Remakes

[Chadzilla]

Pete B6K wrote:
>  
> Are there any remakes at all that are better then the original?

John Carpenter's The Thing is a superior adaptation of Who Goes There? than the rather standard monster on loose 50s era The Thing from Another World (which still rocks, BTW)

Philip Kaufman's remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers was better in some ways than Siegel's original (it holds up to repeat viewers a lot better)

> What remake do you wish had never happened?

Psycho (what the hell is up with that?)

> What film would you most like to see remade?

The Car is a dream project of mine.

> What film would you least like to see remade?

Jaws

> Are people who remake films just too damn lazy to make an
> original?

Short answer: No.  Projects get funded on the perceived ability of that project to rake in cash.  Projects based on pre-existing media that has a proven fan base will get funded more so than an unkown.  Which is why you see so many titles with numerals after them or remakes of cult classics, there is an audience out there willing to pay a certain amount of money to see it, then add on a star's core audience and...you can see the mindset at work already.  Just base your decision entirely on how to maximize your profit based on what is currently making money and you can see how the Hollywood machine spits 'em out one after another.  Believe me, in three years we are all going to be SICK of Super Hero movies!

But the actual making of a movie is a lot of hard work and stress.  Irregardless of where it came from.

[Andrew]

Adjust to normal.  The message board is for us to discuss movies, whether we like them or not.

[Vermin Boy]

The remake I'm really dreading is the made-for-TV Rocky Horror. Not only is the idea COMPLETELY pointless, but having it go straight to TV eliminates the whole "audience participation" appeal.

I think a remake of Tod Browning's Freaks could be pretty cool. Don't get me wrong, the original was a classic, but it has undeniable flaws, mostly due to studio tampering and the novelty of talkies. If they still cast actual deformities, restored the aspects the studio once found too shocking (like the infamous "soprano" ending), and focused more on the freaks as characters, it could be really good. Of course, if any one of those elements was missing, it would have potential to be complete and utter crap.

[jmc]

A couple of remakes I wouldn't mind seeing--I think it would be interesting to see a remake of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE updated to where an American soldier is brainwashed by terrorists to become a "sleeper."

Also wouldn't mind seeing a remake of JOE [the 70s Peter Boyle hardhat vs. hippies classic] updated with hip-hop types replacing hippies.  

The problem I have with remakes is that it's like Hollywood is eating itself.  If fewer original movies are being made, what will happen when there's nothing left to remake?  I mean, I know it's a bit of an exaggeration, but even so it's still bad for the movies if there's less room for new ideas, or at least newer takes on old ideas.  

Even a more optimistic scenario would have things like movies based on TV commercials....wouldn't surprise me a bit if something like that happens within the next five years, if it hasn't already.   Heck, the last time I went to the movies they had a commercial for a TV show at the beginning!  I couldn't believe it....

And I'm willing to give the DAWN and TCM remakes a chance, depending on what I hear about them.  To be honest, I probably won't listen to what people say from the horror film community, because I know quite a few people who will hate the movies no matter what, simply for the fact that they're being made.  

For what it's worth, I'm already sick of superhero movies.....

[Mofo Rising]

jmc wrote:
>
> Even a more optimistic scenario would have things like movies
> based on TV commercials....wouldn't surprise me a bit if
> something like that happens within the next five years, if it
> hasn't already.   Heck, the last time I went to the movies
> they had a commercial for a TV show at the beginning!  I
> couldn't believe it....
>

I'm hoping the COUPON: THE MOVIE gets a distribution deal.  (Obligatory Mr. Show reference.)

[The Other Andrew]

>
> Are there any remakes at all that are better then the original?

Sure- The Maltese Falcon, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Fly. I'm still torn over wether or not the remake of The Blob is superior to the original. The reamke features a tighter script and more suspense, but it just isn't as much fun.

> What remake do you wish had never happened?

The Thing, and not just because I still consider the Hawks-Nyby film far superior.  I have nothing against people liking Carpenter's film, but I do resent the fact that fans of the remake feel a compulsive need to knock the original off its "classic" pedestal.

> What film would you most like to see remade?

The Black Hole-by a writer who actually knows what a black hole is.

> What film would you least like to see remade?

I've had enough of American directors trying to remake Kurosawa's samurai  films as Westerns, gangster films or space opera.

> Are people who remake films just too damn lazy to make an
> original?

No, it's because they're greedy.

[John]

>I'm still torn over wether or not the remake of The Blob is superior to the original.
>The reamke features a tighter script and more suspense, but it just isn't as much
>fun.

 I like the remake, but I preferred the original gob of red Jello. I just didn't believe that the new one could squeeze through tiny holes like the original.