The Geek Genome Project is an attempt to explain exactly what fanboys see in their favorite movies, TV shows, comics, books, and games. More than just a review, this is meant to be an overall look at why it’s part of what makes a fanboy a fanboy. This is about what these things mean to us.
Indiana Jones
1981 was going to be a milestone year for fanboys, even if they didn’t know it at first. The year before, our minds were blown by The Empire Strikes back and with Solo’s “I know” who ever thought Harrison Ford could get any cooler. That would change a year later when Raiders of the Lost Ark would come out and Ford would be one step closer to the trifecta that would cement him as a fanboy’s favorite actor of all time.
The origin of Indy is a legend that most fanboys either know or should learn before calling themselves a fanboy. As the story goes, Lucas and Spielberg were on vacation in Hawaii and were sitting on the beach building a sandcastle. Lucas pitched the idea of Indiana Smith to Spielberg on that beach. As Spielberg didn’t like the name Smith for some reason, Lucas suggested Jones and a legend was born.
We almost didn’t even get Harrison Ford as Indy. Tom Selleck was originally cast as Indiana Jones, but since Magnum P.I. was becoming more popular, CBS wouldn’t allow him to film the movie. But could anyone honestly picture anyone else than Harrison Ford as Henry Jones Jr?
Any self respecting geek should regard the Indiana Jones movies at nearly the same level as the Star Wars saga. But why do we love these movies so much? Spielberg and Lucas struck the magic formula three and a half times over the last thirty years, and yes that means that at least some parts of Crystal Skull aren’t as horrible as people say.
