I was very excited about this movie when I saw the preview, and I told my children I wanted to take them to see it. They already knew that The Call of the Wild is one of my favorite books. In fact, my boy said: I know you want to see The Call of the Wild! I replied: "Yes, I do."
However, Harrison Ford's stupid remarks dispelled any interest I had in seeing him on the screen, especially in one of my favorite tales. I love intelligence; it's the crux of this story, and it would be hard for me to imagine intelligence in a man like Ford.
As I recall, the old Clark Gable/Loretta Young flick had essentially nothing to do with Jack London's book. It's been many years, but about all I remember is Loretta taking a bath and none whatsoever of the depth and meaning of the novel. I always tucked it away in the discard folder along with Greer Garson's unintentional-lampoon of Pride and Prejudice, in which Lady Catherine de Bourgh (of all people!) was boringly sanitized into a sweet old lady who just wanted what was best for her dear nephew!
I didn't even bother to witness the recent re-make of The Scarlet Letter.
And there has never been a respectable filming of Moby Dick.
I have no desire to see my favorite works of fiction degraded.
I'll read The Call of the Wild aloud to my children instead.
Pretty much how I feel about it. Good Post.