Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones Once More – Is it Time for a New Adventure Hero?
Pamela Scott Shelton
June 23, 2007
As fans eagerly await the release of the new Indiana Jones (2008) film, which will probably be Harrison Ford’s final Jones film; the question must be raised, is it time to give movie goers an altogether new adventure hero? A new adventure hero is an opportunity to create a new Hollywood franchise, and to either call upon the existing body of Hollywood talent, or to introduce someone new. Introducing new talent is always a risk, unless the talent is an actor with the charm and appeal and acting ability of Harrison Ford himself. Certainly Dreamworks can afford to take the risk of introducing new talent and a new adventure hero, especially if that new talent is under the direction of Steven Spielberg. Spielberg’s directing skill and expertise is enough to bring out the best acting ability in a new aspiring actor. As is the directing abilitity of Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino directed Darryl Hannah in what might be the best acting performance of her career as the deadly Elle Driver, in Kill Bill (2003). Tarantino worked the same directorial magic with Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction (1994), and again in Kill Bill (2003) and Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004). In the case of both actresses, Tarantino directed them to their most capable acting heights, bringing out their greatness in outstanding performances that directors before him had not succeeded in doing with either Thurman or Hannah.
If introducing a new adventure hero is too risky, then the existing body of Hollywood acting talent has to be considered. Somehow, and especially after Pirates of the Caribbean (2003, 2006, 2007), Orlando Bloom does not fit the bill. Brad Pitt has moved in a different direction, and an adventure hero would have to be a lot of fun – not just for the stars during the making of the film, but for movie goers to watch. It is definitely time to introduce a new adventure hero, a different heart throb. So, then, who? What about Ben Browder? Browder is the perfect adventure hero; he is handsome, strong looking, sexy and – most important to an action adventure hero – Browder is fun.
In the television science fiction series Farscape (1999-2003), Browder acted in the role of John Crichton, an American astronaut who is pulled into a wormhole and spit out the other end into a world of alien creatures and constant warring. In the role of Crichton, Browder did some strange and quirky things, but he always drew the viewer into the fun that was going on,creating a fun viewing experience. Sometimes in a television series, the viewer comes away with the sense that the actor did not give the role everything he or she was capable of bringing to the role as an actor. Not the case with Browder in Farscape. Browder showed audiences his manly side, that he was emotionally secure enough to have feelings and was able to act them out for audiences; he was fast and witty, which is what television characters must be. Under the direction of Spielberg or Tarantino, Browder would no doubt be able to deliver a most outstanding performance, and would fulfill his ability as a great actor.
Browder is capable of carrying the starring role in a major motion picture. Like George Clooney, Browder is an actor who could easily make the transition from television to film success under the direction of Tarantino or Spielberg; and with the right film vehicle – like an action adventure hero.
As a result of the Farscape series, Browder has a huge fan following, which could easily make the transition from television to film with him. Like Harrison Ford, Browder has the charm, the personality, the acting ability and began in a science fiction space adventure. Browder would be an applause winning action hero.
For science fiction fans who might not know about Ben Browder or the Farscape series, the entire collection is available on DVD, and at an affordable price. The final piece to the Farscape collection is the movie Farscape: The Peace Keeper Wars (2004), which reunited the cast, including Claudia Black, Gigi Edgley, and Anthony Simcoe. The film gave fans closure on a storyline that had been cancelled before Crichton’s story was fully told. The series still has a huge fan following, and the fans’ response to the cancelled series is much like that of fans when the original Star Trek (1966-1969) television series was cancelled. However, unlike the many subsequent Star Trek films that followed that series cancellation, The Peace Keeper Wars seems to have given the Farscape adventure and cast closure in a way that did not happen with the Star Trek films and cast.
So while we might not see Browder in more Farscape, hopefully we will have the opportunity to be entertained by this great actor in new films – many more new films – and in different genres.
If introducing a new adventure hero is too risky, then the existing body of Hollywood acting talent has to be considered. Somehow, and especially after Pirates of the Caribbean (2003, 2006, 2007), Orlando Bloom does not fit the bill. Brad Pitt has moved in a different direction, and an adventure hero would have to be a lot of fun – not just for the stars during the making of the film, but for movie goers to watch. It is definitely time to introduce a new adventure hero, a different heart throb. So, then, who? What about Ben Browder? Browder is the perfect adventure hero; he is handsome, strong looking, sexy and – most important to an action adventure hero – Browder is fun.
In the television science fiction series Farscape (1999-2003), Browder acted in the role of John Crichton, an American astronaut who is pulled into a wormhole and spit out the other end into a world of alien creatures and constant warring. In the role of Crichton, Browder did some strange and quirky things, but he always drew the viewer into the fun that was going on,creating a fun viewing experience. Sometimes in a television series, the viewer comes away with the sense that the actor did not give the role everything he or she was capable of bringing to the role as an actor. Not the case with Browder in Farscape. Browder showed audiences his manly side, that he was emotionally secure enough to have feelings and was able to act them out for audiences; he was fast and witty, which is what television characters must be. Under the direction of Spielberg or Tarantino, Browder would no doubt be able to deliver a most outstanding performance, and would fulfill his ability as a great actor.
Browder is capable of carrying the starring role in a major motion picture. Like George Clooney, Browder is an actor who could easily make the transition from television to film success under the direction of Tarantino or Spielberg; and with the right film vehicle – like an action adventure hero.
As a result of the Farscape series, Browder has a huge fan following, which could easily make the transition from television to film with him. Like Harrison Ford, Browder has the charm, the personality, the acting ability and began in a science fiction space adventure. Browder would be an applause winning action hero.
For science fiction fans who might not know about Ben Browder or the Farscape series, the entire collection is available on DVD, and at an affordable price. The final piece to the Farscape collection is the movie Farscape: The Peace Keeper Wars (2004), which reunited the cast, including Claudia Black, Gigi Edgley, and Anthony Simcoe. The film gave fans closure on a storyline that had been cancelled before Crichton’s story was fully told. The series still has a huge fan following, and the fans’ response to the cancelled series is much like that of fans when the original Star Trek (1966-1969) television series was cancelled. However, unlike the many subsequent Star Trek films that followed that series cancellation, The Peace Keeper Wars seems to have given the Farscape adventure and cast closure in a way that did not happen with the Star Trek films and cast.
So while we might not see Browder in more Farscape, hopefully we will have the opportunity to be entertained by this great actor in new films – many more new films – and in different genres.
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