Is Nathan Fillion a better actor than Harrison Ford?

POSTED BY: agirlyman
UPDATED: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 00:19
VIEWED: 16184
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BELOWZERO

Sunday, March 26, 2006 7:20 AM

Harrison Ford tends to play the same character over and over, and while I totally enjoy his films (Han Solo, Indy) they didn't stay with me the way Nathan did as Mal. I accepted Mal as my hero and alter ego the way I never accepted or identified with any of Harrison's characters, who were all a bit larger than life, whereas Nathan's characters have the full range: they lose, they get hurt, they die, they get shot, they don't get the princess, they don't get the medal for saving the cause.....

And even in an arguably awful movie with wooden dialogue, Nathan manages to shine, and make the dialogue work. (See Water's Edge if you don't believe me.) That's something amazing, some quality not too many actors have. In addition, watch some of the subtler moves in Nathan's acting: the body language, the slight twitch when he gets shot at or innoculated, the way he just physically reacts as if he is really there, in the moment...

I can't really explain it well, but altho I love 'em both, Nathan has my vote, by far.

"Do not go gentle into that good night....
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. . ."
--Dylan Thomas

Though my soul may set in darkness
It will rise in perfect light.
I have loved the stars too fondly
To be fearful of the night.

THESIGNAL

Sunday, March 26, 2006 7:30 AM

Let's lobby to get Nathan to replace Harrison in Indy 4, then we can compare role to role! That way, the movie could have more physical things like fight sequences, too. I kid; there's no way anyone will ever be Indiana Jones but Harrison Ford... unless they did a prequel -gasp- Lucas: Episode 1, 2, AND 3 anybody!? Is anyone else REALLY worried about this sequel? I think Nathan would be a perfect replacement as a younger Indy. Although, I did like Sean Patrick Flanery in Young Indy Chronicles.

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Sunday, March 26, 2006 8:11 AM

Ok...just thought I would throw my two cents (though they be in Canadian currency).

Both actors have their fortes, to be honest. Ford has set the bar high for supposed averge Joe heroes who manage to whoop some ass against crap odds; Nathan matches, if not slightly excedes it by giving more depth. However, Nathan has done more TV, so he had a chance to work on characters that were designed to be peeled like an onion and become more than just archetypes.

Now, on another front, I have to say that Nathan does stuff like romance better....cuz I honestly have cringed a lot moree from Ford doing the UST dance with female costars (though not all of them) than with Nathan. I guess it might come down to the fact that I am closer to Nathan's age than Ford's, so it's less "Dude, he's old enough to be my grandfather" than "Sweet, he's macking with a hottie" cuz Nate is in the right age bracket for being an "older brother" figure to someone like me.

Really....it's not a fair contest. Ford has the work experience and CV, while Nathan seems (for me anyway) to me to have the slight advantage with technical skill for doing roles.

BEB

Literature has shown us some of humanity's greatest achievements; history, some of our greatest failures -- Alun Lewis

J6NGO1977

Sunday, March 26, 2006 10:39 AM

I agree that Joss is a Star Wars / Indy fan. One of the most memorable scenes from Raiders is when the crowd part and a swordsman appears showing all his flashy sword moves. Indy just pulls out his gun and shoots him and then turns and carries on looking for Marion. That scene to this day always has me laughing out loud. Now, is not the scene in the Pilot where Mal shoots the Alliance police guy influenced by that indy scene?

CHRISTHECYNIC

Sunday, March 26, 2006 11:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BelowZero:
And even in an arguably awful movie with wooden dialogue, Nathan manages to shine, and make the dialogue work. (See Water's Edge if you don't believe me.)

I've not seen it, I'll take your word, and unless I find reason to doubt you he gets my vote too. Besides, neutral is the hardest position to hold.

CHRISTHECYNIC

Sunday, March 26, 2006 11:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by j6ngo1977:
I agree that Joss is a Star Wars / Indy fan. One of the most memorable scenes from Raiders is when the crowd part and a swordsman appears showing all his flashy sword moves. Indy just pulls out his gun and shoots him and then turns and carries on looking for Marion. That scene to this day always has me laughing out loud. Now, is not the scene in the Pilot where Mal shoots the Alliance police guy influenced by that indy scene?

Never thought of that. I've also really never thought about whether or not Joss was a fan of Indy. The only reason I know he's a fan of Star Wars is that he's said it (or things that require it) often enough.

MANAPEGONEWRONG

Sunday, March 26, 2006 5:19 PM

You cant really tell whos a better actor because the material is so much better for fillion but if you try to imagine ford playing mal it just wouldnt work. plus hes like 60 now.

---
when you get cancelled you find someone to carry you

AGIRLYMAN

Sunday, March 26, 2006 11:40 PM

I think you can tell, just how many movies has Harrison Ford done? I've seen just about all of them, and i'm telling you I never seen one character he's done that was better than Nathan playing Mal. Maybe when they do "On golden pond II", we will see Ford shine. Nathan on the other hand is just getting started.

AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!?!?

Tee Hee

KAYNA

Monday, March 27, 2006 1:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by nosadseven:
[B
Anyway, somebody here owes me a slice of Nathan pie. (Whoops - there goes my credibility...)
B]

Mmmmmm..Nathan Pie. I think I'll have me a slice of that too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Op: You're fighting a war you've already lost.
Mal: Yeah, well I'm known for that.

ANONYMOUS1

Monday, March 27, 2006 1:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by j6ngo1977:
as for Mals Captain status im not one for nitpicking but when the operative was checking Mals data file in serenity it did say Captain. I know he is the Captain of Serenity however it stated on the datafile he was a captain in the Army an we all know he was a Seargent

I think it was a field promotion. Came with the commendation for the Battle of Serenity. In the The Firefly DVD deleted scenes, Zoe says Mal was in charge of thousands near the end because all the other leaders were dead.

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