Well, Indy 4 must be getting close, because I now have the opportunity to slurp my Dr. Jones Dr. Pepper from an Indiana spoon. Ancillary market, is there anything you can’t do?

I grew up on the Indiana Jones trilogy and was old enough (according to my parents) to see and remember Last Crusade in theaters. While I wouldn’t go so far as to accuse Lucas, Spielberg, and Ford of raping my childhood if the fourth adventure fails, I do have more baggage going in than say, the kids who are buying the Dr. Jones spoon. Then again, I do have significantly less than say, the adults who are buying the Dr. Jones spoon.

Let’s start with the concerns…

Bringing Shia LeBoeuf (I should probably look up that spelling) in as the side kick who may or not be the son of Indy (<--highlight only if you really want to know) will certainly help with the teenagers, but it could potentially hurt the legacy. LeBibliotech's been great in everything I've seen him in, so it has less to do with him and more with what they do with the character.

As if to counter balance the potential loss of adult ticket sales Shia Lebiff (warmer?) represents, Marion (not to be confused with Robin Hood's housekeeper) is back after a two film absence. The narrative probably has a better reason for her return, but still, it's covered ground as for as the Indiana Jones story goes. Is it worth going back after two films and 19 years?

Also, just how is that Fedora going to look on green screen? Judging by the trailer, the world of Indiana Jones has gone heavily computer generated. This one really scares me, because one of the things that made the first trilogy so great was the way practical stunts and effects were utilized. Not only did it keep a connection to the old serials that inspired them, it made the danger seem more real. Granted, times have changed, but it might not be for the better in this case. I have found hope in a recent Times interview with Spielberg:

The idea is, there’s no illusion; what you see is what you get. My movies have never been frenetically cut, the way a lot of action is done today. That’s not a put-down; some of that quick cutting, like in ‘The Bourne Ultimatum,’ is fantastic, just takes my breath away. But to get the comedy I want in the Indy films, you have to be old-fashioned. I’ve studied a lot of the old movies that made me laugh, and you’ve got to stage things in full shots and let the audience be the editor. It’s like every shot is a circus act.

But wait, there’s more (and it’s slightly less cynical!)…

Before seeing the trailer, Harrison Ford’s age was a big concern for me, but not only did the hat still fit, it looks like the grandpa jokes might actually be funny. If you think about it, though, the draw of the character has always been that he’s in over his head. We rooted for Indy because he didn’t have all the answers or even an outline of a plan. He just knew what needed to be done (“It belongs in a museum!!!”) and didn’t quit until it was. Age is a challenge that fits in well along those lines.

Another thing I’m excited to see, is how Dr. Jones handles the transition from battling the Third Reich to wrestling the Red Army, although I can’t deny I’m a little disappointed to see the Indy/Nazi dynamic go the way of, well the Nazis. Cate Blanchett is rumored to have an interesting take on her role as the leader of the Russian amabassadorship to Indiana, but hopefully, the characters won’t be too fleshed out. After all, the Indy franchise is still a throwback to the old serials, right?

Oh, and John Williams is back! Mr. Williams has undergone a serious stylistic change since the early ’90s. The Prequel trilogy (if you don’t know that that refers to Star Wars, please leave) is really the only time in recent memory that he’s returned to the melodic style that made him famous. Let’s see what he’s come up with for the return of Dr. Jones.

I’m really looking forward to this one, but I’m keeping my expectations in check alongside my emotional baggage.

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This entry was posted on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 8:09 am and is filed under Film.