Indy IV is happening

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Two days ago George Lucas said that filming on the fourth Indiana Jones film -- Steven Spielberg directing, Harrison Ford starring -- will begin next year. He also said, "I think it's going to be really cool." So it's going to happen -- the tired-old-bones geezer action flick that nobody under the age of 45 wants to see is going to get made anyway because the soft-bellied, white-haired guys behind it are powerful enough to push it through.

It is axiomatic that anything the bloated, self-deluding Lucas thinks is really cool (present or future tense) is going to be anything but. Lucas said the film will open in May '08, by which time Ford will be nearly 66, or seven years older than Sean Connery was when he played Ford's dad in 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Lucas didn't say who'd written the latest winning screenplay (a news story says he and Spielberg "recently finalized" the script -- meaning they sat down and, what, actually wrote it?....naaah) or any hints about the story. He said only that it'll be a "character piece" (as opposed to what? a plot driven by gasoline?) that will include "very interesting mysteries" (that in itself sounds awful).

All this said, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a wonderfully made film -- superbly spun, perfectly choreographed, perfectly pitched performances, nicely shot, funny. Let it go, is all I'm saying, guys. Have some dignity, act your age and let this shit go.

comment #1

p.Vice says ...

For once Jeffrey is right. Last Crusade was a winner. There's no need to tarnish the series like Star Wars and throw a big pile of unnecessary nonsense decorated by special effects overkill up on the screen.

Give it up, George. Now that Star Wars is over nobody gives a shit about you anymore, so take your billions and disappear. Let Spielberg direct something interesting... let Ford's career die... and just go away.

comment #2

vansmith says ...

But like Sly Stallone said "What if you don't want to go away?" Their gonna do it because they CAN do it, and their gonna have fun. Now paying 12 bucks to see it....I'll tell you the boomers won't go quietly into the night, see that post about old pornsters...

comment #3

Hallick says ...

Of the three main players in this project, my crap detector is set off mostly by Ford at this point before Lucas and Spielberg. He's one of the laziest stars in Hollywood, and might just be the laziest of them all because he still has enough clout to work with great directors on risk-taking projects, but he just coasts along with his forgettable C-list craptaculars.

If this is getting made, the only way it works is if a GREAT script sneaks past Lucas and Ford, and Spielberg's workaholic energy outpaces the pair's inertia.

comment #4

Cory says ...

I really don't see the problem everyone has with these three guys giving it a shot, one more time. Where's the harm in that? They've already done great work in their careers. Why can't they have some fun? Their legacys won't be tarnished by making this film.

comment #5

murdocdv says ...

I am 32, absolutely going to go see this, can't wait to see Harrison as Indy one more time, better to have tried and failed then never to have tried at all...

comment #6

Geoff says ...

Last crusade has always been my favorite. For some reason i kept going back to it as a kid.

comment #7

Larry says ...

So "nobody under the age of 45 wants to see" this? Put your money where your mouth is and give us an over/under on the opening weekend.

comment #8

Craptastic says ...

Here's how retarded Wells is... "no one under 45 is going to see this". Take a minute to think about all of the people in their late 20's/early 30's who are going to support this due to the fact that they grew up with Indy. Maybe not EVERYONE... but it definately has a large fanbase with that age group.

Also, Lucas may be losing it a bit... but how does it help prove your point by calling him bloated? You're so f-ing childish and nasty. Calling people on their physical traits doesn't help support a point.

comment #9

MathewM says ...

My concern is that Indiana Jones is a character rooted to a certain period of history. You could go back in time with the character but I'm not sure about going forward. If they are realistic with Indiana's age and Ford's age then that would put the film taking place sometime in the late 60's. A cold war Indiana Jones? Doesn't feel right. You can be pretty sure that the plot will involve bringing Dr. Jones out of retirement in some way to retrieve a stolen holy artifact.

This does sound like the first real green light of the film and I'm interested in what they come up with.

comment #10

MathewM says ...

Oh yeah, I wonder if Lucas will force Spielberg to shoot this digitally--hope not.

comment #11

T. S. Idiot says ...

While I have absolutely no interest in seeing another Indy and haven't liked Ford in anything since Last Crusade, I feel compelled to observe that this is the same J. Wells who told the Bond people to let that franchise die.

comment #12

Melquiades says ...

Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the best films ever. It's perfect in every detail. They should have stopped there.

The third film has its charms, sure, but both sequels are blemishes on the masterpiece.

I'll probably see this cash grab fourth film for the hell of it, but I think it's a horrible idea.

comment #13

corey3rd says ...

Raiders of the Lost AARP

comment #14

Mgmax says ...

Here's something that really puts Ford's age in perspective, even more than being older than Connery (who, after all, was playing twinkly-old rather broadly in Last Crusade). So Ford will be 65 going on 66 when Indiana Jones and the Walker of Armageddon comes out?

When Airplane! came out, the following over-the-hill ex-stars mocking themselves were:
Lloyd Bridges, 67
Robert Stack, 61
Peter Graves, 54
Leslie Nielsen, 54

comment #15

MathewM says ...

Temple of Doom is a lot of fun but the politically correct crowd here at Hollywood Elsewhere doesn't "get it".

comment #16

Mgmax says ...

MathewM, I tried making the argument to people when it came out that it takes place in "movie India," not "India." Didn't fly.

I dislike it for other reasons, but Spielberg married half of them.

comment #17

MathewM says ...

The movie is pulp--from the Capshaw's constant blond bimbo screaming to the demonic Mola Ram. They're all caricatures but the movie is a lot of fun to watch. The only scene that kind of annoys me is the "chilled monkey's brains" dinner. However after that it's pretty good, starting with the flirtatious scene between Indiana and 'Willie' where the two leads have some real chemistry.

comment #18

MilkMan says ...

The guy who played Mola Ram is my father's cardiologist.

comment #19

L.B. says ...

Your dad has a dead cardiologist? That could be problematic.

CRUSADE is the weakest of the three. The cartoonish gutting of Marcus' character is enough reason to despise it. The barely warmed over slapstick and uninteresting plot, not to mention the most underwhelming climax in the series and you have a grade A loser. RAIDERS is a gem. DOOM is silly fun. CRUSADE is a bore masquerading as a series capper. Now that it's not even that it's useless.

The 4th Indy will be a source of pain and anguish. I look forward to it the same as I look forward to Jeffrey yapping about the "true" meaning of holidays and why women can't be trusted.

Happy New Years, to the commenters. Hope you have a good night and a fulfilling year. May things get darker for the fascists and murderers and brighter for the rest of us who are just looking for a straight shot. I'll be out. Giving this up for good, as much as I enjoy most of you.

Jeff, you can rot where you stand. You've already got a head start. Keep up the good work.

comment #20

richandreas says ...

As Patton Oswalt said in his recent comedy act, if he had a time machine, he wouldn't go back in time to see dino's or into the future.
He would go to 1983 and smack Lucas over the head with a Shovel so that his childhood dreams of the Star Wars universe weren't spoiled...
How can Lucas doing anything movie related cause anyone to get excited? Darabont already aired some dirty laundry about his script and Lucas...
Please don't ruin another childhood hero.

comment #21

bellepoitrine says ...

Do you actually think Brad Grey or Gail Berman were going to say No to these people? They tossed it to Murdoch, who would rather make nice with Lucas and Spielberg by making this than alienate them and risk losing a different blockbuster they might concoct -- or losing this turd to another studio on the outside chance that it really turns into a moneymaker. In his defense, he's got the whole Viacom infrastructure to think of -- this picture could be a valuable property for all the Showtimes, MTVs and CBS stations down the line. That's the problem with multinational conglomerates being in charge of the mainstream movie business. The mainstream has gotten so much wider than it used to be.

comment #22

jeffmcm says ...

LB, you just wait around for chances to slam Last Crusade, don't you?

comment #23

Dixon Steele says ...

Belle,

as a fan of Patrick Dennis' LITTLE ME, I appreciate your nom de plume, but little else in your post makes sense.

"Tossing it to Murdoch..." Fox' Rupert Murdoch? What does he have to do with it? This is a Paramount franchise and they have the right to any and all sequels, prequels, etc. Ooops.

And why would Grey & Berman say no? They're DYING for this picture. The publicity, not to mention the box office, on this one will be huge.

And Jeff, you really can be doltish at times. Whether you liked them or not (as if it really matters) but the last three STAR WARS movies were blockbusters. You may have hated them, but you also hated the LOTR trilogy and look how phenominally successful (and terrific) they were.

But, hey, you're still probably raving about the lost pleasures of MIAMI VICE (you and Poland).

As my nephew used to say, "Here's a dollar...buy a clue". There's nothing more tiresome than a cranky middle-aged "cineaste".

Happy New Year!

comment #24

Todd says ...

The Logan's Run mentality is a live and well and living on this website. When will these people over thirty realise they should just curl up and die.

comment #25

indianajmb says ...

So Wells not only is a racist but an ageist. I am pretty tired of Wells thinking he can speak for races and for age groups. I am 31 and am dying to see this picture. You consistently put people down because they are getting older or putting on weight or losing their hair. (Ford, Lucas/Travolta, Gibson) I figured you would be a picture of perfection, until I actually did see your picture and low and behold, you too are old and bloated.

People like you, Wells are the problem with the Entertainment business. You are the reason there is lipo, hair dye, bulimia and anorexia.

Ford is in great shape for his age and I look forward to seeing another chapter in Indy's life/career. Just like Clint Eastwood knocked Unforgiven out of the park or just like Stallone in Rocky Balboa or John Wayne in The Shootist, I want to see it.

comment #26

Hallick says ...

"Just like Clint Eastwood knocked Unforgiven out of the park or just like Stallone in Rocky Balboa or John Wayne in The Shootist, I want to see it."

See it and enjoy, but has Harrison Ford ever displayed the initiative of any of those three actors to do something worthwhile on his own, i.e, directing or producing on a regular basis?

comment #27

gruver1 says ...

Wells to indiansjmb: What's so terrible about lipo and hair dye?

comment #28

Mgmax says ...

I wouldn't care if Ford produced or directed but I would have liked some sign that he'd shown up to ACT in the last few movies he was in.

comment #29

christian says ...

lb is spot on. LAST CRUSADE is probably spielberg's worst big action direction; the set pieces sit on the screen dying minus the kineticism of the first two. and sean connery chases some pigeons.

i adore TEMPLE OF DOOM, even slightly more than ROTLA because it feels more pulpy pure to me. the opening scene alone is the james bond pre-credits scene spielberg was dying to do.

that said, jeff needs to get laid. but i don't know what they're gonna do with another indy movie. bring on the cousins!

comment #30

The Movie Man says ...

RAIDERS is one of my desert island movies, a grand and brilliantly orchestrated daydream that is just about the best damn adventure movie ever made. In terms of sheer kinetic power, TEMPLE OF DOOM is one of the best action films ever made, pure candy that just keeps toping itself over and over again. LAST CRUSADE, while having two charming lead performances, always felt like a sloppy apology for the violence of the second film, the action is some of the least precise in the Spielberg filmography (I think this was part of the period where he was weaning himself off of storyboards, and he hadn't quite gotten the more improvisatory style down that he would use to grand effect later on) and I was always one of those Indy nerds who disliked Brody's transformation into a clown.

All of that said, I think a fourth INDY picture could be wonderful, if its more Spielberg and less Lucas, it would seem that Spielberg is getting a third or fourth as director, and his aspirations of maturity are finally starting to reach fruitation (it may not be cool to like MUNICH here, but I think it's Spielberg's best work in nearly two decades, and while WOTW falls apart, it, in the beginning showcases a primal terror that I didn't think Spielberg had in him anymore.)

They could do something different here, an action icon rarely deals with age, rarely is allowed to be vulnerable, and I think a first rate, poignant adventure story could be made about Indy dealing with the fact that adventure is his life, and its a life he's rapidly becoming unsuited for.

Wells your completely off your rocker if you think 20 and 30 somethings don't care about Indiana Jones.

comment #31

bellepoitrine says ...

Dixon Steele: Sorry bout that. New Year's mind clutter. I meant they were tossing the decision to Sumner Redstone. I confuse my geezers now and again. Otherwise, I really can't imagine Grey and Berman are at all excited about this -- they know how ludicrous this picture could be, sort of like those later Bond movies with the creaking Roger Moore. Letch Feeley sends regards.

comment #32

christian says ...

you mean everybody reading AICN is 45 and older?

scary.

movie man: 5 words: OHMSS.

comment #33

christian says ...

you mean everybody reading AICN is 45 and older?

scary.

movie man: 5 words: OHMSS.

comment #34

christian says ...

you mean everybody reading AICN is 45 and older?

scary.

movie man: 5 words: OHMSS.

comment #35

christian says ...

sorry. technical errors and all that...

comment #36

giantman says ...

The worst part about it is that this takes Spielberg out of the running for an entire year, we'll miss out on whatever else he would have done instead and one whole year of this man's career will be wasted on this. Ugh. Why? Dear God why?!!

comment #37

Mgmax says ...

"Otherwise, I really can't imagine Grey and Berman are at all excited about this -- they know how ludicrous this picture could be"

They also know what it will do in its opening weekend, regardless.

comment #38

The Movie Man says ...

Christian-I finally caught up with On Her Majesty's Secret Service a couple of days ago. It is one of the best Bonds and a radical change in tone (I really like the variation of the typical Bond score used in the film) from the Connery pictures that preceded it. Diana Rigg is definitely the best Bond lady (Bond girl seems to frivilous a phrase for her) she's sexy and, for once, truly a match for Bond.

Lazenby is not a disaster, but I don't think he quite works, and I'm not even sure why, it's nothing scientific, I just think some men are Bond and some aren't. Some terrific action sequences, and a story that is refreshingly light on sci-fi and various gizmos. I do think they shortchange Rigg's death a little at the end, I don't think the tragedy fully registers.

I have to say I still prefer the first three Bond pictures and Casino Royale (sorry, we're going to have to agree to disagree on that one) but OHMSS is a terrific Bond movie.

comment #39

MAGGA says ...

Jeff Nathanson wrote it, David Koepp re-wrote it. Research, Jeff.

comment #40

Aladdin Sane says ...

I saw The Last Crusade on VHS when I was 9 years old. I'm now 25. I've been waiting 16 years for a new Indy film. What's another one and a half?

comment #41

indianajmb says ...

"See it and enjoy, but has Harrison Ford ever displayed the initiative of any of those three actors to do something worthwhile on his own, i.e, directing or producing on a regular basis?"

No, but you are right, he should if he felt strongly about a project. He was a producer I believe on K-19, and we all know how well that turned out. Maybe he doesn't need the extra stress, since he obviously doesn't need the money.

comment #42

indianajmb says ...

"Wells to indiansjmb: What's so terrible about lipo and hair dye?"

It's not a sin to get old and belittling someone because of their age or looking their age is wrong. They are people just like you and me, and we all have faults. But for some reason, actors and actresses are not allowed to have any of those faults. I shouldn't have to say it, but that is wrong man.

And you are right, there is nothing terrible about hair dye.

comment #43

christian says ...

i'm glad you liked OHMSS. i still think the ski escape from piz gloria with barry's stirring music is the best action sequence in the bond canon (topped maybe by the train fight in FRWL)...

lazenby just wasn't an actor. and it's clear peter hunt did not help him. at least he's dubbed for about 30 minutes. but he looks great in the fight scenes. and it's last real 60's bond film.

comment #44

Arran says ...

Call me a wild, crazy optimist but I think this could be great.

By the way, I'm 26.

comment #45

MAGGA says ...

There is no reason to believe this will not be good. Spielberg has only failed once this decade, and even then (with the Terminal) the film had its moments. He is simply the best director in the world when it comes to this kind of movie (though I agree that the action sequences in Crusade were surprisingly ordinary) and the fact that they waited for the script to be ready is a sign that they take this seriously. My only small concern is that the FX and photography differ too much from the old trilogy, but that is not such a big deal. My prediction is that this will be the second best of the Indy films, beaten by the unbeatable Raiders. And I am 26 too.

comment #46

D.Z. says ...

I was going to be neutral on the subject, until I found out Steven and George ditched Darabont in favor of the hack behind "Spiderman" and "War of the Worlds". ( http://www.darkhorizons.com/news07/070102f.php ) I don't feel like being bored and underwhelmed for a third time. Oh wait, judging by his credits, it's been at least five times, if I count Jurassic Park 1+2 and Mission Impossible.

Mathew: Temple of Doom consisted of long-winded chase scenes strung together by snuff ripped off of Faces of Death.

MAGGA: So A.I.'s not a failure? Or Dreamworks in 2005, for that matter...

comment #47

christian says ...

failure is in the eyes of the beholder not the box office. but THE TERMINAL is beyond failure.

and dz, RAIDERS is more a snuff film than TEMPLE.

comment #48

The Movie Man says ...

THE TERMINAL rivals HOOK as the worst thing Spielberg has ever been associated with. I, as my postings over the last several months have suggested, am a major admirer of Spielberg's work, but I have nothing nice to say about either of those two movies.

Good point Christian, TEMPLE is a very violent (especially for a PG!) movie but people seem to forget the face melting and helicopter chopping of the first movie and, of course, the cold blooded murder that's treated as comic relief.

D.Z.-agreed on Koepp. Though I thought Spielberg made the first JP work despite a pretty ho hum script.

comment #49

Hopscotch says ...

Spielberg's worst for me is still THE LOST WORLD. Just agravating to watch. HOOK is pretty bad today, though I loved it as a kid. And I half-liked THE TERMINAL (I'm alone on that, but I'm brave enough to admit it). People are forgiving about 1941, not me, it sucks. It sucks in a big way.

I'm not thrilled of this news of a 4th Indy movie...but I'll see it opening day, no doubt about it.

comment #50

Hopscotch says ...

I should mention that if I had to really nail it down... I'd pick RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK as my favorite Spielberg movie. It has a case for one of the best edited movies of all-time.

comment #51

DarthCorleone says ...

I'm far below 45 (31) and easily at the theater on opening day for this. Sorry, Jeffrey. I have my doubts about this project as any sane-thinking person must (the fall of Harrison Ford from childhood hero to guy-with-the-most-disappointing-taste-in-scripts-I've-ever-seen has been especially disheartening), but if you think I'd miss it on the big screen you're deranged. Raiders is one of my earliest movie memories (and still at the top of Spielberg's filmography for me), and both Temple of Doom and Last Crusade rock as far as I'm concerned.

The important question I have that no one else has mentioned: will John Williams score this, and will he be up to the challenge? Williams was on top of his game for the other three films, and without those scores, the films would suffer severely. While his music for the Star Wars prequels was good, it was far below his earlier efforts. Call *me* deranged, but I think this factor had just as much to do with the poor reception for the prequels as any other. I think moviegoers underestimate just how much of an effect Williams has on the quality of so many of the spectacular movies to which he contributed between 1975 and 1993. (I've enjoyed some of his scores since 1993, but the level of inspiration and dynamic attention to scenes and characters just isn't what it once was.)

comment #52

The Movie Man says ...

Good point Darth, I think RAIDERS is Williams' best score (and yes, I've seen the original STAR WARS movies). So many wonderful moments but the music and build of the scene where Jones uses the staff to pinpoint the Well of the Souls is beautiful.

comment #53

bellepoitrine says ...

So it looks like ONLY people under 40 want to see this picture. God, Paramount are marketing geniuses.

comment #54

christian says ...

the reason i'm cold to RAIDERS is the cruelty of the film. i actually didn't like it as a 12 year old because of the audience applause when indy shoots the swordsman. i sensed the reagan era coming.

but it's far more violent than TEMPLE.

and i love williams score to both movies but boy, he's left me cold in the past two decades. altho i think his music for THE PHANTOM MENACE was fantastic, especially annakin's theme.

and HOOK was unbelievably bad. roller skating lost boys. just listen to those marketing folk...

comment #55

The Movie Man says ...

Williams'inspiration seems to be flagging lately (and bad Williams is as irritating in the same way as bad Spielberg, overbearing and schmaltzy) but I really liked his score to MINORITY REPORT.

comment #56

christian says ...

williams used to be a master of thematic melody and i haven't heard a truly unique or stirring original theme from him since JURASSIC PARK.

but the music to the truck chase in RAIDERS is one perfect marriage of sound and image.

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