106 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

And, yes, I think an ageing Ford, Hamill and Fisher would have been just as popular as Jar Jar and co., perhaps even more so.

Yup.

As far as internet fandom goes, Bond surely dwarfs both Indy and Rocky (and is in turn dwarfed by STAR WARS), but I presume you wouldn't say that Bond is bigger than Indy, would you, Harmsway?

Yeah, Bond has bigger fandom, if I had to guess. As far as which is "bigger," Bond sure has more mileage than Indy, but I don't know that I'd say he's bigger. Indy's capable of gaining much more buzz, hype, and anticipation than Bond ever could. A new Bond film is expected. A new Indiana Jones film is an event.

Exactly. There are more Bond sites than Indy or Rocky sites simply because there's so much more to Bond. Not only are there far more films, but there's also the novels, continuation novels, games, comics, memorabilia and so forth, stretching back decades, and ongoing projects in various media. With the other franchises (excluding STAR WARS and STAR TREK, which I guess rival Bond in old and new spinoffs and collector's items), all you've got to discuss and build sites around are a handful of movies and maybe a few odds and sods. The game's hardly worth the candle.*

However, INDY 4 has an excellent chance of being the number one film of 2008 and doing PIRATES 2-type business, maybe better. BOND 22 will do well, beating the likes of JOHN RAMBO and probably this summer's THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM and DIE HARD 4.0, but it ain't gonna take down Indy.

*Although I must say I'm tempted to start a Rocky site, just so I could watch it fill with people posting under user names like Paulie's Robot, Youbeatmebyonesecond, Spider_Rico79, Father Carmine and so on.

[Turn]

*Although I must say I'm tempted to start a Rocky site, just so I could watch it fill with people posting under user names like Paulie's Robot, Youbeatmebyonesecond, Spider_Rico79, Father Carmine and so on.

I can't decide if I want mine to be The Stallion in 3, X-Lax Watch or Cuffandlink.

It's easy for some to be skeptical about Indy 4 and putting in his son and all this smacks of groans. But who knows? We've had 3 great films in this series and I can sure do with something from a series I've loved over the years as opposed to yet another horror film remake or uplifting sports film based on a true story.

It just seems lately some of the old reliables are delivering beyond my expectations these days -- CR and Rocky Balboa were two of my favorites last year and I just bought the DVDs in consecutive weeks. It's nice to know some of the old reliables I grew up with are back for more, and not just for a quick buck.

[JimmyBond]

I think we can all agree that whatever was going on around him in the various films, Indy as a character didn't really change. Why change him now?

That argument sounds eerily familar to the one the anti-Craiger's came up with before Casino Royale came out. And look how well that turned out

[Harmsway]

I think we can all agree that whatever was going on around him in the various films, Indy as a character didn't really change. Why change him now?

That argument sounds eerily familar to the one the anti-Craiger's came up with before Casino Royale came out. And look how well that turned out

Quite right. And it's not like Indiana Jones is going to change that much. I just think he's going to be older this round, and that's going to be acknowledged. I think it's an idea worth exploring - or at least, it's an idea that's worth giving a "wait and see" to.

[Loomis]

*Although I must say I'm tempted to start a Rocky site, just so I could watch it fill with people posting under user names like Paulie's Robot, Youbeatmebyonesecond, Spider_Rico79, Father Carmine and so on.

I can't decide if I want mine to be The Stallion in 3, X-Lax Watch or Cuffandlink.

For me, it'd have to be Get_Up_You_Bum, Theneighborhoodjukebox or The Ultimate Meatball.

It's easy for some to be skeptical about Indy 4 and putting in his son and all this smacks of groans. But who knows? We've had 3 great films in this series and I can sure do with something from a series I've loved over the years as opposed to yet another horror film remake or uplifting sports film based on a true story.

It just seems lately some of the old reliables are delivering beyond my expectations these days -- CR and Rocky Balboa were two of my favorites last year and I just bought the DVDs in consecutive weeks. It's nice to know some of the old reliables I grew up with are back for more, and not just for a quick buck.

Exactly. If it were about a quick buck, we'd be faced with DIE HARD 7, RAMBO 10, and so on. And how many of today's new franchises are any good, with the exception of Bourne? Give me an "ancient" Ford or Stallone doing what he still does best (and better than most anyone) over Seann William Scott or THE FASTER AND THE EVEN MORE FURIOUS or SAW IV or whatever it is that passes for star quality or series filmmaking in today's Hollywood.

[Safari Suit]

I want dibs on "Paulie's Robot"!

Anyway, there have been plenty of successful (commercially if not otherwise) examples of aged action stars. AVTAK, The Dead Pool, Rocky Balboa, In the Line of Fire, most of Charles Bronson's movies, Lee Marvin in some of his later films, The Package, US Marshals etc. If you ask me OAPs kick . There are many potential problems with Indie 4 but I doubt age will be a prominent one.

[Santa]

Oh but they do smell of wee...

[00Twelve]

My screenname has to be either 'DRAGO!!!', 'Takeyouback', 'Creepo76', 'Alleybird' or 'SOTHPAW'(Yes, minus the 'u').


And this thread has officially gone to Oz.

[HildebrandRarity]

Obviously some of you guys love the idea and some of us (yours truly) thinks it is a joke of an idea.

Never in the history of James Bond has a 65 year old (who has not had any kind of reasonable recent success) been brought out 15 or so years later to revive a character.

You guys want to bring up Roger Moore...but 1) he was NOT in his 60s, 2) Octopussy was a pretty successful offering on a worldwide level, and 3) no one is saying that AVTAK was a great movie (indeed, it's considered one of the 'jokes'/low points of the canon.)

And Indy Jones along with 007 and Star Wars is the "Holy Trinity" of movies? On what planet?

Lastly, just because a movie makes a fair amount of money, doesnt mean it's not rubbish. Look at Pirates Of The Carribean 2 or Da Vinci Code. Indy 4 may (*may*) make money...but that wont mean it was a movie to die for.

Do you like Indiana Jones in general? Maybe not.

In general, Indy became big at a time in my life when I was more interested in the delights of the opposite sex.

I'd had my James Bond (Moore, Connery on TV)/Star Wars/Superman run as a kid. Indy came along when it was un-cool to be a fan boy (of any movie hero) and it was more cool to listen to the right kind of music...or the kind of music that the pretty teenage girls were listening to.

So, I never had a thing for Indy. I saw Octopussy at the theatre but missed AVTAK, catching only a smidgen of the old Bond fever with Timothy's first (TLD) and then truly getting into it again with GoldenEye.

So...I was neutral on Indy.

I can only imagine Indy became big because Harrison Ford was well into his groove of being the Sean Connery of his time...you know, the King of Hollywood in the line of Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant all the way through to Tom Cruise and then Brad Pitt. Add to that the involvement of Lucas/Spielberg and you had the formula.

History shows that the big blockbusters usually have a verile man as lead...either that or a teenager about to come of age.

Harrison Ford will be 66. His time has WELL passed. Connery's TLOEG was a mild hit. That's it. It would have been better to have had a younger actor (by about 25 years) in this role. IMO only of course.

As for the 'Holy Trinity' talk...well I can see James Bond and Star Wars in there...but there'll be 7 (rather successful) Harry Potter movies when it's all said and done and fans of Tolkien and LORT will want to take exception to that kind of chat.

I suppose, then, it all boils down to your memories as a child/youth. Mine revolve around James Bond and not Indy Jones.

Edited by HildebrandRarity, 28 March 2007 - 02:45 PM.

[Harmsway]

Connery's TLOEG was a mild hit. That's it. It would have been better to have had a younger actor (by about 25 years) in this role. IMO only of course.

It would have been better in TLOEG was a good film and had adhered closer to the intent of Alan Moore's graphic novels.

The whole point of Alan Quartermain (who was a secondary character in the graphic novel... the leader of the team in the graphic novel was Mina Harker) in TLOEG was to have him be past his prime. In the graphic novel, he's a severe opium addict, and is an adventurer whose golden days are long past and is more than a little insecure about the future. None of that came out in the film (in fact, almost everything that was interesting about the graphic novel was dropped), but I imagine Connery would have found that spin on character more interesting to play.

As for the 'Holy Trinity' talk...well I can see James Bond and Star Wars in there...but there'll be 7 (rather successful) Harry Potter movies when it's all said and done and fans of Tolkien and LORT will want to take exception to that kind of chat.

Before Potter and LOTR, I'd say Bond, Star Wars, and Indy were solidly the "Holy Trinity" of popular film.

I think that's now up for discussion, but I don't think that on a film level, LOTR or Potter are ever going to become cinematic "classics" the way Indy did. The Potter films, while enjoyable, seem to be part of a phenomenon that won't be long lived beyond their release (just a guess, but I think that will be the case), and the LOTR films, while they will always be remembered to some extent, already seem to be fading away.

[HildebrandRarity]

Connery's TLOEG was a mild hit. That's it. It would have been better to have had a younger actor (by about 25 years) in this role. IMO only of course.

It would have been better in TLOEG was a good film and had adhered closer to the intent of Alan Moore's graphic novels.

The whole point of Alan Quartermain (who was a secondary character in the graphic novel... the leader of the team in the graphic novel was Mina Harker) in TLOEG was to have him be past his prime.

Sorry, my English is poor...I meant 25 years younger that HF's 66 for Indy 4.

[dinovelvet]

My screenname has to be either 'DRAGO!!!', 'Takeyouback', 'Creepo76', 'Alleybird' or 'SOTHPAW'(Yes, minus the 'u').


And this thread has officially gone to Oz.

Just as long as you don't take MasterofDisaster007, TommyGunnSux, EATLIGHTNINCRAPTHUNDER, Sp1d3rR1c0, or CuffnLink

[SecretAgent007]

I don't think Bond 22 will outgross Indy 4 in the US, but Bond should do better worldwide. TND did well against Titanic. I'm not worried.

[Harmsway]

It's easy for some to be skeptical about Indy 4 and putting in his son and all this smacks of groans.

That's not even true. The "Indy's son" rumor proved to be false, and the last official word we had stated that INDY IV wouldn't feature offspring. And other things get me excited about this film (something has Spielberg excited about the deal, and the Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone's casting, for one).

I wasn't impressed by LAST CRUSADE, so I'm hoping INDY IV will provide a better end cap for the franchise.

[Loomis]

No offspring? Terrific. The Winstone news is good, the Blanchett news is good, and now all I need is the news that Connery won't be making a return, and I will no longer have any doubts at all about this film. Oh, and Ford's age is actually a plus for me - makes the whole thing interesting, as opposed to just another Indy Jones flick, which it would have been had it been made in the early '90s. And I too find LAST CRUSADE a letdown (although by no means a total wipeout).

(Wonder whether John Rhys-Davies will be back as Sallah? I presume so. Don't particularly want him to appear, but I'm fine with it if he does, as long as it isn't turned into an Indy and Sallah buddy flick. But they definitely need to give a role to Ken Davitian, better known as Azamat in BORAT. If that actor doesn't look perfect for a supporting part in an Indiana Jones outing, then I don't know who does!)

[Turn]

(Wonder whether John Rhys-Davies will be back as Sallah? I presume so. Don't particularly want him to appear, but I'm fine with it if he does, as long as it isn't turned into an Indy and Sallah buddy flick. But they definitely need to give a role to Ken Davitian, better known as Azamat in BORAT. If that actor doesn't look perfect for a supporting part in an Indiana Jones outing, then I don't know who does!)

I'd enjoy the return of Sallah, if they don't treat the character with disprespect. I enjoy Last Crusade a lot, but I can't forgive the way they screwed Sallah and Brody's characters. Of course, Denholm Elliott passed a way a few years ago, so we won't get any more Brody appearances.

I'm starting to get excited about this project. This will be the first time we can watch the progress of an Indy film take shape.

[Harmsway]

No offspring? Terrific. The Winstone news is good, the Blanchett news is good, and now all I need is the news that Connery won't be making a return, and I will no longer have any doubts at all about this film.

The fact that it has yet to be reported that Connery is returning makes me wonder if he's not coming back. I hope he stays away.

Oh, and Ford's age is actually a plus for me - makes the whole thing interesting, as opposed to just another Indy Jones flick, which it would have been had it been made in the early '90s. And I too find LAST CRUSADE a letdown (although by no means a total wipeout).

Agreed with all of that.

(Wonder whether John Rhys-Davies will be back as Sallah? I presume so. Don't particularly want him to appear, but I'm fine with it if he does, as long as it isn't turned into an Indy and Sallah buddy flick. But they definitely need to give a role to Ken Davitian, better known as Azamat in BORAT. If that actor doesn't look perfect for a supporting part in an Indiana Jones outing, then I don't know who does!)

I doubt it. Winstone is supposedly Indy's sidekick, so there's no need for Sallah to appear. Secondly, the movie is set in South America, which I think makes his presence very unlikely (after all, Sarah lives in the Middle East).