Life Through the Lens: 42 years of hunting history
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"I've come to believe it's not so much about what you believe - it's how hard you believe it."
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One strives to explain and to reproduce while the other defies explanation and denies reproduction. One asks the question how in order to manipulate orders and functions while the other asks the question how in utter disbelief and wonder.
Sure, both have their place, and both serve an ultimate good, but dang if we couldn't use a bit more magic.
The exact right ingredients in the exact right proportions, mixed exactly right and prepared in the exact right way will, logically, produce an exact right taste, so says mechanics. But have you ever allowed yourself to take a bite of a food and be transported by magic instead? Be carried away to another realm. Be guided to an unknown destination. Be transported to a flavor euphoria? One can explain while the other can exhilarate.
Five kids, well-fed and well-rested, each with appropriate stimuli and healthy encouragement can result in a peaceful piece of time in close proximity to each other, so says mechanics. But what about the magic of those moments? Seeing my five kids rapt and rapturous together. Feeling the love emanate from their shared smiles. Being swept away by the energy of a family connected. Calling that magic embraces the miracle instead of generalizing it.
A waterfall is not a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. Psh, that is noise. A waterfall is pure magic. Period. The thrill of the chase, the excitement of the senses, the power and the beauty. Let it be magic.
One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," is this: to define is to limit. When we define these moments, we rob them of their enchantment. When we label our joys and successes, we shrink them down into the ordinary and palatable. When we attempt to reengineer and reconstruct the remarkable, we only end up with the rehearsed and regurgitated.
Instead of over-analyzing the amazing, try to accept the awesome for what it is, magic.
Dr. Henry Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford) has seen much in his life. He has conquered villains of flesh and blood as well as evils of the unexplainable. He has routed Nazis, crushed tyrants and even kicked some alien posterior, but there is one battle he is now finding himself losing more and more every day, consequence.
Indiana Jones no longer has a foul and formidable felon to fight. He no longer hears the epic battle call sounding his name. He has lost touch with his profession and his colleagues. He has lost his son to the Vietnam War and then his marriage to inconsolable grief. He is physically losing a step with each passing year. If anybody ever needed this former hero, there wouldn't be much left to offer. He has found himself of little or no consequence.
When Indy's goddaughter, Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), unexpectedly comes knocking, Indy's life is instantly upended. Helena's father was a former friend and partner of Indy. The pair had quite the adventure with Nazis and powerful relics in the old days. Helena, now 25 years later, is determined to adopt her late-father's obsession: Archimedes' Dial. She has come asking for help.
The second Indy unveils his piece of the dial, a clandestine plan makes itself known, and I mean known using guns and bullets. Apparently, there are many forces out there that are looking for the completed dial. If both parts are united, legend says that time itself will be under the wielder's control. Diplomats, dictators and desperados can all see the benefits, even if a few eggs need broken to get it.
Indiana Jones is back in dire straits, but that is exactly where this old dog has yearned to be. Back in the saddle. Back on top. Back in the game. Back in consequence.
Whoops. Better hurry. Here come those Nazis again.
I have said it here in April of 2019 for "The Last Crusade's" 30th anniversary, and I will say it again today. Indiana Jones is my all-time favorite movie character. He embodies so much of what is cool: the effortless efficiency, the contagious charisma, the inspiring intelligence, all without trying to be cool. He just is.
Granted, his coolest days are 34 years gone now. His attempt at cool in 2008 was very uncool. It was inflexible, forced and fumbled. I have been actively trying to forget the fourth movie even existed since I saw it 15 years ago. The announcement and now distribution of a fifth film had me (rightfully) worried. Will it just be another stain on cinema's coolest character? Turns out it is pretty OK.
Director James Mangold has proven his worth in Hollywood, but this was a tall task. Recreating the action magic of the 80s. As you could have guessed, recreating magic almost never works. Mangold gave it a wonderful attempt, though. His directing had energy and focus, two things missing in 2008's fourth installment. I have two complaints: the overwhelming reliance of computer graphics was slightly nauseating; and the film lacked an end befitting 42 years of work.
Harrison Ford actually surprised me. I have consistently poked gabs at him in the recent past about being brittle and no longer capable, but his performance was rock solid. He showed depth and dimension. The de-aging technology was able to recall a shade of the magic, even if the eyes are always lifeless. Ford gave his greatest character one more good adventure.
Pheobe Waller-Bridge was decent in her complicated role as Helena. I expected her to bring more humor and nuance. Mads Mikkelsen made a good villain as Dr. Voller. Not physically intimidating, but with the most menacing of motives. Boyd Holbrook was alarming as always in his role as tough-guy Klaber. John Rhys-Davies was a welcome reminder of the past as Sallah, Indy's friend from across the pond.
In the scope of the series, it is far from the originals. It could never repeat the thrill found 40 years ago, but it is a movie with genuine excitement of its own. I am glad this film exists. The world couldn't let Indiana Jones end with transparent extraterrestrial craniums. That movie stunk.
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REPORT CARD: "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."
Grade: B-
Assessment: There is still some fuel left in this old tank