Junior Novelization Cover: Now I'm a little worried!
Let me just say, straight out of the box, that I think Shia is a good actor and I enjoyed his performance in Disturbia, lest anyone think I am a Shia-basher. However... there seems to be a growing concern that this movie is 50 % Indy vehicle, 50% pass the torch to the new kid on the block. Nobody was suprised when Shia got the gig. Speilberg has a Drew Barrymore thing him and is investing in his rising stock very heavily. And why shouldn't he. Shia is very talented. I suppose I slightly resent that my childhood hero is being somewhat usurped. I didn't mind Indy sharing the limelight with Connery in LC, because, well, Connery is James Bond. He'd earned the right to stand tor to toe with Indy. But Mutt seems to be forced upon us. And talented as he is, I just don't buy him as a rebel without a cause. Brando he aint! ROTLA and TOD were strictly Indy affairs. Even TOD, in which Short Round was there as a gimmic rather than a character with an arc. In LC we already got the father/son-find eachother story. Why, oh dear God why, do we need it again?
However, what really concerns me is that most of the images realised seem to accentuate the Shia factor. Are the producers afraid that today's young audience don't know who Harrison Ford is? Look at the Dark Horse comic cover (proposed). Shai in the foreground with poor ole Dr. Jones behind. And just check out the junior novelisation cover. Shia and the bike are huge with a suggestion (to call it a silhouette would be generous) of Indy in the background. Now, the junior novelization is for kids so, maybe the idea is that Mutt will appeal more to that audience. But... I dunno. I worried. I've waited all these years for an Indy movie. I don't mind Shia being in the movie, but I have zero interest in an Indy movie without Indy. All lot of people are starting to call Mutt, Indy's Jarr Jar Binks. I really hope that its not the case.
Yes, I may be jumping the gun. We haven't even seen the trailer yet. This might all be mis-placed concern. And regardless, I will still be first in line on May 22nd.
