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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Indy's Back!

Finally, it’s official (and it's also official here). George Lucas has declared that the script for the long-awaited Indiana Jones 4 is finally finished, and that production of the movie will begin some time this year. So, if everything goes as scheduled (what are the chances of it, anyway?), the movie will hit theaters worlwide in 2008.

Hopeful as I am, there are a lot of setbacks, though. First of all, Harrison Ford’s overdiscussed age. Ho’s too old for the part? Well, that will depend on the script, so, I’m not really worried about it. Then there’s also the usual: the three fist movies were all such good films, that it’s going to be a miracle that this fourth installment will live up to expectations.

And then there’s George Lucas’ magic touch. We’re talking here about the guy who created Star Wars from nothing, transformed it into one of the most important art pieces of our time (not to mention pop culture icon) and then later covered it with mud. That in mind, I would say: "Leave Indiana Jones alone, you dreams-spoiler". But this time Steven Spielberg is on the mix, and he’s the one who’s going to film the movie, not Mr. Lucas, god providing. We have faith in you, Mr. Spielberg, don’t let us down. Nobody here wants to see Jar Jar running in front of a big round rock. Unless the rock will catch him, of course.

11 comments:

Mario Alba said...

What can I say? I love Indiana Jones, and I would hate to see Lucas destroy him the same way he did with Star Wars.

That said, I trust Spielberg, and also David Koepp, whom IMDB says has written the screenplay. Whatever they do, they should NOT let Lucas write the script. I was reading the links you made, and I was reading Lucas said it was going to be a "character piece". For some reason, I was picturing Anakin and Padme's scenes in Attack of the Clones. That's the kind of character pieces Lucas writes. But if Koepp actually wrote it, well, then there's hope.

Another bad thing is that if this movie sucks, it's going to contaminate the whole franchise. And yeah, I love Spielberg, but I must say his directorial efforts since Saving Private Ryan have been a mixed bag. They've either left me indifferent (AI, Minority Report), or I haven't seen the movies because they just didn't look appealing (Munich, The Terminal). A couple of them I did like (Catch Me if You Can and War of the Worlds), but I didn't think they were anywhere near close to his older movies.

And then we have Harrison Ford, the person in this combination that needs a hit the most.His last few movies have all tanked, and his name's not the box-office guarantee it used to be: Firewall, Hollywood Homicide, K-19 --I haven't seen any of those (his last 3 movies). I did like What Lies Beneath (his last hit, back in 2000), but his movies prior to that one (not taking into account the Jack Ryan films)either didn't do well at the box-office or I just didn't like all that much: Random Hearts, Air Force One, The Devil's Own, Sabrina... And, truth be told, I don't really like the Jack Ryan movies either.

But Indy is Indy, and I, like many people, will go see any Indiana Jones movie they make. I just hope they don't destroy this wonderful character in the Ancient Quest for the Green Knight. (And wouldn't that be a fitting if slightly sarcastic title?)

Anonymous said...

I aloso trust Spielberg, and even Mr. Koepp. And, of course, John Williams (if he were dead, I definitely wouldn't want any new Indy movie made).

I actually liked very much Minority Report, just the same as War of the Worlds or Catch Me... If You Can. The Terminal was... well, it was a pretty entertaining movie. And I haven't seen AI, or Munich, just because, quoting you, they didn't look appealing to me.

About Harrison Ford, well, you couldn't speak more true. Maybe his agent, or the person who chooses his projects for him is the same of SMG. Such an incredible career, up until the early 90's, flushed down the toilet.

Anyway, I only pray for the new Indy movie not being centered around UFO's, as it has been rumored countless times before. I couldn't stand a scene in where Indy would discover the remains of the Millenium Falcon, or of a fossilized E.T.
Frozen with terror, I am.

Mario Alba said...

The remains of the Millennium Falcon or a fossilized ET? Hahahaha. That would be horrendous. Atrocious. And, unfortunately, I can see Lucas thinking that would be so much fun to do. Hell, I'm sure he had it all planned since 1977.

Nash said...

Bueno como sois crueles y os pegais unas super-parrafadas en ingles que no me da tiempo a traducir del todo, solo dire que espero q Spilberg pueda mas que Lucas y salga una peli decente.

Anonymous said...

Jeje, perdona Nash. Sí, mas o menos vamos por ahí. Menos mal que la película esta vez no la dirige Lucas. Porque como perfilador de tramas y productor, la verdad es que el tío no tiene igual. Pero, ahora, como guionista y como director... Es que no da una el hombre. Aunque, como dice Mario, lo tuviera todo requetepensado desde el 77.

Mario Alba said...

"como perfilador de tramas y productor, la verdad es que el tío no tiene igual"

Cierto. A su avispamiento productivo le debemos, entre otras maravillas, Howard el Pato. Maestro, que es un maestro...

Nash said...

Bueno mario que tambien hizo Willow, que de las de fantasia con dragon heart y el señor de los anillos son las unicas que se salvan. No le quitemos meritos el tipo es capaz de lo mejor y lo peor....claro que lo de lo peor lo lleva a unas cotas inalcanzables por mucho.

Anonymous said...

Howard el Pato... jeje, es verdad. Vaya basura de película que era.

Pero me mantengo en mis trece sobre su valía como creador de tramas. El tío que creó la figura de Indiana Jones, o la trilogía original de Star Wars, o, aún diría mas (a riesgo de recibir una fulminante lapidación): la BRILLANTE trama política detrás de los Episodios I, II y III; no puede ser tan mal treatmentista.
Ahora, en cuanto se mete a escribir diálogos o a dirigir... temblemos todos.

Mario Alba said...

Vale, vale, tenéis razón. Supongo que mi ansia de darle palos al Lucas siempre que puedo me ha cegado momentáneamente. Es verdad que ha hecho cosas MUY buenas, y que sus cosas malas son MUY malas. Sin embargo, me da la impresión de que, en las cosas estupendas, suele tener ayuda (Spielberg en Indy, Larry Kasdan en Indy y los Episodios V y VI); y en las cosas malas parece que no tiene a nadie que lo haya podido salvar de hacer el ridículo más espantoso.

Y no, Hal, no te voy a tildar de hereje por decir que la trama política está muy bien en los Eps I, II y III. Creo que la idea es muy buena, pero la ejecución deja bastante que desear.

En resumen, creo que Lucas funciona como parte de un equipo, con otras personas que lo frenen, lo ayuden, y lo llamen subnormal si dice alguna chorrada o quiere escribir cosas como "se me alarga cuando me tocas", o lo que fuera que decía Anakin en AOTC. Pero cuando él es la figura y tiene a McCallum cerrándole la boca a quien ose protestar (sólo una hipótesis), entonces la calidad de la película muere... y desaparece.

Anonymous said...

Totaaaaaaaalmente de acuerdo. Si no llega a ser por Mr. Kasdan Star Wars o Indiana Jones no hubieran llegado a donde lo han hecho. Y lo mismo pasa, exactamente, con Spielberg, o con Irving Kershner (si es que recuerdo bien como se escribe si dichoso apellido) en el caso de El Imperio Contraataca.

Sobre lo de Rick McCallum... Es que me pone enfermo. Anda que no le habré leído veces decir cosas como: "el Episodio I va a ser una gran película, no puedo esperar a que veais lo bien que nos está quedando todo". O, "ahora estamos introduciendo nuevos métodos de filmación digital. Va a ser el adelanto técnico más importante desde la introducción del color".

Solo espero que lo máximo que pinte en Indy 4 sea ser el lleva-cafés personal de Lucas...

Mario Alba said...

Pues eso. Muerte a McCallum. Menudo fantoche.