HDC Weekly Debate: Sequel or Remake?

[_____V_____]

I have been going through some of the older threads, and came across a discussion which me and Urge had been having about this topic.

And, let's face it, remakes are making money. I need to point no further than Rob Zombie's Halloween, which made a shitload at the box-office and was also (half-)appreciated by horror critics and fans.

Add to it, a movie like, say, Freddy vs Jason, a sequel (of sorts) to Jason Goes To Hell, which did pretty well at the box office. Not to mention appreciation to Jason X, and Wes Craven's New Nightmare etc.

So, where do these particular flicks stand today? Can a sequel still score with audiences worldwide?

OR

Are remakes scoring way better than sequels? If that is so, then how come my thread on Alien 5 is generating so many hits per day?

Can we appreciate a good sequel to our favorite franchises, much like we have been appreciating some quality remakes recently? Or should filmmakers (and studios) close the doors on sequels, and concentrate on bringing more remakes to the screen?

Your turn to discuss.

[massacre man]

Really it just depends on the product. Remakes are normally released to some success, they don't spend much on it and make their money back. Then sequels are unleashed in Summer and make tons of profit. So neither are going anywhere.

For my opinion, I don't care. It depends on how much I enjoyed the final product (for me at least) not whether it was a remake, sequel, adaptation or original film.

[neverending]

Well, most everyone knows how I feel about remakes. I don't care how popular they are, I hate them. Hollywood is on a quest to remake everything, so debate is really moot. They'll make them until people stop going to see them.

Sequels are not much better, but occasionally there are sequels that are excellent films in their own right. My personal fave horror film is a sequel- Bride of Frankenstein.

[ferretchucker]

I like both but I prefer sequels as you (usually) see where your characters or the situation has travelled to since you last saw it, and how what happened previously has affected different things. But then, sometimes they just don't know where to leave a story and they draw it out to the point where you don't care.

Remakes however, are a new persons look on it and though interesting, they have nothing to do with a film you once loved so a lot of people are dissapointed by the difference, though remakes should really be judged on their own, and not compared to what they are remaking.

So they both have good and bad points, but I think I'd rather see a sequel than a remake.

[_____V_____]

Let's put the question in an easier way...


Friday the 13th part XI (OR) Friday the 13th remake?



Better yet,


Freddy vs Jason 2 (OR) A Nightmare on Elm Street / Friday the 13th remake?



I think I have a good hunch which one would be preferable...



Quite honestly, a sequel brings about some kind of intrigue factor into the equation, which a remake doesn't. Even with the unique vision of any talented director and a dynamite script, you always have this nagging thought that it is still a re-hash of someone else's basic idea/plot.

Although, the same goes for bad sequels too...

[massacre man]

I wouldn't want any of those movies... But a new Nightmare sequel about just Freddy I would look forward to.

I don't like Friday the 13th and the only reason I'd pick a Freddy sequel is because of Robert Englund returning as Freddy and Jason isn't in it.

[newb]

I would choose a sequel over a straight out "remake". They can take it in different directions and put a new spin on a story.

I don't mind a "re imagining" if you will....i.e John Carpenters "The Thing" or even Zombies "Halloween" to some extent....the back story shedding some light on Michael's behavior. But something like the remake of "Psycho" with its frame by frame copy of the original.....theres just no need for that.

[missmacabre]

I personally like remakes better. You get to see a different perspective on an old favourite.

Sure Zombie's Hallowe'en wasn't great, but it was different. He has his own way of looking at things, and he's good at making twisted, white trash filled movies. I would rather see that than the exact same boring carnage with a slightly different plot, that no one is paying attention to anyway. When it comes to remakes, yes they are made because they can gain a lot of money at the box office, but they have to put a certain amount of creativity into the project, otherwise it is going to be the exact same as the original.

Sequels have the potential to be great, but they tend to be watered down versions of the original when it comes to writing, with amped up blood/gore/action/violence. That's becauase they are made based directly on the success of the original and usually get rushed in production because they wouldn't want people forgetting about how much they loved seeing the first movie. Let's not forget the endless string of bad sequels, and shark jumpings that have happened with horror movies in the past.

but I'll definately go see a sequel if it's been given lots of thought and time was put into it.

[The_Assassin]

I will always return.

- The Assassin

[Despare]

I like a good sequel just as much as I enjoy a good remake but I wish we would get a lot of original (or semi-original) delivered to us as well. It seems like studios are forgetting to release new IPs along with the barrage of sequels and remakes.