilot, the metropolis of Nimona is bursting with ideas, down to the subway announcements of “if you see something, slay something”.
Moretz brings the title character to life with spirit and spark, and a deeper, darker emotional undercurrent that gives real feeling to her situation. She’s a ball of chaotic energy, joyful and unique.
If there’s any shame about Nimona, it’s that it won’t have a chance to be seen on enough big screens. Still, seek it out; you won’t regret it.
Nimona is on Netflix now.