James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last night, and the first social media reactions (along with several full reviews) were shared online shortly after.
The movie was reportedly given a 5-minute standing ovation when the credits rolled, and, initially, the positive reception was reflected in the first verdicts - but the consensus is now leaning much more negative
With 14 reviews counted, The Dial of Destiny currently sits at 43% on Rotten Tomatoes. That score is sure to fluctuate as more press screenings take place (was Cannes really the best place to debut this movie?), so be sure to keep an eye out for updates.
Despite this disappointing start, some are hailing the film as a fitting send-off for the legendary archaeologist/adventurer, and star Harrison Ford's performance is coming in for a lot of praise.
Total Film awarded the movie 4 stars, calling it "a terrific thrill ride. With Ford in fine form, Indy’s last stand is a highly satisfying blend of action, humour and emotion."
The South China Morning Post were similarly impressed, concluding their 4-star review with: "With some throwbacks (including an underused John Rhys-Davies), Dial of Destiny feels like an old-school Indy romp, more so than 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as it tries to capture the rollicking spirit of the originals."
Empire gave another 4-star write-up, but mentioned that the ending will likely be divisive: "Indy’s final date with destiny has a barmy finale that might divide audiences — but if you join him for the ride, it feels like a fitting goodbye to cinema’s favourite grave-robber."
The Irish Times had some issues, although they did award an average 3 stars: "Nobody with a brain in their heads will compare Dial of Destiny favourably to the first three films. There is a sense throughout of a project struggling to stand beneath the weight of its history."
Variety also had quite a few criticisms, referring to the movie as "dutifully eager but ultimately rather joyless piece of nostalgic hokum."