Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final installment of the iconic franchise– a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure. Starring alongside Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Shaunette Renée Wilson (Black Panther), Thomas Kretschmann (Das Boot), Toby Jones (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Boyd Holbrook (Logan), Olivier Richters (Black Widow), Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange) and newcomer Ethann Isidore. Directed by James Mangold (Logan, Walk the Line) and written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp and James Mangold, based on characters created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, has returned once again to compose the score.

For in-depth thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray in 2160p/HDR with its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio courtesy of Disney featuring gorgeous cinematography from Phedon Papamichael. This is a film with a very stylized visual aesthetic bathed in golden hues to conjure up a vintage charm. This presentation is quite fetching and offers a crisp image quality throughout. The visual majesty of the film translates well on disc with most shots looking stable and breathtaking. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances even in the darkest sections of the journey.

The HDR expands the possibilities of the color spectrum with a depth that does not go unnoticed. The green of the vegetation pops off the screen alongside other flourishes of the environment, yet the intentional color timing dampens the intensity ever so slightly. The filmmakers capture some awe-inspiring imagery that truly pops in this superior format. Not only do the textural details render cleanly, but the film conveys a sense of depth that allows it to feel three-dimensional. Skin tones are natural with impressive detail in close-ups, especially. When compared to the included Blu-Ray, this 4K UHD presentation wins without question with a host of benefits.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a wonderful Dolby Atmos presentation that packs one heck of a punch from beginning to end. From the opening moments in the explosive past, the soundscape is set to deliver an expansive experience suitable for an Indiana Jones adventure. Sounds are deftly rendered with precise directionality from the kinetic action scenes to interpersonal moments of dialogue. Ambient details are plentiful and quite satisfying in the rear and surround channels. The height channels open things up well with an occasionally startling implementation of action overhead that transports you into the film. All of these channels complement the other channels rather well which adds a pivotal sense of space to the mix.

The soaring score from John Williams saturates the room for an unforgettable experience. Dialogue is presented clearly without ever being overshadowed by any of the competing sonic elements. The machine gun bullets and crashes provide an all-encompassing soundscape that kicks in throughout all the speakers. The low end is engaged favorably and will have your couch shaking. The mix offers up a really fun time for viewers, and it is a good improvement over the DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio track on the Blu-Ray. There are optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles provided.

Special Features

Score-Only Version Of The Movie: An option to watch the movie with only the John Williams score audible in Dolby Atmos.
The Making Of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: A 57-minute documentary is provided that explores the creation of this film including the thrilling 1944 opening, the 1969 parade set piece, new characters, international locales, the culmination of the character, and more.
- Chapter 1 – Prologue (11:20)

- Chapter 2 – New York (10:33)

- Chapter 3 – Morocco (10:11)

- Chapter 4 – Sicily (11:22)

- Chapter 5 – Finale (13:18)

Final Thoughts

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is not the final adventure we wanted from our beloved hero, but it is far from an embarrassment. Some may say this film misses some of the Spielberg magic, and there may be some truth to that, but director James Mangold does a commendable job of bringing all of these unsteady narrative elements together. The film knows how to nail the spectacle, it just never feels as necessary as a supposed final chapter should be. We appreciate some of the new faces, but it feels like it is time to let the franchise rest for many, many years. Disney Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a nice array of special features. It may not reach the heights of the original trilogy, but it serves as a solid enough final outing for Harrison Ford’s iconic character. Recommended

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Disney Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.