Film: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Back to Ireland for the weekend again - and delighted to find that Stansted has finally started trialling the 3D scanners, so you don't have to remove your liquids from your bag! About time - they've had it in Shannon for ages. And we had a lovely, comfortable Lauda plane, with soft leather seats and good aircon, not to mention the seat beside me free - I might have had a lovely sleep, if not for the inveterate talker across the aisle, who latched onto the guy at the end of my section and would not stop talking for the entire flight. Ah well..

Yesterday, I finally got to see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny! This sees Harrison Ford, back again as the coolest archaeologist in the Western world. And yes, your eyes don't deceive you - that is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, tagging along as the female interest (his god-daughter). So, expect some good lines. Antonio Banderas shows up as his Spanish friend, an excellent diver, which is to prove useful. Mads Mikkelsen is the baddie - a Nazi, of course: Toby Jones a professor, a colleague of Indy's, and Phoebe's father. And oh, John Rhys-Davies is back as Sallah, Indy's Egyptian fixer from previous films! Also returning is Indy's girlfriend, Marion - so, a really nostalgic feel to this, with some nods to the first film. And I was happy to see it - if only for the CGI that makes Harrison Ford look young and gorgeous again.. (there's some time travel too). Showing in the Omniplex at a decent time, which was also convenient for all that shopping that Tesco is refusing to deliver.

What with having to run errands for my mother again, I was late to have much to eat - so I was hungry, and took the time before the film to queue for chocolate. They could really do with more staff. So I was actually a little late for the start - I don't think I missed anything significant. And handily, as usual, I had chosen the seat directly in from the door, so easy to find in the dark. The film starts back during the war, where we see Indy and his colleague deep in Nazi territory, searching for the same artefact that Hitler wants. Spoiler - turns out to be a fake. However, there is a really valuable artefact on the same train - a time-travel dial, a gadget invented by Archimedes. Which Indy and colleague manage to filch - the only Nazi who knows its worth is a professor: Mads Mikkelsen. Anyway, this is where the CGI comes in - and it's quite good.

Fast-forward to 1969, where Indy is an archaeology professor about to retire. Turns out he married Marion, but they're separated, and she's filed for divorce. Man has just landed on the moon, and Mads is still hanging around - and gee, interest in this dial has just been rekindled by Phoebe, who's studied archaeology, but is now trying to make a quick buck by selling the thing. She gets Indy to let her see it - and all of a sudden, everyone's after it..

It's primarily great fun, with a dizzying round of chases - on a train, in cars, a tuk-tuk, boats.. all terrifically choreographed, particularly the one in Tangier, down backstreets and vertiginous steps, full of atmospheric props. I absolutely loved it - and the scene where Marion reappears is quite moving. Highlight for me though was probably the sequence where they finally do use the time-travel dial to go back in time - truly fascinating. Harrison Ford is surprisingly good as a old-timer in action, and throughout, you have that iconic music. Man, if you're a fan of Indiana Jones.. go see. I was too tired to blog last night - I've found this weekend very restful, but it's been a trying time, you know!

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for Song from Far Away, at Hampstead Theatre. I suspect this is one that Meetup just declined to notify me about.. I don't remember seeing it advertised before, although it's been up for a while.

On Tuesday, I've signed up for the Epic Film Location London Tour Part 1, with London Socials, a new group to me.

On Wednesday, another new group - London Circus Cabaret and Burlesque Meetup is headed to Fool's Moon, a drag circus act at Soho Theatre. Meeting beforehand at the Nellie Dean - aw man, it's ages since I was at these places! A few of us have signed up now..

On Thursday, London Baroque Music Lovers again showed an unerring instinct for hitting a day I didn't have anything booked! So I'm going with them to a concert (& social) called Handel: Abandonment Issues, at the Foundling Museum. Tickets from Eventbrite, with a discount for people booking through the group!

On Friday - the advantage of unemployment, I can go on weekday walks with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners! This one, he can't do on weekends anyway - it's The Labyrinth of the Law Courts Walking Tour, and - predictably - full up.

That evening, off with my UITCS companion to Prom 9: Mariza Sings Fado, at the Albert Hall. We're eating beforehand at the Elgar Room, in the Albert Hall - a first for me, so should be interesting!

Next weekend is all about walking. On Saturday, back with London Herstory Guided Walks, Mandy taking us on a walk entitled Bow Belles! A Guided Walk through Bow Quarter.

And next Sunday, I'm with London History and Culture: Experience London/Britain/Europe, for In the Footsteps of the Tudors - Free In-Person Guided Walking Tour with Maggie. Another new group for me.