JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton13 Cinema remakes that stand beside the Original?
August 29th 2007 00:13
King Kong The Directors Cut
Well that’s it John Doe has reached his limit, his stomach feels like H R Gieger’s Alien is about to burst forth his entrails outward and make an escape. Vexed beyond retention, this whole jaunt of remaking superb originals is completely out of control.
Polluting fond memories of the source it’s a destruction of quality celluloid storytelling to rival the Draconian film censorship boards many sins against the medium. Irreparably damaging the sanctity of cinema, JD says in his most sanctimonious voice (because that’s the way this post seems to be unfolding), screaming to the heaven’s “Stop the world, I want to get off here.”
Admittedly in the current political, fiscal and environ-mental climate Johnny’s priorities are misdirected to say the least, but hey he warned you that movies are his life-blood right from the launch.
So what triggered this cry for help from a man so obviously dominated by his addiction that it blurs reality as if it were a heroin jones? It was reading the news today over on huntfamous,com that Fox is planning to remake the masterful 1951 science-fiction film The Day The Earth Stood Still.
Original Poster
Directed by the versatile Robert Wise (Sound of Music, The Sand Pebbles, The Andromeda Strain, Somebody up there like Me, The Set Up, Curse of the Cat People) the story is a close encounter/alien invasion thriller that tells of a klatuu the man from another world and Gort, the giant, combat ready Robot who travel to Earth with wise words of warning for human kind.
The new version is to be helmed by Scott Derikson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and star the mono-toned Keanu Reeves (Rivers Edge).
Why studios persist in trading on a recognizable name instead of creating fresh concepts and innovations in narrative and technique. At the very least, if they absolutely insist on recycling cinematic gold and insulting it, go for the originals that actually lacked in meeting their creative potential target.
The films that the premise sounded great but the execution was well, the murder of good ideas. Maybe miscasting was the downfall, or closed minded executives forcing a happy ending where there should have been heartbreak and tragedy. (Apologies but I didn’t name names because that would just encourage the industry)
That feels better. Now its time to end with a positive shift of tone, or maybe a lazy one because a list of remakes that actually offered some originality, reinvigorating with a cover version is a lot shorter than the ones “that make the baby Jesus cry”.
So here they are 14 Cinema remakes that are worthy of their titles, not superior but reenergising the legacy.
Hitchcock’s 39 Steps & The Man Who Knew Too Much
Phillip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead
Peter Jackson’s King Kong
John Sturges The Magnificent 7 (Remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai)
The Wachowski Brothers The Matrix (Remake of Alex Proyas’ Dark City – hehehehe)
Don Siegel’s The Killers
The Killers Poster
Glen Morgan Willard
Willard Poster
Billy Wilder’s the Front Page (Remake of Howard Hawkes His Girl Friday and Lewis Milestone’s The Front Page)
Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon on The Front Page
Sergio Leone’s Fistful of Dollars and For a few dollars More (Remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and Sanjuro)
Clint eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars
John Carpenter’s The Thing
The test for The Thing
Bob Rafelson’s The Postman Always Rings Twice
Warning: Sexually charged material below, May offend some Viewers.
The notorious kitchen bench scene from the Postman Always Rings Twice with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange
Steven Soderburg’s Solaris
An ambiguos clip from Solaris
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
I thought the Departed was a fun remake of Infernal Affairs, though the original kept the tension throughout...
Comment by Chic Critique
Cool idea for a post.
Cheers
CC
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The Matrix from Dark City is a little tenuous I must say ....
One of the worst remakes has to be the original Dutch director of The Vanishing remaking it for Hollywood and utterly compromising the end.
I can't think of any further remakes that are as good or interesting as the original, you've pretty much nailed that one mate.
Love yer work.
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
great list, but if they try and re-make The Day The Earth Stood Still, I'm gonna boycott the damned theatres!
That is a classic to end all classics!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Dustin
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I didnt mind the Departed but it lacked the tension and suspense of Infernal affairs.
Ghost Dog, Leon the Professional and The Killer were all inspired by Le Samourai but I don't see them as an official remake..certainly would have made my list if I did.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Everyone seems to always list the worst remakes and there are so many, I just thought i would list the handful of good ones that are less discussed...much easier.
Leone did do a good job with Kurosawa, though he got sued for a fortune because he never asked permission or acknowledged the source.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
yeah the Dark City to Matrix one was a stretch but the structure and plot are identical after all, just one inserted Kung Fu and a happy hollywood ending.
Totally with you on the horrible remake of Vanishing, scarier still I have heard that some people enjoyed it...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
It was like a boiling point for me 3.10 to Yuma, Logans Run and many more were like a water dripping torture. The day the Earth Stood Still was my breaking point, its another masterpiece of sci fi theatre.
Good to know I'm not alone in my adoration of the film.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Everyone seems to have a worst remakes list, thats why I thought I'd mention a few decent ones instead.
Plus how do you decide which empty, trashy rehash of a beloved classic is worse than another? (Eg: Thomas Crown, Oceans 11, Manchurian Candidate, Italian Job etc)
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Concur with all of yours, JD..and I will never ever again,under any circumstances, go to see a remake of a movie I loved..although there is a certain gloating satisfaction I get when I see what a horrible hash the "new and improved" version is despite modern technology.
Reinforces my conviction that it takes a hell of a lot more than state-of-the-art computers and software, lots of money and popular names to make a movie. Restores faith, you know?
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Have you seen the Crispin version of Willard?
I am always frightened when they remake a gem, but occasionally they get it right.
Totally agree, It is a testament to the skill of the original filmmakers that modern technology can't come close to the genius of some classics.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Some very fine remakes have made your list. I'm trying to think of others to add. But I must admit I'm stumped. Bad remakes, oh we could name them for days. But it's a sad indictment on the movie industry that nobody's been able to add to your list so far!