TV/Film Remakes

[Caz]

Following my post in the Sweeney Todd thread, was wondering about any remakes, Film or TV & whether you thought they were better or worse.

Off the top of my head Randall & Hopkirk.

Much as I like Vic & Bob, I thought the remake was pooh.

[MargaretR]

The remake of the Thomas Crown affair disappointed me.
I will always remember that Steve McQueen everlasting kiss during the chess game scene in the original version

[steeljack]

Generally remakes only point to one out thing or me , the lack of creative imagination on the film-makers part , the only exceptions I can think of at the moment where it worked was the Ian Mckellen fascist version of Richard III, and the Magnificent 7 which was a remake of the Seven Samuri.
The recent re-make of the Women has been described as a disaster compared to the George Cukor original , simlarly with the new film version of Brideshead Revisited, nowhere near as good as the original TV program .

[grannyclaret]

Remakes always lose something,,,I too liked the original Randal and Hopkirk....and the only Miss Marple I can accept is Margaret Rutherford

[shakermaker]

Personally I really enjoyed the remake of Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased). I've seen some of the original episodes and they bore me, frankly. A lot of telly from that era does have that effect on me though.

It's nonsense that all remakes 'lose something' or show little imagination from the film maker. New interpretations of other works are a key aspect of creativity in general. The Nutty Professor? Casino Royale? The Departed!! Of course there will be duffers thrown in but to tar all remakes with the same brush is absurd.

[katex]

Do think that some of the classics on TV get better and better Cazzer .. E.G. Tess of the D'Urbevilles (on tonight). Jane Austen's, etc .. they get a little more realistic, with costumes and the true conditions of the time.

Not a movie buff, but definitely, the horrors and sci-fi's are better with the introduction of better effects. The Fly, The Fog, Planet of the Apes.
Of course, nothing could match the original Pyscho, could it. Remake of 'The Mummy' was brilliant.

Musicals too can be better, 'Little Shop of Horrors' good example, although 'The King and I' .. no, never be another Yul, or Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady. Think a remake of 'West Side Story' would be good.

Wonder if we will get a re-make of 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid' now.
'Titanic' was better .. but this just depends on the scripwriter .. not exactly true remake

[grannyclaret]

I really looked forward to The Lady Killers but it was nowhere near as good as the original,,,same with The Italian Job....

[jaysay]

I think the problem with remakes is that everybody seems to compare the new version to the original, agree with kate on Tess of the D'Urbervilles, a very good series

[Studio25]

Originally Posted by jaysay

I think the problem with remakes is that everybody seems to compare the new version to the original...

But that's not unreasonable, really. The only point of a remake is to improve upon the original. Whether or not it does is another matter, but I can't think of any other good reason for remaking a film.

I'm talking about true remakes, of course- not something like the various Frankensteins, which are all variations on a completely separate, literary work; and should be viewed as such.

[wadey]

The Avengers film wasn't a patch on the series and the "New" Italian Job was xxxxxx awful.

[West Ender]

I hear that they are going to remake "My Fair Lady" and both George Cluney and Brad Pitt are after the role of Professor Higgins.

Now I think George Cluney is gorgeous, I'm not so keen on Brad Pitt but Nik likes him, but neither of them could outdo Sexy Rexy (Rex Harrison). Despite the fact his real name was Reg and he couldn't sing, the part was made for him and, anyway, how could an American play an English Linguistics professor?

Why do they have to remake everything these days? Does no one have any original ideas?

[steeljack]

To-nights American TV line-up featured two 'new' shows , Kath and Kim , and Life on Mars , both American remakes , one of an Australian series and the other a British series .
Verdict......both aboslute crap , why American TV feels the need to 'sanitize' and re-work perfectly good programs is beyond me, just show the originals and if necessary re-dub the parts containing sections in dialect or strong local accent . Both shows have been aired previously in their original form on 'artsy-fartsy' minority channels , (up in the 600 numbers somewhere), which most folks don't watch.
How the producers of the original products feel about their work being 'bastardized' in this way I don't know ,( probably have no qualms when the cheques/money comes rolling in ) but personal pride/standards should have some weight .
ok , grumble over

[shakermaker]

Have you seen any of the original Life on Mars series steeljack? It's absolutely brilliant. The sequel series Ashes to Ashes really wasn't up to much though.

[Boeing Guy]

I always thought that Heat was a much better remake of LA Takedown