The other day, I was hanging out over at The Rundown. Our Beer Buddy, Manodogs, was talking about an upcoming remake of the Wes Craven classic, House on the Left. It got me to thinking about all of the recent and upcoming remakes, not just of horror movies (the guy who directed Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video is going to be helming a Nightmare on Elm Street remake) but also of all the “classics“. For example; Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly will star in Saturday Night Fever, Will Smith will direct a new Karate Kid and Zac Effron will fill Kevin Bacon’s shoes in a “re-imagined” Footloose. There are plenty of rumours on the internet about all of these, so I decided that I would start my own rumour in hopes that it would get passed around and eventually some movie studio exec would decide that it is really a good idea and would go ahead and make the project. Now all of you will be my witnesses that I thought of it first and then I can get an Executive Producer credit on the movie. So here’s the rumour that you can all pass along to anyone who will listen.
It was recently announced that a major Hollywood studio has secured the rights to produce a complete re-imagining of the classic film Casablanca. According to an inside source, McG (of Charlie’s Angels fame) has been tapped as the director. Early information has pointed to Will Smith assuming the role of Rick Blaine made famous by Humphrey Bogart, the female lead is expected to go Jennifer Lopez with the role of the piano player Sam being taken over by none other than Bruce Campbell. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, Will Smith’s people have indicated that “he may be open to” doing an unnamed project with McG.
Now, personally I completely support what Hollywood is doing with all their remakes/re-imagining. Why bother putting a whole lot of time and effort into creating something original when you can just take what someone else made, put one or two new twists on it, modernize it and then put you own name on it. That’s much easier. I do it all the time in the kitchen at The Redneck. I just remake something that I saw on the Food Network and then say it’s my own.
I tend to feel about remakes the way most people describe books made into movies. Go with the original. Some stories, however, are so good, the remakes are all worth having, too. Like The Front Page remakes His Girl Friday and even Switching Channels (though I have to give the edge to HGF – I mean, Carey Grant!)
I have to disagree some remakes will be worth doing because of lack of budget or technology at the time of making the film may have lacked its true potential. If the story is one that can be improved with the latest and greatest technology, I think go for it. If it cant be improved then leave it alone.
Indeed, why bother creating something original when you can simply ‘re-imagine’ a classic. I think there are plenty of excellent old movies from the 1950s, like ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’ and ‘This Island Earth’ that may actually benefit from a little bit of re-imagnination and a whole load of CGI.
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Hi Ernie,
Keira Knightly… that’s all you had to say.
Thanks.
~ Steve, the trade show guru
PS. Isn’t the Food Network a little “high brow” for the Redneck grill?
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There’s nothing wrong with remakes in my book. After all, we all enjoy a good story even if told again and again. Why not tell it in a slightly new way ?
As for your rumor – I laughed at first, as Charlies Angels were as far from Casablanca as possible when it comes to movies, but then I remembered McG also directs Supernatural – a great horror tv series. So he is capable of producing something worthwhile! To be honest though I don’t think you’ve made the best choices … what if someone actually listens and makes this ? How would you feel with being the author behind the worst remake ever ?:D
Remakes are sometimes better but sometimes worse. Sometimes they either tweak the errors or make the bad stuff worse.
I also think that its good to carry on a franchise. Sure, some of them are not so good, but some of them are. You win some, you loose some.
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Don’t even talk to me about will smith in context of remakes. They’re going to remake Old Boy with him soon! And if that wasn’t enough they’re supposedly going to make it more family friendly (WHAT???). So no more incest, no more amazing twists and all that. What the hell Hollywood?!
O.
I really dislike remakes, the original is always better
The are literally hundreds of remakes in the works. This is just the way it rolls lately and it doesn’t seem like it’s gonna stop soon.
Remakes are a quick buck and who wouldn’t exploit the opportunity if they had the possibility. But this doesn’t make the any more interesting or innovative.
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wow, that food network trick is a good one, sometimes some kitchen remakes are real winners. I don’t mind movie remakes, sometimes they are well done.
Hi,
I think first part of any film is best.
because its new thing for the viewer.
on the remake their is repitancy
Its great post.
Thanks
I really don’t mind if they remake movies as long as they’d be able to live up into the reputation of the previous production.
Hi,
I’ve read somewhere that Madonna wants to be in a Casablanca remake. I couldn’t think of anything worse! It’s such a classic film, i’m sure there is mileage for a remake – but not with madge please!
p.s. play it again sam on the piano – by popping over to http://www.lessonsforpiano.org
remakes are OK but I hate it when they destroy a classic. Dont be surprised if you see the likes of Mad Max going under the hammer sometime soon…..
I’m OK with remakes but some of them well almost all of them are not that good anymore. They tend to give it a low budget make over so it basically sucks.