Indiana Jones and the Temperamental of Geriatric Doom

Harrison Ford won’t say it, he will never say never, just like Sean Connery’s too old final Bond title role, so somebody else needs to say no — never again — for him. As much as I’d love to see another Indy movie, really it kills me to dump on one of my all time favorite action franchises and favorite actors, I don’t ever want to see a CGI de-aged Indy movie.

I’m painfully reminded of Ford’s last movie where he was upstaged by a CGI dog (see: Behind the Tennis Ball Man playing Buck the CGI Dog on The Call Of The Wild)

Is that what we’ll get in Indy 5? Or perhaps a ton of stunt doubles? I imagine it will be something like Babe Ruth in his final plate appearances seeing Harrison Ford at age 80 up there huffing with the fedora and whip. Please, no.

If Indy 5 does come out and it’s good, I’ll gladly eat these words. I’m old too, not as old as Ford, but getting older by the year, and some places consider me a senior citizen. I’m not about to root against seniors in acting roles, but am worried for Ford doing this kind of physical role at 80. It’s not like he’s acting in a reboot of On Golden Pond. Dude could get seriously hurt in this type of role. I’d like to see him acting in movies for another 20 years, not getting his back broken running, jumping and wrestling.

Of course Ford will be up for playing Indy and will undoubtedly be on the ball, but… but… he’s just too old. Nobody wants to see Jones with a zimmer frame. We don’t want to see him become a side joke. Jones shouldn’t become like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator in the last two films. A walking joke, a constant stream of ironic OAP reference.

Please, can we just scrap Indiana Jones 5?

Pondered this a month ago, so here we are again more passionately, see: Should Indiana Jones 5 be Harrison Ford’s last action film? As more time goes by, and some of the delays — maybe most of them — aren’t Ford’s problem, but the ever-ticking clock of life gets all of us sooner or later. I’m worried that Indy 5 will suck. Will it stain Ford’s legacy? No. Will it mean there can’t be an Indy 6 after Ford is gone with a different Indy? No. The franchise will survive regardless what happens with Indy 5. If they can keep cranking out sequels to low budget horror movies, Indiana Jones the franchise will outlive everybody reading alive at the time this was posted.

Can it be better than Indy 4? I rewatched that recently — but didn’t write a review — it wasn’t as bad as I remembered, actually. Doesn’t mean I liked it as well as the first three, but it had moments that it was decent. I liked seeing Karen Allen return as Marion Ravenwood from the original movie (1981!).

1981. 1981. 1981.

In 2022, when Indy 5 is now teasing to be released, that will be 41 years ago. Raiders of the Lost Ark ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ is one of the greatest action movies ever made (1981!), but to think the lead star can return 41 years later to be the lead again is likely asking too much — even for an amazing actor like Harrison Ford.

Do you want to see Indy 5 with Harrison Ford in the lead, regardless how old he is at the time?

Who knows if it will be delayed again. Before the current crap hit the fan, Ford was planning to get started filming, so production was halted. If they have a script and are ready to film, then there is a strong chance we will see this film in the future … but should we be looking forward to it?

Should Indiana Jones 5 be Harrison Ford’s last action film?

Let’s be honest about Harrison Ford. Great actor, been in some amazing movies and has helmed several iconic characters: Han Solo, Indiana Jones and Jack Ryan, to name the big three.

I’m not counting as one of these his recent portrayal as John Thornton in The Call of The Wild ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Yes, I recommended others go see it, because it was entertaining. It wasn’t that good, but it was entertaining. Read my review and decide whether or not the movie might be for you. Personally, I preferred the real dogs and Charlton Heston in the 1972 adaptation, but admit that is much darker and violent version. That wasn’t a Disney effort, so no big surprise.

Ford was upstaged — intentionally — by a CGI dog. Instead of Buck the CGI dog being the Chewbacca of The Call of the Wild, Buck was tasked with the majority of action scenes. Buck was the star in a movie starring Harrison Ford, how can that be?

Can’t believe any actor — young or old — wants to be supporting actor to CGI trickery — and yet he was. This leaves me even more concerned about Indiana Jones 5, a film that has been plagued by release date delays for years. The most current bad news is Steven Spielberg dropping out as director. It’s not that often we get a Steven Spielberg directed movie any more and Indiana Jones without Spielberg directing is a bummer.

I have no idea how many action movies Harrison Ford has left (or how long he’ll be doing his own stunts for), but I hope he’s still playing tennis and fighting bad guys a decade from now.

How Harrison Ford Is Still Able To Make Indiana Jones 5 At 77 – CINEMABLEND

While I wish Harrison Ford well, I must disagree with the author of the Cinemablend post quote above. I don’t want to see 80, almost 90 year old Harrison Ford in an action film. I’d be OK with some minor acting roles (please don’t play second fiddle to any more CGI dogs), but supporting roles in future films seem like an unfair way for Harrison Ford to go out. He might be OK with a supporting role, but as a fan and moviegoer, that does not seem a dignified end to such an awesome acting career.

I’d rather see him go back to being a carpenter. Harrison Ford doesn’t need to make any more action movies. Honestly, I don’t think he needs to make Indy 5, because Indy 4 was underwhelming.

Just so it’s clear: I have nothing against Harrison Ford acting until he dies. I just don’t think he should be in any more action movies. Play senior citizens. George Burns was able to stay active acting until the end, so why not Harrison Ford?

What do you think?

Behind the Tennis Ball Man playing Buck the CGI Dog on The Call Of The Wild

Man (Ford) and his best friend, Buck

His name is Terry Notary. He’s not CGI, he’s flesh and blood. Notary is man playing Buck, the CGI dog.

“When they said they wanted me to play Buck, I was like, ‘Wow, I have to really figure out how dogs relate to human beings on a deep level.’ You know, they’re truly connected to humans, for eons, they’re our best friends, really. And there’s no filter when they look into your soul. There’s no fear of seeing you [or] letting you see them,” Notary explained. “It was really about trying to be present for [Ford] and really let him forget that I was a human, and be a dog and dissolve into it. And when we did, it was magic.”

Why Harrison Ford Answered ‘The Call of the Wild’ – Variety

In order to line up all the CGI, it is necessary to have a stand-in, which explains why Notary was there, complete with tennis balls attached to him so that the CGI could be synced as well as giving Harrison Ford someone tangible to look at during filming.

Only one other movie since August 12, 2019 when I started this blog has had more reader interest — at least in terms of clickthru traffic — as FIRST LOOK: The Call of the Wild.

On February 16, 2020, the movie with the most reader interest is The Call of the Wild (2020)

Today, this FIRST LOOK post has more traffic and clickthrus than any other post to date. While, I realize this little blog is a tiny space in the massive internet, it has motivated me to dig around and learn more about the film, if I can. In particular, the tennis ball man, Terry Notary, since our FIRST LOOK primarily dealt with the CGI dog. That’s what seems to be the primary topic.

There’s been renewed interest in Harrison Ford because he also announced that filming on Indiana Jones 5 will begin soon, possibly as early as April 2020.

I doubt The Call of the Wild is going to be anywhere as popular as Indiana Jones 5, or even if it will be a good film. Dog films share a special place in people’s hearts and there will be at least some interest in seeing if the CGI Buck is as real looking as a real dog.

Cool trivia: Buck is based on a dog named Buckley from Emporia Animal Shelter: ““We were having a difficult time finding a real stand-in for Buck. The Buck described in the novel is a very specific combination of two different breeds; and this is a combination you just can’t find anywhere.””

Actors on Promotional MOVIE Tours: Please Talk MOVIES, Not Politics – Yes, you too, Harrison Ford

Han Solo, Indiana Jones, Jack Ryan.

Look, I’m a huge Harrison Ford fan. Legend comes to mind. The man is an amazing actor.

But I really wish he wouldn’t use a promotional tour for his new movie, The Call of the Wild [FIRST LOOK] as a political speech platform.

Movie stars are welcome to their opinions, of course, this is America but when I see them promoting a movie I would respectfully request that they stick to talking about the movie. Make us excited to go see the creative art you were part of making.

Not sometimes or once in a while, but every time. Sadly, Ford takes the political piss outside the United States, in Mexico of all hot topic places.

The “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” star didn’t mention President Donald Trump specifically as he spoke in Mexico City to promote his new film, “The Call Of The Wild.” But he said the nation’s role in the world has changed ― and not for the better. 

Harrison Ford: America Has Lost Its Moral Leadership And Credibility | HuffPost

It’s not that I agree or disagree with Ford’s politics, it’s wanting to learn more about his movie. If you talk about stuff other than the movie, then that becomes the news and publicity cycle. This is the crap we’re reading about instead of what he thought about roaming the lands with his character’s CGI pet. Perhaps some backstory on fun scenes filmed and just all kinds of other movie-related details? Anything more about the movie itself that comes out in a month.

I mean, really, inquiring movie minds need to know more about Star Wars, that dog, not your opinion on the current state of the world.

This blog is about movies and TV. I try not to stray from topics at least tangentially related to movies and TV shows. Is it too much to ask actors and actresses to do the same when they are promoting movies?

If Harrison Ford and other actors want to talk politics, then get on social media, start a blog and use those platforms to get all political. Some are into that and may actually want to hear what you have to say. Personally, I don’t get my political advice from the guy who shot Greedo in the Cantina, but if you do, more power to you.

My personal and professional advice to actors and actresses is just say no to discussing politics and religion. The only exception would be if the movie s/he is in deals specifically with those topics. Then it’s open season.

And if you are going to get into topics, Hollywood royalty, why not look in your neighboring cities?

Harrison Ford, that’s Los Angeles. Maybe this “closest to home” is place to look first at “moral leadership” and “credibility”

It’s no wonder that moviegoers get turned off towards watching some movies, because more and more the topic of the movie is about the secret “message” or “agenda” instead of, well, telling us a great story. Do that first. See: Wonder Woman being Promoted as Film for Both Sexes Equals True Empowerment

If you have some subliminal message, then let the movie do the talking. We don’t need lectures, especially from the entertainment industry.

FIRST LOOK: The Call Of The Wild (2020)

Very nice poster art!

Harrison Ford and (sort of) a dog companion.

Excess CGI dog is what seems to be the early concern/reaction to the official trailer. Some of the comments I’ve read have made me laugh out loud. Call me crazy, but the internet has some really funny people commenting on movies on Youtube, Twitter, and so on. People who get all lathered up over all sorts of things, some of which you wouldn’t think matter that much. Too much CGI dog in a movie about a man and his dog?

This is the era of PETA where you have to be real careful with what is done with animals. Heaven help you if it appears any live animals are put in danger in a movie and, let’s be real, this movie has some potentially dog dangerous scenes like the dog jumping into that freezing water.

Have you watched the trailer?

Senior Citizen Indiana Bones: Raiders of the Lost Bark … er, no, it’s The Call Of The Wild!

This is based of the famous 1903 novel by Jack London and, like Little Women, it has had numerous adaptations through the years. The director is Chris Sanders who is best known for writing and directing Lilo and Stitch.

My concern with this movie isn’t the CGI dog. I’ll let others on the internet police trailer effects. I do think that’s a worthy concern, as evidenced by what happen to the Sonic The Hedgehog movie, so god bless the CGI cops.

I’m worried about Harrison Ford’s age. Less so here, because it isn’t an action film, moreso in the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 due out (maybe) in 2021. Also, this movie has $109 million budget, so it joins that $100+ million budget club. How much of that is going to the dog? Don’t know.

This could be a dry run of what Indy might be like in his senior years.

Look, we all get old. I’ve been gray for years, but it saddens me to think of an 77 year old Harrison Ford in a movie with a CGI dog dubbed “the adventure of the lifetime.” When the dramatic line from Ford to the dog is “you’ve been sleeping in … my bed.” LOL, seriously, who can make this stuff up?

Are you looking forward to see this movie?

The Call of the Wild opens in theaters on February 21, 2020.