Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallone have a lot in common, both being aged action stars who had trouble playing anything but themselves (advantage Stallone). However, there is a big difference between Stallone’s gamble with “Rocky Balboa” and Ford’s “'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
While “Rocky V” was horrible, the “Jones” trilogy remains in pristine condition. Stallone’s move to redeem himself and the vehicle that made him had very little to lose. Ford’s shot at redemption endangers some of our best memories of him.
I am not saying Ford’s new movie can’t work (though it’s in trouble already with that name), but I am saying he’s got a lot to lose.
7 comments:
Agree to disagree. While I won't disagree that Stallone needed to redeem himself from the atrocious 'Rocky V' (I pretend it didn't happen), I don't think that either of them have any more to lose. Harrison Ford hasn't had a hit since 'What Lies Beneath' (2000). While the franchise might lose some if its luster, at 65 this is the best move that Harrison could make: rejuvenate a franchise that finds him at his best. And while a 60 year-old boxer was hard to believe; a geriatric archaeologist isn't out of the realm of plausibility.
Agreed about the worry of making another addition to a beloved series, especially at Harrison's age, but I personally like to ignore Temple of Doom anyway. Plus, the supporting cast with high calliber actors like Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone and Jim Broadbent is impressive. For a while Natalie Portman was rumored to be attached and then it changed to Shia LaBeouf - Portman would have given the movie a higher level of credibility for me than LaBeouf, but all of the Indiana's have a little bit of side character goofiness, so I am sure that LaBeouf will deliver. I would feel a lot better about it if Sean Connery and John Rhys-Davies were on the cast list though. Too bad about the title.
I am a little afraid to knock Portman, knowing that Jed has plans to marry her someday, but even the idea that she was ever involved in this project brings with it horrible memories of the epitome of franchise destroying sequals.
It seems the film has been on shaky ground for over a decade
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Kingdom_of_the_Crystal_Skull
I will see Natalie Portman in anything, because she's my density, er, destiny. Plus, it's not her fault that Star Wars sucked, I believe that was because of George Lucas. I wish James Bond and Gimli were involved too, but I'm taking a shine to Shia.
P.S. At least M. Night Shymalyangadingdong didn't write the script.
While I pretty much lost respect for HF after "Six Days Seven Nights", I have heart Indiana Jones and I was mighty excited to hear another sequel was in the line up.
I was going to link a trailer teaser, but I couldn't find one to do the legend of Indiana Jones justice. I hope that's not foreshadowing...
Wait a second...I think you've totally counted out Shia. I kind of have a man crush on him. Mr. Labouf is one of the best actors in the industry right now. To me - he's going to make this show in my opinion.
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