Harrison Ford Doesn’t Regret Final ‘Indiana Jones’ Movie

Harrison Ford remains unfazed by the underperformance at the box office of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”.

In the year 2023, the 82-year-old actor once more took on the iconic role of the main character in a film, marking his final performance. Yet, despite the movie’s poor box office performance, he gracefully acknowledged it as he accomplished his dream to send off this character on one last exciting journey.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal magazine, Ford said: “S— happens.”

Initially, it was me who felt a different tale needed to be told. After (Indy) experienced the repercussions of his life’s choices, I desired an opportunity to lift him up again, shake off the dirt from his shoulders, and send him back out into the world with less of his usual energy, just to see what would transpire. Looking back, I am content that I made that film.

In the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film titled “Captain America: Brave New World,” Ford steps into the limelight, portraying U.S. President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. He shared that he decided to take on the role without even reading a script, as he had observed other actors having a great time in Marvel movies.

The Star Wars actor expressed: “Why not? After watching plenty of Marvel movies, I’ve seen actors I respect enjoying themselves immensely.

Ford playfully remarked, “I wasn’t aware that by the end, I’d transform into the Red Hulk… It’s much like life. You follow the instructions up to a point, but sometimes, the final page mysteriously disappears.

The upcoming movie, titled “Captain America: Brave New World,” scheduled for release this month, might offer Harrison one of the largest box-office triumphs in his professional career. However, the actor longs for times when films held a greater influence over the public’s thoughts and emotions.

He expressed: “What I truly yearn for is the sense of connection (that cinema provided) to society as a whole. These days, we’re more in people’s homes than we are in public places. We cater to specific audiences. This doesn’t diminish our efforts. However, we find ourselves in a new era, lacking the familiarity that comes with knowing we’re all part of something shared.

Ford stepped into the character of Ross, previously portrayed by the late William Hurt. He acknowledged the challenge of “taking up the mantle” from an actor who tragically passed away at the age of 71 in 2022.

In conversation with On Demand Entertainment, Ford explained: “You must step into shoes that have been worn before, and I find the script provides a great deal of assistance in doing so as the character’s life becomes increasingly complex and captivating. However, the emotional intensity required for this role is exceptionally high – almost like an opera.

Captain America: Brave New World is set to open in theaters on February 14.

The Greatest Indiana Jones Movie That Was Never Made

No Mutt Williams

In Frank Darabont’s version of Indiana Jones, titled “Indiana Jones and the City of the Gods,” the plot shares many similarities with “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” Both involve Indy getting entangled in Russian espionage, surviving a nuclear explosion inside a refrigerator, and searching for a legendary lost city connected to a powerful crystal skull. However, there’s one significant difference: Mutt Williams, the teenage greaser who recruits Indy to find his mother (who turns out to be Marion) is absent in Darabont’s script. Instead, Indy sets off to clear his name after being framed as a Communist by the Russians. The main conflict between Indy and Marion in this version isn’t Mutt but rather her husband, another archaeologist named Peter Belasko. Despite harboring feelings for Marion, Indy finds himself in a humorous and sensual screwball love triangle with Marion and Peter. This alteration significantly changes the dynamics between Indy and Marion when they reunite, as they engage in playful banter rather than bickering like an estranged couple, as seen in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

No Irina Spalko

In Darabont’s script, Irina Spalko, the primary antagonist of “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” portrayed by Cate Blanchett, is conspicuously absent. Darabont’s version introduces multiple adversaries, including a critical one to be discussed later, as well as the president of Peru who utilizes both Indiana Jones and the Russians in an attempt to discover and claim the lost city of “Los Dioses” for himself.

Cate Blanchett is undeniably one of our most talented actresses; however, her character in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” seems mismatched. With her distinctive costume, hair, exaggerated Russian accent, and claims to possess psychic abilities, she appears more like a comic book villain chasing Rocky and Bullwinkle rather than Indiana Jones. It’s worth mentioning that she also boasts psychic powers.

Eliminating her character from the narrative makes the overall adventure feel more realistic and less far-fetched. While I enjoy a touch of whimsy in an “Indiana Jones” film, every other villain carries a genuine threat, and Spalko fails to deliver this menace.

Mac Is A Much More Interesting Character

In the original script by Darabont, titled “City of the Gods,” the character portrayed by Ray Winston in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” as Mac, a supposed ally of Indy from World War II who ultimately betrays him, does not exist. Instead, there is a Russian character named Yuri Makovsky, an archaeologist and colleague of Indy, who steals his truck and uses it for a robbery at an Army base in the opening scenes. This leads to the “nuke the fridge” scene in Darabont’s version.

Yuri works for the Russians who seek the Crystal Skull, and he competes with Indy over it throughout the film. In contrast to Mac, who becomes a generic bad guy henchman in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Yuri is presented as a more formidable and epic rival in Darabont’s version. Additionally, the fact that Indy was friends with Yuri, who then breaks into an Army base, helps explain why the government suspects Indy of being a traitor, leading him to travel to Peru.

Oxley Is Used in a Much More Effective Way

In both versions of the story, there is a character named Professor Oxley who has gone insane after visiting the lost city in Peru. In Darabont’s version, he is called Vernon Oxley, while in the “Crystal Skull” film, he is Harold Oxley (played by John Hurt). Despite some differences in their portrayal and role within the action, the essential elements of their story are similar.

The key difference lies in how the character functions within the narrative and when he enters the plot. In “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” Professor Oxley is introduced early on and sends Mutt Williams to find Indiana Jones and bring him to Peru. After they rescue Oxley, he guides them to the lost city of Akator, although his mental state is mostly incoherent throughout the story. In the script, Oxley is mentioned sporadically but doesn’t appear until later when it is revealed that Indy, Marion, and Peter’s Peruvian expedition are following instructions from Oxley, who has become so insane due to whatever he found at Los Dioses that he has reverted to a wild state and is being kept secretly caged by Marion’s husband (it turns out he’s not such a good guy!).

John Hurt does his best with the character in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” but Oxley ultimately becomes more of a hindrance than an asset because of his unstable mental state, requiring frequent rescue by Indy and Mutt. In contrast, Darabont kept him off-screen for longer and gave him a more heroic role in the finale, which justifies his inclusion in the story.

Better Action Sequences

In the script for “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” some major action scenes were penned by director Darabont, while others such as the battle at the nuclear test site were present in earlier drafts before his involvement. Darabont’s script also contained several set pieces with immense potential that unfortunately didn’t make it to the final cut under Spielberg and Lucas’ direction.

One of these sequences involves a thrilling aerial dogfight where Indiana Jones clings to the plane with his bare hands (and later, his whip) before jumping to another aircraft, only to return to the first one to save Marion. Darabont also included a comedic sequence in Peru featuring an escalating series of giant snakes that eventually swallows Indy whole.

Darabont’s writing style for these scenes was vivid and cinematic, making them easy to visualize and intensely exhilarating on paper. It’s unfortunate that they were never filmed.

A Bunch of Surprising (But Meaningful) Cameos

In Darabont’s script, Sean Connery plays a significant yet subtle role as Indiana Jones’ father Henry Jones Sr., and John Rhys-Davies reappears in a delightful cameo as Sallah from “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Last Crusade” (and more recently “The Dial of Destiny”). These characters were absent in “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” although Connery was reportedly offered a cameo but declined due to retirement. While these appearances can be seen as fan service, they also imbue the script with a warm, affectionate feel; “City of the Gods” seems like it was crafted by an ardent Indy enthusiast, and it skillfully weaves in the character’s history in numerous creative ways. This includes these cameos, as well as the strategic reuse of some iconic lines from the past (following the plane chase, when Marion asks if the “mileage” is affecting him, a nod to a famous scene from “Raiders,” Indy responds, “It’s not the mileage, sweetheart. It’s the years.”).

A Similar Ending (To a Much Different End)

In the movies “City of the Gods” and “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” the final scenes share a common thread: All remaining characters locate the Peruvian lost city, only to uncover a chamber containing alien skeletons. The Crystal Skull resurrects an alien who then slays the main villain in a Faustian bargain. Subsequently, the city crumbles, exposing a concealed UFO that departs for unknown destinations.

The minor details differ significantly between the two versions – with Darabont’s rendition being more illuminating. In the final film, the revived aliens do not speak; their origin, purpose, actions, and reasons for leaving are never explained. After barely escaping the crumbling city, Indy gazes at its submerged ruins and remarks that despite his pursuit of fortune and glory, “knowledge” was the aliens’ true treasure. However, it remains unclear what knowledge he gained, as the mystery surrounding their presence and actions remains just as opaque as before the adventure commenced.

In contrast, Darabont’s script provides some dialogue from the aliens, casting light on the origins of Los Dioses. Moreover, Indy takes a more active role in this ending than he does in “Crystal Skull,” where he essentially witnesses Spalko’s destruction without taking any action. In Darabont’s script, Indy and other villainous characters are given the opportunity to make a wish from their hearts by the aliens. Predictably, the evil-doers accept the offer and meet a gruesome demise. Indy ponders the deal but eventually realizes that his heart’s desire was not knowledge; it was love, which adds emotional depth to their reunion storyline in Darabont’s exceptional script. This realization makes the wedding that concludes both versions of this tale carry more significance and weight. In essence, Indy discovers that love, rather than knowledge, was the true treasure, which gives the ending a poignant resolution to their reunion narrative. (Marion’s husband is revealed as – spoiler alert for an imaginary movie – a Russian spy, so she is prepared for a separation.)

2025-02-06 19:24