“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is a return to form for big-screen, old-school action movies.

It’s also a return to form for Harrison Ford in the title role of Indiana Jones.

Yes, we’re back home again with Indiana Jones.

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” dials up adventure, thrills and Hollywood style storytelling in a pre-internet era.

The fifth installment of “Indiana Jones” should please long-time fans. It’s a wildly-entertaining summer popcorn movie.

The franchise began in 1981 with “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.” That movie, set in 1936, introduced us to Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones (Harrison Ford), a college professor of archaeology.

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984), a prequel, took place in 1935. The MPAA PG-13 rating was devised in response to violence in the film, considered too intense for a PG rating.

“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) is set in 1938. “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008) takes place in 1957.

Producer George Lucas and Director Steven Spielberg envisioned Indiana Jones along the lines of Saturday movie theater serials and were inspired by big-screen adventure movie heroes.

You can see that the Saturday serials idea was in concept only. Years, even decades, passed between “Indiana Jones” movies.

Some 42 years later after “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” we have “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which takes place in 1969. It’s directed by James Mangold. Steven Spielberg directed the first four films.

“Dial of Destiny” is as familiar as the fedora on Indiana Jones‘ head and as comfortable as the old leather jacket on his back. The well-known John Williams’ movie theme fanfares Indiana Jones’ arrival and underscores his nearly every move.

Old Indy still has a lot of moves. Action has always been a byword in the “Indiana Jones” movies. “Dial of Destiny” has several terrific action sequences.

The action begins almost from the start of the film, in flashbacks to Nazi Germany when the Dial, a device or part of a device, said to date to circa 214 BC, and attributed to mathematician Archimedes in Greece, is confiscated to be given to Hitler. Only one half of the clock is found. The other half is buried somewhere out there. The chase is on.

Indiana Jones is assisted by Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) and pursued by Dr. Voller (Mads Mikkelsen). A rip-roaring top-of-train cars chase and fight scene is death-defying, thrilling and makes you forget the many previous similar scenes in movies.

Back to the present, which in the film is 1969 in New York City, Apollo 11 moon-landing astronauts are being honored with a ticker-tape parade. Indiana Jones is given a retirement party at Hunter College. Dr. Voller and his henchmen are in hot pursuit for the device, with one-half of it hidden in the college library.

Also seeking the device is Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), who is Indiana Jones’ goddaughter and daughter of Basil Shaw. She wants to auction the device. A chase scene ensues that has Indiana Jones galloping on a horse through the parade and into a New York City subway. “Hi-yo, Indy!.”

In Morocco, where the device is being auctioned, it’s snatched away. Indiana Jones, Helena and her teen-age sidekick Teddy (Ethann Isadore) get in a crazy chase in tuk-tuks, which are three-wheeled mini-taxis, through narrow streets as they are pursued and pursue Dr. Voller and his gang of thugs.

There are more chase scenes, captivating sequences (a steamship, a high-speed boat, a cave) and one huge surprise scene that would spoil the film for you if we reveal it.

Phoebe Waller-Bridges is great opposite Harrison Ford. She has the energy of a snapped rubber band.

Harrison Ford proves that he’s still a bonafide action hero. And he’s fine in the small scenes of dialogue and reflection. Ford was digitally “de-aged” for the Nazi-era scenes. He’s never looked better.

Notable in supporting roles are John Rhys-Davies (reprising his role as Sallah), Antonio Banderas (Renaldo, a ship owner), Karen Allen (Marion, reprising her role as Indiana Jones’ wife) and Shaunette Renee Wilson (Mason, a CIA agent).

Director James Mangold (director: “Ford v Ferrari,” 2019, best picture Oscar nominee; “Logan,” 2017, best adapted screenplay nominee; director: “Walk the Line,” 2005; “Girl, Interrupted,” 1999; “Cop Land,” 1997) is a solid director and makes all the right moves for the action scenes and in the dialogue and character scenes.

The screenplay is written by Mangold and Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (the brothers’ screenwriter credits include “Ford v Ferrari”; “Get On Up,” 2014; “Edge of Tomorrow,” 2014) and David Koepp (“The Mummy,” 2017; “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, 2014; “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”; “Jurassic Park,” 1993) based on characters created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman.

If you’re a fan of Harrison Ford, a fan of the “Indiana Jones” movies and a fan of old-fashioned Hollywood-style action movies, set your “Dial” for “Destiny.”

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,”

MPAA Rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.) for sequences of violence and action, language and smoking; Genre: Action, Adventure; Run time: 2 hours, 34 minutes. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” was filmed in England, including Pinewood Studios, and in Scotland and Italy.

At The Movies,

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” was seen in the Dolby Cinema at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Box Office,

July 14-16: Tom Cruise and his death-defying stunts opened “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One,” at No. 1 with $56.2 million in 4,327 theaters, $80 million since July 12.

2. “Sound of Freedom” moved up one place, $27 million in 3,265 theaters, $85.4 million, two weeks. 3. “Insidious: The Red Door” dropped two places from its one-week run at No. 1 with $13 million in 3,188 theaters, $58 million, two weeks. 4. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” dropped two places, $12 million in 3,865 theaters, $145.3 million, three weeks. 5. “Elemental” dropped one place, $8.7 million in 3,235 theaters, $125.2 million, five weeks. 6. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” dropped one places, $6 million in 2,577 theaters, $368.7 million, seven weeks. 7. “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” moved up one places, $3.4 million in 2,041 theaters, $152.7 million, six weeks. 8. “No Hard Feelings” dropped one place, $3.3 million in 2,053 theaters, $46.5 million, four weeks. 9. “Joy Ride” dropped three places, $2.5 million in 2,820 theaters, $10.6 million, two weeks. 10. “The Little Mermaid” dropped one place, $2.3 million in 1,615 theaters, $293.9 million, eight weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of July 16 is subject to change.

Unreel,

July 21:

“Barbie,”

MPAA Rated PG-13: Greta Gerwig directs Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Helen Mirren, Michael Cera, Dua Lipa, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, John Cena and Rhea Perlman in the Comedy Fantasy. Mattel’s Barbie doll, Ken doll and their friends come to life in Malibu, Calif.

“Oppenheimer,”

MPAA Rated R: Christopher Nolan directs Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., Gary Oldman, Josh Harnett, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, Casey Affleck and Allentown native Dane DeHaan in the Biography History Drama. American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer develops the atomic bomb.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of July 16 is subject to change.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes