Remakes

[Vodstok]

I think the openeing post for this thread is about the most well thought out, well executed explanation of the remake "phenomena" i have seen. You can't really hate them for much more than being a bad movie, it doesnt reflect on the original in any way.


I think what most people seem to hate about them isn't even immediately apparent to them. They may hate it because it is a bad movie, btu there is the underlying feeling that something they enjoy and maybe have some emotional investment in is being used for some lesser purpose, kind of like finding out a couple of football player got the girl you liked in highschool drunk and got head from her, it cheapens the experience.

Another part is that a LOT of people these days are personally offended that there seems to be a lack of originality in the entertainment industry these days, especially amongst those of us who want to make a break for ourselves with some truly original ideas, but can't sell shit because the people writing the checks want something that has sold in the past.

[braider31]

I don't have a problem with remakes but, if I've seen the original then a remake usually has little to offer in the way of surprise. Whereas when I watched Saw the first time it was a real treat, a horror film that I could watch without having the faintest idea what was going to happen.

[freddy69]

i dont care for remakes they suck:D

[Phalanx]

I'll weigh in on this one...it's been revisited numerous times.
I am not against the remake, however, I will say that I much prefer what you may call a complete "reinvisioning" that a straight up remake.
The new Dawn of the Dead, for example...I don't even compare it with the original, but I think it was a great film only on it's own merits, style, and storyline.
However, most remakes keep at least a few things fresh, which is why I'm not entirely against them...I mean hey, I think the 'Ultimate' universe in marvel comics is the best thing to happen in ages, and that whole range of comics is essentially a remake.
So, it's not limited to just film, comics and music come into play too, not to mention tv series...I mean, how GOOD is that new Galactica? No way anyone can shit on that "remake".
I think as long as there's creativity involved, it's ok by me.
I agree with only one aspect of the "anti-remake" argument...there sure does seem to be quite a lot of them, and certain things, I just don't see the point of remaking. Eg - Halloween...not saying that it's going to be good or bad, just something that I don't personally see a need for. So yeah, quantity of remakes vs original films these days, especially in horror, I'd like to see shift a bit more towards the original side...however, the remake isn't something I for one see the need to rip into.

[aimforthehead]

The psycho remake was pretty pointless...it was shot scene-for-scene to the original.

Also rthe remake the italian job, which replaced the old crappy minis, with state of the art cars is just silly. Ruins all the charm the original had.

K, let me come back into this convo, first of all I would have never watched the originals of some of these had it not been for the remakes, I just came into the horror genre a couple of years ago, and appreciating it for the first time for me, I saw the remakes to Dawn of the Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre before the original, and because I enjoyed them so much, it made me want to go back and see the original which I did and I enjoyed as well, having not seen the original to Phsyco or the remake I can't really comment on that, but having loved all of the other Hitchcock films he has made I would love to see Birds remade, I would love to see how someone could turn that into a great remake, and I think it can be done, if it's not cheapened up to much.