Thursday, December 04, 2008

Not Every Film Has To Be Remade


Apparently there are no more original ideas left in the world. It is bad enough that Hollywood is going to remake Ghostbusters, but now comes word from Fox that they have given the greenlight to a remake of Romancing The Stone. Why? The first film was just about perfect. To be honest, it wasn't the greatest script ever written, but it worked because the interplay between Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner was so good. You could feel their relationship. Danny Devito was priceless as the comic relief and so it managed to work. It worked well. I just don't think that you will ever get that kind of chemistry on screen again for that film. The sequel was awful and I think any remake would also be just as bad.

When I hear about things like this it makes me feel bad that there are thousands of writers churning out great scripts. Ideas that we have never seen before on screen and that we would love. Instead though, the Hollywood machine bypasses taking any kind of chance for the built in audience they think will be there for a remake of some popular favorite from the past. The problem is that almost all of the time people are just disappointed with the result and all they end up doing is going out and renting the original to see how good it used to be.

14 comments:

mooshki said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was perfect the first time, dammit!!!

palealebrew10 said...

This is getting ridiculous. We can't just let the near-perfect films be perfect. Hollywood is scrapin' the barrel.

And I SWEAR-if they ever try to remake The Graduate(don't pull the Rumor Has It out)-my face will turn crimson. No, seriously.

maggiemei said...

You didn't like Romancing the Stone?

Wait, scratch that. I have a weird affinity for the movie, but even I can't think of a good argument for it. Carry on.

BTW- RTS is the best. "Joan Wilder? Theee Joan Wilder?"

lutefisk said...

That movie always holds a special place in my heart--it was the 1st movie date my huband & I ever went on, & he always reminds me everytime it is on!
It certainly doesn't need to me remade.

A Pimp Named DaveR said...

It could be worse.

They could be remaking it with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito.

Anonymous said...

They should leave some movies alone. They were fine the way they ended. Why ruin the movie just because they don't have the brains to think of something new to show. Instead they go the easy way about it REMAKES.

jlb said...

Loved that movie....would hate to see it ruined....they'd probably cast Brad Pitt in it or something equally as heinous.

Judi said...

Agreed, Enty. I'd add that it's a lot of $$ to spend to remarket the original.

Marcy said...

I am so sick and tired and pissed off that Hollywood can't come up with ANY original ideas anymore. I mean, COME ON, in the last five years we have been tortured by horrendous remakes of otherwise decent original movies and tv shows. Why the urge to redo something that was not bad in the first place? Nothing angers me more lately than this phase. May as well redo Gone with the Wind with Brad and Angelina or Casablanca with Nic Cage. AHHH sickening!!!!!

shakey said...

shhh Marcy - you'll give them ideas.

I don't believe there's any good, original writing going on anymore. I realized that after the "remake" of Shall We Dance.

Rent the Japanese original. A gem of a movie.

newsgrrl said...

Dammit, man, the Doobie Brothers broke up!

I love that movie for no reason other than it meshed. I certainly will not pay to see a remake - I will end up going and buying the original instead.

Boo!

c17 said...

Oh for fuck's sake - see, this is why I go to the movies maybe once every 15 years. 'Cause it's that infrequently that H'wood comes up with an original idea. R.T.S sucked ass the 1st time around - WHY would anyone think that it merited a remake? Waaaay too many people smokin' rock in them there hills.

telesma said...

Why pay writers for great scripts when you can just rehash one you already own and you already know people love. Or loved.

I don't bother with remakes. They won't get a penny out of me for bastardizing movies I love.

Suzanne said...

This news makes me want to cry. On the inside.

Advertisements

Popular Posts from the last 30 days