(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Former relatively promiscuous and single hero Indiana Jones shows new beats and tones in the latest film, which has its Norwegian premiere in 22. May, at least as far as family values are concerned. In the first three films, all of which appeared in the 1980 century, he flirted with a new attractive woman in each film. But in the fourth film, Indiana Jones is confronted with paternity and family values. Back is his flirt, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), whom Jones met in Tibet in the first movie. This time, they meet more casually, in the Amazon jungle, and it soon emerges that a child was conceived at the Tibet meeting.
Son Mutt Williams (Shia laBeouf), has been twenty-one years since meeting in the first movie. Indiana Jones initially takes the message of fatherhood with distrustful surprise, but soon accepts the new situation and immediately becomes more fatherly to her son. He shows both concern and care. For example, he is not happy to hear that the son has cut his schooling in favor of a job as a motorcycle repairman.
Reunited with father
The fourth Indiana Jones movie also ends with a grand wedding, between Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood, of the right old-fashioned and romantic kind. Clichéd perhaps, but at the same time a reminder from directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas that even heroes have to retire and begin a responsible life sooner or later. It may be high time for a man who is closer to 60 years.
"In recent years, I've become more and more concerned with family values," Steven Spielberg admits at the press conference just after the first screening of the new Indiana Jones movie at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
-Many of my recent films address this aspect. This is probably due to the fact that I was recently reunited with my father, who I did not have much contact with for a while. He is 91 years old now and we are getting along well for the time being, says Spielberg.
Indiana Jones shows in many ways several soft pages in the last movie. His comments and replies are not quite as impactful as they were 20 years ago. To his former archeology colleague George McHale (played by Ray Winstone), who betrays him, the threat is no worse than having him "smash his nose". Gentle words that contrast with what one would expect from a hard-fought Hollywood action hero.
Soft heroes
The same phenomenon can also be seen in other action heroes who have been revived in recent times. Bruce Willis, in the role of police officer John McClane in the latest Die Hard film, has stopped smoking and got rid of alcohol problems. He is divorced, but at the same time very concerned with the upbringing of his teenage daughter. John Rambo himself, the tough single Vietnam veteran who does not seem to fear anything, decides to return home to the family farm in Arizona towards the end of the fourth Rambo film, which went to Norwegian cinemas in February. This year's biggest Norwegian film success Lange flate ballær 2, about a group of sloppy men who have to rehearse in the Home Guard, is not without family values either. The main character is constantly busy spending time with his little daughter Mie, and he likes to sneak away from other important events to spend time with her.
"Old, hard-core heroes become soft family men", thus seems to be the new action credo. But Spielberg does not stop problematizing the male role there.
In his latest Indiana Jones film, he also comments on the young action hero's position and role, in the form of intertextual references. During the film's over two hours of playing time, reference is made to well-known cinematic classics such as Citizen Kane, Tarzan, The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause. Movies that all say something about male roles and masculinity. The latter two films are particularly interesting, as they deal with popular youth culture in the 1950s, with Marlo Brando and James Dean in the lead roles, respectively. Both films also take place in the same decade as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and in particular the similarity between the new Indiana Jones film and The Wild One is striking. The iconic image of a young, virile Marlon Brando on a Triumph motorcycle with a white sailor hat on, Spielberg has almost copied in a shot with Indiana Jones' son on a similar bike.
Maybe Spielberg, Lucas and Indiana Jones will tell us that youth must be characterized by rebellion, a wandering life and irresponsible choices (like Indy himself in his youth), while old age requires responsibility and reflection? Ironically, this tendency arises at a time when there have never been more divorces in the Western world. Or maybe that's exactly why?
For Hollywood icons have always had a strong influence on young people. When Marlon Brando posed in a white t-shirt in the 1950s, the t-shirt immediately became trendy, and when people like James Dean were pictured with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, it was quickly caught. In recent times, we have seen a Hollywood that takes more responsibility and wants young people to stop smoking, and most recently; start families and create nuclear families.
