Yes, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny does have all the familiar appeal of the Raiders of the Lost Ark archives.
Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones is still the world’s coolest archaeologist (on screen or off) and a little more grizzled than in his 2008 outing in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; the Nazis have returned, this time in the shape of a former member who works for Nasa in 1960s America; and Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are back working behind the scenes, this time as executive producers.
However, as with any good sequel, there’s just as much fun to be had with the new. Few elements of Dial of Destiny are as enjoyable as Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s fast-talking, wise-cracking Helena Shaw – Indy’s goddaughter.
Waller-Bridge, best known for her starring role in the Bafta-winning BBC comedy Fleabag, brings a whirlwind of chaos, humour and drama as Helena.
Her arrival comes as Indy's life reaches a crossroads, with the world around him looking increasingly unfamiliar and unfriendly, as well as forced retirement looming as a result. Could she be just the tonic he needs? “She's the right person to come into his life at this time, because it feels like he's in a bit of an emotional cul-de-sac in his life,” says Waller-Bridge.
“He's living in a time where the focus has shifted – people are looking to the future, to the Moon, and there isn't as much passion for what he is passionate about. So she brings a breeze of joy from his past, and the relationship he had with her father and, of course, she brings a passion for archaeology.”
Helena also brings some adventure back into Indy’s life as the pair set off in search of the mysterious dial, but things are not quite as they seem on the surface.
“She lights him up again, and she's very clever for doing that because she actually has her own nefarious agenda,” Waller-Bridge teases.
Helena is no two-dimensional token female lead, an element of the role that undoubtedly appealed. But when writer and director James Mangold told her he had beloved Hollywood star Barbara Stanwyck – star of Hollywood's Golden Age and a long-time heroine of Waller-Bridge – in mind when he created Helena, the actress was initially daunted.
“She’s an idol of mine, and that’s both a blessing and a curse,” she says. “There's something so fresh and charming about her but then, particularly in a film like The Lady Eve, she's also morally questionable. There was also something very modern about the way that she communicated and performed.”
These were all elements that Waller-Bridge tried to bring to the role.
“Helena feels like a modern woman, in terms of the time that we were coming into,” she explains. “She has this fierce independence and she's carved this place out in the world for herself, and refuses to need anybody else. She’s so much fun, but tough as hell. That essence seems to be captured in every single performance Barbara Stanwyck ever gave, so I sort of clung to that throughout.”
Waller-Bridge may have looked to a legend from Hollywood history for some of the inspiration for her character, but she didn’t need to look far across the set to see a genuine legend of modern Tinseltown in the shape of Ford.
The actor, 80, has starred in some of Hollywood’s most popular films and franchises, including Star Wars, Blade Runner, Witness (earning an Oscar nomination), American Graffiti and, of course, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
On screen, Indy struggles to act as a mentor, in the traditional sense, to the chaotic and headstrong Helena. Off-screen, however, the storied actor was able to offer more of a guiding hand to the actress playing her. Despite her glittering career on TV, both as a writer and actress, she is making her debut in Hollywood as a lead.
With that in mind, one particular piece of advice from one of film's best-known leading stars to her was: “'You have to really care until the camera turns on, and then you have to stop caring, because if they can see you caring then you've lost it,'” Waller-Bridge recounts about Ford's words.
She adds: “I think that works just to, sort of, snap you out of something just before you start the work so you don't care too much in the moment.”
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is out in UAE cinemas now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
On sale: now
Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
