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Harrison Ford blasts US Iraq policy
AFP - At a safe distance from his homeland, veteran Hollywood actor Harrison Ford launched a broadside at US policy on Iraq, his country's gun laws - and the film industry for producing "video games" for teenagers.
"I'm very disturbed about the direction American foreign policy is going," said Ford, with US post-war casualties having exceeded those during the actual conflict.
"I think something needs to be done to help alleviate the conditions which have created a disenfranchised and angry faction in the Middle East.
"I don't think military intervention is the correct solution. I regret what we as a country have done so far," said Chicago-born Ford, 62.
The veteran star is in Madrid to promote his latest release Hollywood Homicide, a story of two moonlighting Los Angeles policemen, and receive a commemorative pin from Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid, city rivals of Real, the club having tied up a sponsorship agreement with Colombia films.
Twice-married Ford, who sidestepped questions about his relationship with actress Calista Flockhart, also slammed the film industry for in his view relying on hi-tech wizardry at the expense of thrilling plots - though he himself was involved in the early days of the trend with Star Wars in the 1970s.
"I think American films right now are suffering from an excess of scale. Lots of movies we're seeing now are more akin to video games than stories about human life and relationships," said Ford, while noting "12- to 20-year-olds are maybe the largest economic force in the US movie business".
Asked if his feelings were linked to his veteran status and a longing for the 'good old days', Ford countered: "I'm not a very nostalgic person - but I enjoy a good story".
He admitted that many recent releases, without specifying any in particular, were "not my cup of tea".
"It seems everybody is only going for the big hit, for the most return," said Ford.
However, he used the opportunity to announce he will shortly be back in a big hit of his own in revealing that Indiana Jones IV is now scheduled to hit screens in 2005 - despite reports of problems with the script.
"There is a script in preparation for Indiana Jones IV. It's come a long way. if we can get to be happy with the progress of the script we'll start shooting in the summer of 2004.
"I'm delighted to get back to that character and work with (director) Steven Spielberg again. I'm delighted to revisit Indiana Jones."
Although on screen Ford has starred in many action-packed, gun-toting thrillers - his Hollywood Homicide alongside 25-year-old Josh Hartnett is, in fact, more designed as a comedy - Ford abhors liberal US gun laws.
"I'm very troubled by the proliferation of arms, at the fact so many people in the United States carry guns. It obviously contributes greatly to the crime problems we have. I'm sure gun laws should be strengthened in the United States. I just don't know the correct mechanism."
Ford meanwhile admitted to knowing little about Atletico Madrid - Real's poor relations -- but added with a smile: "I don't have the sports gene!".
©AAP 2003
AFP - At a safe distance from his homeland, veteran Hollywood actor Harrison Ford launched a broadside at US policy on Iraq, his country's gun laws - and the film industry for producing "video games" for teenagers.
"I'm very disturbed about the direction American foreign policy is going," said Ford, with US post-war casualties having exceeded those during the actual conflict.
"I think something needs to be done to help alleviate the conditions which have created a disenfranchised and angry faction in the Middle East.
"I don't think military intervention is the correct solution. I regret what we as a country have done so far," said Chicago-born Ford, 62.
The veteran star is in Madrid to promote his latest release Hollywood Homicide, a story of two moonlighting Los Angeles policemen, and receive a commemorative pin from Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid, city rivals of Real, the club having tied up a sponsorship agreement with Colombia films.
Twice-married Ford, who sidestepped questions about his relationship with actress Calista Flockhart, also slammed the film industry for in his view relying on hi-tech wizardry at the expense of thrilling plots - though he himself was involved in the early days of the trend with Star Wars in the 1970s.
"I think American films right now are suffering from an excess of scale. Lots of movies we're seeing now are more akin to video games than stories about human life and relationships," said Ford, while noting "12- to 20-year-olds are maybe the largest economic force in the US movie business".
Asked if his feelings were linked to his veteran status and a longing for the 'good old days', Ford countered: "I'm not a very nostalgic person - but I enjoy a good story".
He admitted that many recent releases, without specifying any in particular, were "not my cup of tea".
"It seems everybody is only going for the big hit, for the most return," said Ford.
However, he used the opportunity to announce he will shortly be back in a big hit of his own in revealing that Indiana Jones IV is now scheduled to hit screens in 2005 - despite reports of problems with the script.
"There is a script in preparation for Indiana Jones IV. It's come a long way. if we can get to be happy with the progress of the script we'll start shooting in the summer of 2004.
"I'm delighted to get back to that character and work with (director) Steven Spielberg again. I'm delighted to revisit Indiana Jones."
Although on screen Ford has starred in many action-packed, gun-toting thrillers - his Hollywood Homicide alongside 25-year-old Josh Hartnett is, in fact, more designed as a comedy - Ford abhors liberal US gun laws.
"I'm very troubled by the proliferation of arms, at the fact so many people in the United States carry guns. It obviously contributes greatly to the crime problems we have. I'm sure gun laws should be strengthened in the United States. I just don't know the correct mechanism."
Ford meanwhile admitted to knowing little about Atletico Madrid - Real's poor relations -- but added with a smile: "I don't have the sports gene!".
©AAP 2003