Can Harrison Ford Revive Indiana Jones? (article)

Posted by Indiana Eastwood from ? (65.164.239.2) on Thursday, February 07, 2002 at 6:25pm :

Star Jones

Can Harrison Ford resurrect Indiana Jones? Why a sultry female sidekick might be Ford's best protection the fourth time around by Liane Bonin

SILVERADO Even at 60, experts say Ford can pull off another Indy

It's been 21 years since Harrison Ford first cracked his whip in ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' (and 13 years since the third in the series, ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade''), but the soon-to-be-60-year-old actor is dusting off his fedora for another dig gig. After Ford and director Steven Spielberg spilled the beans about a new Indy movie at this year's Golden Globes, a spokesman for Spielberg confirmed that the director has a storyline and a title (a start date has yet to be decided). EW.com talked to industry experts to determine what it will take to keep the 20-year-old franchise fresh in a post-''Matrix'' world.

Oldie can be goodie Though the ancient relic/AARP jokes have already begun, the consensus is that, even at 60, Ford is capable of filling Indy's shoes. ''Harrison Ford, like Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, and Sean Connery, is on this short list of actors who audiences buy as leading men well into their 60s,'' says one Hollywood development executive. ''He can be old as long as the story isn't.'' And Ford has held steady at the box office since his last Indy stint. The Jack Ryan movies, ''Air Force One,'' and ''The Fugitive'' have only built his audience,'' says media analyst Adam Farasati of ReelSource. ''He could be a million years old and on crutches, and people will still pay to see him.'' Unless, of course, it involves Sabrina.

Just age gracefully Even though Ford is spry enough to play Indy, it's time for the professor to hand off the more extreme stunts to some younger costars. Fortunately for Ford, though, show-stopping stunts have never been Indy's main draw anyway. ''The best scene out of all the films was the one where, when faced with a skilled swordsman, Indy just pulls out his gun and shoots the guy,'' explains Farasati. ''The key has always been brains over brawn, and that's given this character longevity that other '80s action heroes like Rambo and Rocky have lacked.''

| Indiana Jones 4 | pages: 1 2

HOLY CASH COW A spiritual theme (like that of ''Raiders'') might snag a post-''Matrix'' audience

Girl power So who should get stuck doing Indy's more demanding stunts? A distaff sidekick is not only trendy (''Tomb Raider,'' ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'') but would also remain true to the franchise's history of feisty female leads like Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) in ''Raiders'' and Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) in ''Crusade.'' ''Carrie Anne Moss or Cameron Diaz would work. Jennifer Lopez would be hot, hot, hot with Ford,'' the development executive suggests. A young actress with marquee value will also appeal to teenage girls, who helped ''Tomb Raider'' rake in $131 million despite miserable reviews. Which means Spielberg might want to rethink his recent revelation: that wife Kate Capshaw (whiny nightclub singer Willie Scott in ''Temple of Doom'') will be making an appearance. ''Let's just say she isn't the favorite heroine,'' admits Farasati. On the other hand, he adds, ''as long as Harrison Ford is there, I don't think her presence will have any impact on the box office.''

Get spirited Potentially Ford's age could be an advantage. ''At 60, you have to assume the character has acquired a certain amount of wisdom, and that could be his strength,'' suggests Brian Fagan, an archaeology professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and the author of ''The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World.'' Fagan notes that while Indiana Jones films have always focused on the search for religious icons (the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, a sacred Indian stone), an older and wiser Jones would be well suited to a more ethereal quest. ''On a site you really sense the people who were there before you, and the spiritual dimension could be an interesting idea for a mature Indy to explore,'' he says. Whether that means awakening an ancient spirit (hopefully not a mummy) or facing off against an angry god, an otherworldly theme is not only a safe bet (''The Others,'' ''The Sixth Sense'') but opens the door for great special effects.

Think outside the Ark It's not as easy to wow audiences today as it was 13 years ago. Not only have ''The Mummy'' movies swiped Indy's shtick, ''The Matrix'' has amplified our expectations for action scenes. Instead of trying to top the competition (though George Lucas' ILM effects wizards will undoubtedly find a way), Spielberg and Lucas should put most of their energy into the script. Despite today's monster budgets and eye-popping pyrotechnics, few recent action movies have matched ''Raiders''' snappy dialogue and sly plot twists. ''Movies like 'Jurassic Park 3' and 'Planet of the Apes' had big opening weekends, but never the long-term legs of the Indy movies, and that's telling,'' says Farasati. In other words, wisecracks alone won't be enough to appease Indy fans. The fear, says the development exec, is that a new installment will end up being a mere cliché of itself, and ''today's audiences are too savvy.'' Tell that to the Scorpion King.

This article will appear in Entertainment Weekly, I think. Sounds like these writers know what they're talking about eh?

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Re: Can Harrison Ford Revive Indiana Jones? (article) - James 1:02am 02/08/2002

Jennifer Lopez not, not, not. (nm) - 007 10:54pm 02/07/2002

Looks like the writer has dropped in on us often!(nm) - Fedora 8:35pm 02/07/2002

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: : Star Jones : : Can Harrison Ford resurrect Indiana Jones? Why a sultry female sidekick might be Ford's best protection the fourth time around by Liane Bonin : : : SILVERADO Even at 60, experts say Ford can pull off another Indy : : : It's been 21 years since Harrison Ford first cracked his whip in ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' (and 13 years since the third in the series, ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade''), but the soon-to-be-60-year-old actor is dusting off his fedora for another dig gig. After Ford and director Steven Spielberg spilled the beans about a new Indy movie at this year's Golden Globes, a spokesman for Spielberg confirmed that the director has a storyline and a title (a start date has yet to be decided). EW.com talked to industry experts to determine what it will take to keep the 20-year-old franchise fresh in a post-''Matrix'' world. : Oldie can be goodie Though the ancient relic/AARP jokes have already begun, the consensus is that, even at 60, Ford is capable of filling Indy's shoes. ''Harrison Ford, like Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, and Sean Connery, is on this short list of actors who audiences buy as leading men well into their 60s,'' says one Hollywood development executive. ''He can be old as long as the story isn't.'' And Ford has held steady at the box office since his last Indy stint. The Jack Ryan movies, ''Air Force One,'' and ''The Fugitive'' have only built his audience,'' says media analyst Adam Farasati of ReelSource. ''He could be a million years old and on crutches, and people will still pay to see him.'' Unless, of course, it involves Sabrina. : Just age gracefully Even though Ford is spry enough to play Indy, it's time for the professor to hand off the more extreme stunts to some younger costars. Fortunately for Ford, though, show-stopping stunts have never been Indy's main draw anyway. ''The best scene out of all the films was the one where, when faced with a skilled swordsman, Indy just pulls out his gun and shoots the guy,'' explains Farasati. ''The key has always been brains over brawn, and that's given this character longevity that other '80s action heroes like Rambo and Rocky have lacked.'' : : | Indiana Jones 4 | pages: 1 2 : : HOLY CASH COW A spiritual theme (like that of ''Raiders'') might snag a post-''Matrix'' audience : : Girl power So who should get stuck doing Indy's more demanding stunts? A distaff sidekick is not only trendy (''Tomb Raider,'' ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'') but would also remain true to the franchise's history of feisty female leads like Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) in ''Raiders'' and Dr. Elsa Schneider (Alison Doody) in ''Crusade.'' ''Carrie Anne Moss or Cameron Diaz would work. Jennifer Lopez would be hot, hot, hot with Ford,'' the development executive suggests. A young actress with marquee value will also appeal to teenage girls, who helped ''Tomb Raider'' rake in $131 million despite miserable reviews. Which means Spielberg might want to rethink his recent revelation: that wife Kate Capshaw (whiny nightclub singer Willie Scott in ''Temple of Doom'') will be making an appearance. ''Let's just say she isn't the favorite heroine,'' admits Farasati. On the other hand, he adds, ''as long as Harrison Ford is there, I don't think her presence will have any impact on the box office.'' : Get spirited Potentially Ford's age could be an advantage. ''At 60, you have to assume the character has acquired a certain amount of wisdom, and that could be his strength,'' suggests Brian Fagan, an archaeology professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and the author of ''The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World.'' Fagan notes that while Indiana Jones films have always focused on the search for religious icons (the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, a sacred Indian stone), an older and wiser Jones would be well suited to a more ethereal quest. ''On a site you really sense the people who were there before you, and the spiritual dimension could be an interesting idea for a mature Indy to explore,'' he says. Whether that means awakening an ancient spirit (hopefully not a mummy) or facing off against an angry god, an otherworldly theme is not only a safe bet (''The Others,'' ''The Sixth Sense'') but opens the door for great special effects. : Think outside the Ark It's not as easy to wow audiences today as it was 13 years ago. Not only have ''The Mummy'' movies swiped Indy's shtick, ''The Matrix'' has amplified our expectations for action scenes. Instead of trying to top the competition (though George Lucas' ILM effects wizards will undoubtedly find a way), Spielberg and Lucas should put most of their energy into the script. Despite today's monster budgets and eye-popping pyrotechnics, few recent action movies have matched ''Raiders''' snappy dialogue and sly plot twists. ''Movies like 'Jurassic Park 3' and 'Planet of the Apes' had big opening weekends, but never the long-term legs of the Indy movies, and that's telling,'' says Farasati. In other words, wisecracks alone won't be enough to appease Indy fans. The fear, says the development exec, is that a new installment will end up being a mere cliché of itself, and ''today's audiences are too savvy.'' Tell that to the Scorpion King. : : This article will appear in Entertainment Weekly, I think. Sounds like these writers know what they're talking about eh?

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