The long-awaited return of Dr. Jones
25 May 2008
0Comments | Comment on this Article
On Sunday (18.05.08) 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' took its worldwide bow at the Cannes Film Festival. Just four days later the fourth instalment of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' much-loved action-adventure franchise will finally hit cinemas all over the globe. It is about time, too. In anyone's book, 19 years (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was released in 1989) is a long time to keep fans waiting. With star Harrison Ford already 65, any longer and daredevil archaeologist Dr. Jones would have been performing his trademark stunts with the aid of a Zimmer Frame. Perhaps only Lucas' return to the 'Star Wars' franchise in 1999 has created more fevered speculation and expectation than Indy's comeback. Since shooting began back in June the internet has been rife with plot rumours, two favourites being a storyline about an alien invasion, and the notion that Mutt Williams, played by 21-year-old rising star Shia LaBeouf, will turn out to be Jones' son.Neither possibility can be confirmed or denied for certain, although we do know that Mutt is the son of Jones' love interest from 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', Marion Ravenwood (played by Karen Allen), who also returns for the film.We also know (with a fairly strong hint from the somewhat cumbersome title), that the movie will entail a battle for a crystal skull, which has the ability to instil the person who returns it to its rightful resting place with huge power. Where the first three films saw Jones battling a set of curiously camped-up, pantomime-like Nazis, here - with the action set in 1957, 19 years after the previous film - we are provided with a Cold War backdrop and an instant set of Russian evildoers, headed by Cate Blanchett's special agent Irina Spalko.Beyond these titbits, little of substance is yet known, and it is hardly surprising. Steven Spielberg is obsessed to the point of neurotic paranoia regarding plot leaks. So much so that even LaBeouf was not allowed to have his own copy of the script until shooting began. The actor revealed: "The joke I had was that Steven had snipers following me, and if I ever slipped and gave up any titbits that was the end.''The lengths to which Spielberg went to prevent leaks is also touched upon by John Hurt, the British thespian who portrays an academic by the name of Dr. Oxley. One of the few stars with the audacity to demand to see the script before signing on, Hurt revealed: "It had to be hand delivered from Hollywood. A courier dropped it off at three and picked it up at eight. He was probably outside with an eye on the front door during that time."In what many may regard as a nigh on blasphemous lack of regard for the franchise, he added: "It's cops and robbers stuff. And it's all to make Mr. Lucas an extra billion, as if he needs it."
Unable to hold his tongue, Hurt also let slip that he enjoys a fracas with Jones at some point, blabbing: "Harrison Ford does all his own fights. And I should know, I was in one of them."
Which brings us to the question causing everyone who holds Indian Jones close to their hearts to sport furrowed brows. Can a 65-year-old man really play the cinematic world's number one swashbuckler? All evidence would suggest yes. For a start, Ford claims he is still the same weight he was back in 1989, having embarked years ago on a daily regime of gym work and tennis playing.
Spielberg, for one, insists Ford was in perfect shape to reprise the role. He said: "I knew Harrison could pull this off because he has kept in tremendous shape physically. He's really taken care of himself, and he did all his own stunts, as he did in the first three films."
As for Ford, he finds the whole issue irksome and pointless, snapping: "Yeah, I've heard it. 'Aaaaw, he's older.' Well, s**t, yes. I feel as fit as I did 20 years ago."
Ford clearly has a huge soft spot for the character, explaining: "There's something about the part that is a good fit for me because the minute I put on the costume, I recognise the tone we need and I feel confident and clear about the character."
So attached was he to the Fedora-sporting archaeologist, he reportedly threatened to walk when it was suggested new Hollywood health and safety rules would preclude him from wielding a real whip, signalling the planned creation of a CGI replacement.
The film certainly boasts a stellar cast. As well as Ford, LaBeouf and Hurt, you can add the names of Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent and 'Beowulf' star Ray Winstone, both of who will reportedly play allies of Jones. If word from the set is to be believed, the pick of the bunch will be Blanchett, sporting a particularly sinister looking black bob haircut.
Discussing her performance in the movie, Spielberg raved: "The privilege for me was working with the great and talented Cate Blanchett. Because she is really a master of disguise. She's a very threatening villain. Of all the villains I've been able to work with in the Indiana Jones movies, I can say she's my favourite. And I think Cate made her that way. We gave her a template for this, but she invented the character."
Asked if there was a vaguely dominatrix vibe about Blanchett's creation, Lucas is said to have laughed, before replying: "Not so vaguely."
If the perfectionism of Spielberg, Lucas and Ford is anything to go by, 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' ought to be flawless. The trio have been discussing the project at regular intervals ever since 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade', failing time and again to agree on a plot which all were happy with. Scripts from some of Hollywood's top scribes have been rejected along the way. In the early 90s 'Die Hard' writer Jeb Stuart is said to have penned a script entitled 'Indiana Jones and the Saucer Men From Mars'. 'Last Crusade' writer Jeffrey Baum had a crack, while 'Shawshank Redemption' writer Frank Darabont is said to have turned in a script which met with Spielberg's approval, only to be vetoed by Lucas. Even 'Sixth Sense' writer-and-director M. Night Shyamalan is said to have had a go.
It is hardly surprising they were protective over the franchise. 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' and 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade' not only made a collective total of almost $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office, but created a film icon in their lead character. With his laconic jibes, careworn attitude, and trademark whip and Fedora hat, Indiana Jones is a bona fide screen legend to film fans. In a list of movie heroes compiled by the illustrious American Film Institute, he was trumped only by 'To Kill a Mockingbird's Atticus Finch, beating off the likes of James Bond and Superman. If they were going to bring back Indy, they had to do him justice.
Eventually, seasoned pro David Koepp, responsible for penning hits including 'Spider-Man' and 'War of the Worlds' wrote 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', winning over all three of the film's main players.
Still, despite the painstakingly careful lengths to which they have gone to get the film right, Lucas - perhaps jaded by the critical mauling given to the 'Star Wars' prequels - is certain the movie will be given a hard time.
He said: "It's not that you can't please everyone, it's that you can't please anyone. I learned that a long time ago.
"When you make a movie like 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' people automatically expect the Second Coming. They set themselves up to hate it. I went through the same thing on 'Star Wars'. Nobody is going to be happy. When you make a movie like this all you can do it lose."
Hate it or love it, people will flock to see this movie in droves. Every so often a film comes along which is utterly immune to the sway of the critic's pen. It may not quite be the Second Coming but Indy's back, and he's about to take the summer box office by storm.
By Robbie McIntyre
0Comments | Be the first to comment!
