Happy Birthday, Han Solo

Today is Harrison Ford's 66th birthday. Mr. Ford holds a dear place in my movie-going memory. Yes, I saw the new Indiana Jones movie after coming back from the UK. It was alright, but basically a pastiche of the original. The two big characters Harrison created rank among the most influential and coolest in my reckoning. No one has come close to Han Solo's effortless hipness nor Dr. Jones' wry heroism.

From 1977 to 1985, I went out of my way to see every movie starring Harrison Ford that I could. That meant many viewings of the western/Yiddish comedy the Frisco Kid as well as the innovative Blade Runner. I used to wait with baited breath for the opening of a new Harrison Ford movie. Mom used to take me straight from school on a Friday afternoon to see an Indiana Jones or Star Wars film the day it opened. Of course, my favorite memory was going to an advance screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark in Cleveland. I passed up going to the big end of the year party for the 6th grade to see Raiders. And I have no regrets. I didn't even know what Ark was missing; all I knew was this was Harrison Ford's new movie! It was such fun and still holds up as one of the best action flicks ever.

Mr. Ford's recent movies (i.e. anything the past decade) have not been among my favorites, but I'll put his Golden Age (ending with Witness, his only Oscar nominated performance) up against any other actor's. He's a true movie star. Happy Birthday, Harrison!

Peace & Making the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs