Sometimes it’s good to leave well-enough alone

Worst movie re-makes

Published on May 2, 2006 By foreverserenity In Movie Reviews

Yes it is! Sometimes it’s really good to leave something alone. Don’t try to re-hash it, go over it, re-make it. That’s because sometimes the second time around can be a total disaster!

For example, there seems to be a lot of movie remakes these days. These remakes are based on a book, a comic book or another movie. Truthfully, many of them I haven’t seen, those that I have seen however, and from the reviews I’ve read and the trailers I’ve seen as well as opinions of friends who have seen almost all of these movies, most of them really bombed!

I’m not sure why Hollywood feels they have to remake some movies. When they do remake them, it would help if they kept true to the original story and don’t go too far off the beaten track with the claim of ‘artistic license’ because sometimes their ‘artistic license’ doesn’t make any sense at all.

I was reading a review of “the Fog” done online by Alex Sandell of the Juicy Cerebellum. Link; I have to agree with his comments. Hollywood certainly have botched up one of the greatest movies of all time.

My oldest daughter went to see it and she didn’t like it too much either. I told her to look out for the original (she didn’t’ even know one existed!) and after she saw it, she liked that one a lot better than the remake and found it much scarier! In fact, we made a movie night of it with popcorn and the lights out, me and the kids, what could be better!

There were quite a few movies made over last year. Alex Sandell has quite a detailed and informative list here which you should check out. I like his title “When Pigs Fly”! Link.

Which movie or comic book remake, in your opinion, was the worst?

Comments

Gideon MacLeish

on May 02, 2006

Well, I refuse to even SEE the remake of "The Hills Have Eyes". The original was great only because it was a low budget cult classic (as well as one of Wes Craven's earlier projects). I didn't like the remake of "Night of the Living Dead" (leave George Romero alone, durnit!) either.

Speaking of which, did you hear there's a remake of "Revenge of the Nerds" in the works?

Moderateman

on May 02, 2006

daredevil with ben affleck.. they took a truly heroic figure and turned him into a clown and a blind clown at that.

stutefish

on May 02, 2006

The In-Laws.

foreverserenity

on May 02, 2006

Speaking of which, did you hear there's a remake of "Revenge of the Nerds" in the works?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Watch them botch that one up too! Yikes!

daredevil with ben affleck.. they took a truly heroic figure and turned him into a clown and a blind clown at that.

Yep, that they did. Daredevil has always been one of my fav comic book characters too, along with Green Lantern and the Flash. In fact, I love them all!

The In-Laws.

That one I haven't seen - the remake that is. I'll take your word for it though!

Dr Guy

on May 02, 2006

I disagree with Gideon as I did see it and it was ok, but totally agree with Stute.

However the worst remake was when they did a female George Bailey with Marla Thomas and re-did "It's a Wonderful life". Gag! Please someone burn the master on that one!

Gideon MacLeish

on May 02, 2006

However the worst remake was when they did a female George Bailey with Marla Thomas and re-did "It's a Wonderful life". Gag! Please someone burn the master on that one!

Interesting bit of trivia: "It's a Wonderful Life" was actually a box office bomb. The reason it became so popular was because of its extremely low royalties, which allowed TV networks to show it ad nauseum with very little cost.

Not that that's relevant to anything, but it's kind of interesting.

foreverserenity

on May 02, 2006

However the worst remake was when they did a female George Bailey with Marla Thomas and re-did "It's a Wonderful life". Gag! Please someone burn the master on that one!

I never saw it and I'm so glad I didn't cause that woulda burst that bubble I have about it!

Interesting bit of trivia: "It's a Wonderful Life" was actually a box office bomb

Oh yes, I heard about that recently.

The reason it became so popular was because of its extremely low royalties, which allowed TV networks to show it ad nauseum with very little cost.

I didn't realise that's why they showed it so often though!

but it's kind of interesting.

That is interesting!

Dr Guy

on May 02, 2006

Since I am not over 60, that was the only way I could see it! I remember when it went public domain (before being yanked back on a technicality). They showed it non stop for a couple of years. And that was when I saw it, and fell in love with it.

(I think they said the music in it was not PD. I dont remember the technicality)

dynamaso

on May 04, 2006

I thought Batman Begins was the best Batman movie of them all (I'm a big Batman comic fan and was absolutely dismayed with the first series of movies). I've yet to see 'V For Vendetta' and am reserving judgement until I do. The graphic novel is awesome.

On the subject of remakes, why did Hollywood bother with Bewitched, The Stepford Wives, War of the Worlds, and the various other crappy remakes they've done recently. It is like there are no stories good enough for the studios so they have to recycle old ideas ad nauseum. The best remake I've seen is a movie called 'Mean Machine', which was a British remake of the Burt Reynolds movie 'The Longest Yard'. The remake is a superior movie, in my opinion.

foreverserenity

on May 04, 2006

thought Batman Begins was the best Batman movie of them all

I agree with you on this. I thought the last one was pretty good too. Although I still enjoyed the one with Michael Keaton and George Clooney!

On the subject of remakes, why did Hollywood bother with Bewitched, The Stepford Wives, War of the Worlds, and the various other crappy remakes they've done recently. It is like there are no stories good enough for the studios so they have to recycle old ideas ad nauseum.

You hit the nail on the head Maso! They just had no good ideas and thought making over old movies would be big money makers because they were so loved. Unfortunately it doesn't work if the movie stinks!

dynamaso

on May 04, 2006

Although I still enjoyed the one with Michael Keaton and George Clooney!!

I was really excited when I heard George Clooney was going to play Batman. I thought he would be great and hoped the makers would persue a darker tone with him. But they didn't and I was disappointed. Michael Keaton was okay. Val Kilmer, on the other hand, was atrocious.

uDigItTheMost

on May 05, 2006

I think Hollywood should stop remaking good movies. For example, Psycho. I think if they want to remake movies they should remake ones that had a good story or idea but due to bad acting or directing turned into a dud.

I know there's tons of movies made from great books, which turned out like crap. You could start there.

Dr Guy

on May 05, 2006

I think if they want to remake movies they should remake ones that had a good story or idea but due to bad acting or directing turned into a dud.

Plan 9 from Outer Space?

foreverserenity

on May 05, 2006

thought he would be great and hoped the makers would persue a darker tone with him. But they didn't and I was disappointed.

Yeah, but it was nice just looking at Clooney in tights!

I think if they want to remake movies they should remake ones that had a good story or idea but due to bad acting or directing turned into a dud.

What they should do is find the right director who know what he's doing. And if they have to re-write then do it and make it good!

Plan 9 from Outer Space?

I don't think I saw that one, but I heard about it.

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