On Indiana Jones and The Incredible Hulk
The following is a transcript of a phone interview between Tony Vahl and an M.O.T. News correspondent:
M.O.T. News: Mr. Vahl, it’s an honor. As a fan of Indiana Jones, what is your take on the new movie?
Vahl: I Heard George Lucas come out with a quote the other day and basically start apologizing for the new Indiana Jones movie, saying that he’s had this problem before with sequels, the Star Wars sequels, where the movie can’t live up to the childhood memories of people … and that the childhood memories are not the same as the actual movie … and it’s impossible to meet those expectations.
Well, I got to see quite a bit of all three movies on the Sci-Fi Channel this weekend, and you know what? Those movies hold up. They hold up.
M.O.T. News: Why ™ do you think they hold up?
Vahl: One reason is because of Spielberg and his directing. Another reason is because of Harrison Ford. And the story itself is unbelievable.
M.O.T. News: Okay, but can they do it again?
Vahl: As far as I’m concerned, Spielberg can still direct. I’ve seen his more recent movies, and I still think he has it. I’m sure Harrison will be fine.
Unfortunately, we live in an era where people are so “Smart.” You know, basically, being jaded is a substitute for intelligence in our day. If you’re jaded and sarcastic that means you’re “Smart.”
The movie could be a hit, a huge hit! But if it gets ripped by blogs and critics, then the perception creates the reality. A smash weekend at the box office becomes a failure, simply because a thousand sock-puppets say so.
M.O.T. News: Something similar happened to another movie: The Hulk
Vahl: Let’s talk about that. There’s a movie that, when it came out a few years ago … I don’t know, I thought it did pretty well in the box office. Maybe I’m wrong. I thought it did okay.
M.O.T. News: $62 million opening weekend in the U.S. alone.
Vahl: That’s more than Prince Caspian! And no one is claiming that movie was a bust! Anyway, the Hulk was universally panned — at least, that’s the perception that’s been created. Now, in my small circle of friends, we seem to like the movie a lot. We seem to appreciate Ang Lee’s approach. We loved Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly … the fact that they got into Bruce Banner’s childhood and the whole psychological aspect of the Hulk. What can I tell you? Well, a lot of sock puppets didn’t like it — it wasn’t like the TV show, or it wasn’t what they expected. So now there’s a new Hulk movie.
M.O.T. News: Did you get a chance to see the new trailer?
Yeah, when I went to see Iron Man. On the trailer the Hulk looks meaner, angrier … definitely a more savage Hulk. I hope sock puppets everywhere will like and appreciate that.
M.O.T. News: What do you think of the new Bruce Banner?
Vahl: Ed Norton? It’s funny — Damian told me he couldn’t imagine him as Bruce Banner, and my wife had the same reaction. Now, after seeing the preview, Damian changed his mind, and my wife did not. She still had a hard time accepting that and, yeah, I can see where she’s coming from. He doesn’t strike me as Bruce Banner at first.
HOWEVER, it’s Ed Norton, you know? He’s a great actor. He can pull it off. You know, watching that preview, I got that sense of Bill Bixby-style desperation. I think Ed Norton was really tapping into that Bill Bixby loner desperation/on-the-run kind of thing. That was prevalent in the TV show, and that’s what made that show great. It makes the Hulk great.
I also got the sense that there was a little bit of that desperation that we saw in the Fight Club movie, like when he was on a plane waking up in a different city, confused, disoriented, doesn’t know what time it is, running around, looking around, trying to catch Tyler Durden, always travelling … that look in of confusion and desperation in his eye … I got that feeling. I think he’s perfect for that kind of thing. And you know what? When they showed him with the green eyes and the wicked smile, ala Bill Bixby, I was sold. So, I’m looking forward it. And, personally, I love it that the Abomination is in the movie. I’m not sure everyone’s going to love it — my wife said the preview pretty much gave the whole story away. So, I’m not sure if everyone’s going to be sold on this preview or not. I hope they are.
And, you know what? That other movie came out only five years ago. I’m not sure people or sock puppets are going to forget that so quickly. I guess this will be a good test of the collective memory of the public. It’s a weird situation for the producers of the movie. What can you do?
And they even played a snippet of the music from the TV show — so they’re letting the audience know where they’re coming from. Hey, I guess the Hulk looked a little bit more like Lou Ferigno and less like a jolly green monster. Maybe this reboot is a good idea, after all.
M.O.T. News: So, you liked the 2003 Hulk, and you approve of the reboot. What did you think of Iron Man?
Vahl: Iron Man was great. We wished we had the DVD, so we could watch it again.
M.O.T. News: I’m sure your friend Mr. B could hook you up.
Vahl: Ha ha ha. That’s true. That’s true.
M.O.T. News: Thank you for your time, Mr. Vahl.
Vahl: Your welcome.
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The Cannes Film Festival standing ovation, which was reported by Drudge, E-News, and all three NY newspapers has KILLED ShogunMaster’s horrible “review” that had been leaked on the Internet.
Indy is certain to make a LOT of money.
The first 3 movies hold up today, no question. In fact, millions of people saw the cable TV showings these last two weeks, and the ratings were unbelievably high.
The ratings were high because of the new movie…people are thinking about it and they already have it on their mind…duh