What classic movies would you like to see a remake of?

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ToeInTheWater said:
I actually I see different film (or TV) adaptations of books to be somewhat different than “remakes” of films based on original stories. ***Little Women ***has been “remade” many times, too, but that is also based on a book. If we use such a very strict definition of “remake” then most of Shakespeare’s plays are actually “remakes” of works by other playwrights.

For example, I’ve watched both movie adaptations of Dangerous Liasions; the very dark one with John Malkovich, Glenn Close, and Michelle Pfeiffer, and the lighter take on it, “Valmont”, with Colin Firth, Annette Benning and Meg Tilly in the major roles. While the Malkovich/Close version came out 1 year before the Firth/Benning version, I didn’t see the latter as a “remake” of the former but different interpretations of the source material.

I personally thought DL was too dark in that I just couldn’t see the Malkovich version of Valmont and the Close version of Mertueil to be the successful seducers they are supposed to be, they come across as way too creepy for that.

On the other hand, I found the version with Firth and Benning to overly romanticize their actions. I did think that Tilly’s take on Madame Tourvel was more believable than Pfieffer’s though.

So if someone wanted to film a third version I’d certainly be interested in watching that. I wouldn’t consider it a “remake” though, just a different interpretation.
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Yes I forgot Little Women had been made at least 3 times. The version with Winona
Ryder was my least favorite.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
For example, I’ve watched both movie adaptations of Dangerous Liasions; the very dark one with John Malkovich, Glenn Close, and Michelle Pfeiffer, and the lighter take on it, “Valmont”, with Colin Firth, Annette Benning and Meg Tilly in the major roles. While the Malkovich/Close version came out 1 year before the Firth/Benning version, I didn’t see the latter as a “remake” of the former but different interpretations of the source material.

I personally thought DL was too dark in that I just couldn’t see the Malkovich version of Valmont and the Close version of Mertueil to be the successful seducers they are supposed to be, they come across as way too creepy for that.

On the other hand, I found the version with Firth and Benning to overly romanticize their actions. I did think that Tilly’s take on Madame Tourvel was more believable than Pfieffer’s though.

So if someone wanted to film a third version I’d certainly be interested in watching that. I wouldn’t consider it a “remake” though, just a different interpretation.
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What about “Cruel Intentions” with (IIRC) Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon? Wasn’t that a DL remake the same way “10 Things I Hate About You” (with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles) was a remake of Shakespeare’s “Taming of The Shrew” and “Clueless” updated Jane Austen, etc? The 90’s had a lot of not-quite-remake remakes.
 
randomuser said:
What about “Cruel Intentions” with (IIRC) Ryan Phillipe and Reese Witherspoon? Wasn’t that a DL remake the same way “10 Things I Hate About You” (with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles) was a remake of Shakespeare’s “Taming of The Shrew” and “Clueless” updated Jane Austen, etc? The 90’s had a lot of not-quite-remake remakes.
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If those are remakes then “West Side Story” is certainly a remake of Romeo and Juliet.

I found that Johnny Depp’s version of Willy Wonka to be so different from Gene Wilder’s version that I think of the two films more as “two very different interpretations of the same source” than “Depp’s version is a remake of Wilder’s version”.

And I suppose some would call the TV version of Gunsmoke a “re-make” of the radio version. The TV versions of the characters are very different, though it can be argued they represent older versions of the radio ones. Miss Kitty is fairly obviously a prostitute in the radio version, but appears to have moved up to a slightly more respectable occupation in the TV version, though it is left purposefully ambiguous as to whether her saloon also deals with prostitution as a side business, Miss Kitty herself does not seem to be working on the “front line” so to speak.

Anyway regarding the original question: I pondered what the appeal of remakes is, other than the obvious financial motive. I thought of several:

(1) if an actor or actress comes along that you think would do a better job in a role than the original one, or at least put their own unique spin on the character.

(2) if it’s a romance, then an actor AND actress come along that have a great chemistry that you want to watch unfold on-screen.

(3) if it’s a special effects heavy film and as technology evolves, such effects would certainly become more spectacular

(4) if it’s a film originally cast with white actors playing non-white characters and we’d rather see a more authentic version when it comes to ethnicity

(5) if the film has elements that are offensive in the modern world for similar reasons to (4) but also has enough good parts that it can be remade in a more PC manner

(6) if there are elements of the film that are dated to the point the modern viewer would be very confused, but they are not essential to the story and can be omitted or updated and not ruin the main elements

(7) if it’s a Hayes Era film that you want to watch a less censored version of, with more sex and/or violence

Now for me (7) would NOT be a reason but I think it certainly is a real one for many.

Can anyone think of other reasons?
 
7_Sorrows said:
I know they remade The Thing. It had Kurt Russell. I love the original with the guy who
played Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. The remake wasn’t that good.

Of course, they remade The Fly with Jeff Goldblum. That was pretty good.
And they remade The Day the Earth Stood Still which I was disappointed in.

I would like to see a remake of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
One of my favorite sci flicks was Them! about the mutated ants that were giants.
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Rumor has it that Creature from the Black Lagoon will be remade eventually as part of Universal’s Dark Universe series that begins with this year’s The Mummy.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
If those are remakes then “West Side Story” is certainly a remake of Romeo and Juliet.

I found that Johnny Depp’s version of Willy Wonka to be so different from Gene Wilder’s version that I think of the two films more as “two very different interpretations of the same source” than “Depp’s version is a remake of Wilder’s version”.

And I suppose some would call the TV version of Gunsmoke a “re-make” of the radio version. The TV versions of the characters are very different, though it can be argued they represent older versions of the radio ones. Miss Kitty is fairly obviously a prostitute in the radio version, but appears to have moved up to a slightly more respectable occupation in the TV version, though it is left purposefully ambiguous as to whether her saloon also deals with prostitution as a side business, Miss Kitty herself does not seem to be working on the “front line” so to speak.

Anyway regarding the original question: I pondered what the appeal of remakes is, other than the obvious financial motive. I thought of several:

(1) if an actor or actress comes along that you think would do a better job in a role than the original one, or at least put their own unique spin on the character.

(2) if it’s a romance, then an actor AND actress come along that have a great chemistry that you want to watch unfold on-screen.

(3) if it’s a special effects heavy film and as technology evolves, such effects would certainly become more spectacular

(4) if it’s a film originally cast with white actors playing non-white characters and we’d rather see a more authentic version when it comes to ethnicity

(5) if the film has elements that are offensive in the modern world for similar reasons to (4) but also has enough good parts that it can be remade in a more PC manner

(6) if there are elements of the film that are dated to the point the modern viewer would be very confused, but they are not essential to the story and can be omitted or updated and not ruin the main elements

(7) if it’s a Hayes Era film that you want to watch a less censored version of, with more sex and/or violence

Now for me (7) would NOT be a reason but I think it certainly is a real one for many.

Can anyone think of other reasons?
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Foreign films being remade with For American audiences. The Magnificent Seven is loosely based remake of the Seven Samurai. The Departed is based on a Japanese film. I believe the horror film The Ring is based on a Japanese horror film.

Oh, also Scent of a woman was based on an Italian film. They are loosely based versions though, not specific remakes.
 
Sophie Lawrence I agree that “remaking foreign films” would be an 8th reason, and BTW I know this happens in Bollywood as well, many of their films are Indian versions of US movies. Another example I can think of is “Hachi”, a Japanese film remade into a US version. And BTW I know there is a Japanese version of "To Dance with the White Dog".

It just occurred to me that my comments about the Dangerous Liasions film adaptations show an 9th reason some filmgoers might find a remake appealing:
  1. If the original film is an adaptation of a book, but takes many liberties with the text and the book fans clamor for a more accurate adaptation.
For example the first Pride and Prejudice movie, with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, also guest starred Kate Hepburn as Lady Katherine, and sanitized her character a lot.

I can also think of the first Rebecca movie, also starring Olivier, that sanitized Max’s character as well, I suspect due to Hayes Code rules about not having any evil acts rewarded - I won’t go further than that to avoid spoilers.

I can also think of a related one:
  1. If the original film is meant to be historical fiction, but gets a lot of particulars about the historical period incorrect; I can think some would want a remake that is more accurate. Even if the inaccuracy is as minor as “people dressing in an anachronistic way”.
 
KevinAK said:
Rumor has it that Creature from the Black Lagoon will be remade eventually as part of Universal’s Dark Universe series that begins with this year’s The Mummy.
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Oh thanks for that tip. I had not heard of the Dark Universe series before.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
Sophie Lawrence I agree that “remaking foreign films” would be an 8th reason, and BTW I know this happens in Bollywood as well, many of their films are Indian versions of US movies. Another example I can think of is “Hachi”, a Japanese film remade into a US version. And BTW I know there is a Japanese version of "To Dance with the White Dog".

It just occurred to me that my comments about the Dangerous Liasions film adaptations show an 9th reason some filmgoers might find a remake appealing:
  1. If the original film is an adaptation of a book, but takes many liberties with the text and the book fans clamor for a more accurate adaptation.
For example the first Pride and Prejudice movie, with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, also guest starred Kate Hepburn as Lady Katherine, and sanitized her character a lot.

I can also think of the first Rebecca movie, also starring Olivier, that sanitized Max’s character as well, I suspect due to Hayes Code rules about not having any evil acts rewarded - I won’t go further than that to avoid spoilers.

I can also think of a related one:
  1. If the original film is meant to be historical fiction, but gets a lot of particulars about the historical period incorrect; I can think some would want a remake that is more accurate. Even if the inaccuracy is as minor as “people dressing in an anachronistic way”.
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Has there been more than one Rebecca?
 
7_Sorrows said:
Has there been more than one Rebecca?
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Well, there has only been one cinema movie but there have been two TV mini-series adapting the novel. I only know the first one, from 1979, from Wikipedia. I watched the second one, from 1997, when it was shown on Masterpiece Theater.

And while there have been two cinema versions of Pride and Prejudice, the BBC TV mini-series from 1995 might be more famous at this point than either of them.

And of course Bridget Jones’ Diary is a modern twist on Pride and Prejudice. What I found most interesting about that version is how it manages to combine Mrs. Bennett and Lydia into one character - and still make it somewhat believable! And the sequel to*** BJD ***is based, though somewhat more loosely, on Persuasion.

And BTW while the Mansfield Park movie is certainly no classic, it is based on one. I wished it hadn’t taken as many liberties with the text, it essentially changed Fanny into more of a mixture of the book version and Jane Austen herself. However, since the values espoused in that story are very different from modern ones, I doubt a remake will ever happen. I used to participate on a JA fan site and many MP readers came away finding the “villains” more sympathetic than the “heroes”.
 
ToeInTheWater said:
If those are remakes then “West Side Story” is certainly a remake of Romeo and Juliet.

I found that Johnny Depp’s version of Willy Wonka to be so different from Gene Wilder’s version that I think of the two films more as “two very different interpretations of the same source” than “Depp’s version is a remake of Wilder’s version”.

And I suppose some would call the TV version of Gunsmoke a “re-make” of the radio version. The TV versions of the characters are very different, though it can be argued they represent older versions of the radio ones. Miss Kitty is fairly obviously a prostitute in the radio version, but appears to have moved up to a slightly more respectable occupation in the TV version, though it is left purposefully ambiguous as to whether her saloon also deals with prostitution as a side business, Miss Kitty herself does not seem to be working on the “front line” so to speak.

Anyway regarding the original question: I pondered what the appeal of remakes is, other than the obvious financial motive. I thought of several:

(1) if an actor or actress comes along that you think would do a better job in a role than the original one, or at least put their own unique spin on the character.

(2) if it’s a romance, then an actor AND actress come along that have a great chemistry that you want to watch unfold on-screen.

(3) if it’s a special effects heavy film and as technology evolves, such effects would certainly become more spectacular

(4) if it’s a film originally cast with white actors playing non-white characters and we’d rather see a more authentic version when it comes to ethnicity

(5) if the film has elements that are offensive in the modern world for similar reasons to (4) but also has enough good parts that it can be remade in a more PC manner

(6) if there are elements of the film that are dated to the point the modern viewer would be very confused, but they are not essential to the story and can be omitted or updated and not ruin the main elements

(7) if it’s a Hayes Era film that you want to watch a less censored version of, with more sex and/or violence

Now for me (7) would NOT be a reason but I think it certainly is a real one for many.

Can anyone think of other reasons?
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I did not realize Gunsmoke had been on the radio. I think I Love Lucy had been on the radio by a different name.
 
Maybe we should ask if there are really bad old movies, that need a do over…:hmmm:
 
7_Sorrows said:
I know they remade The Thing. It had Kurt Russell. I love the original with the guy who
played Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke. The remake wasn’t that good.

Of course, they remade The Fly with Jeff Goldblum. That was pretty good.
And they remade The Day the Earth Stood Still which I was disappointed in.

I would like to see a remake of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
One of my favorite sci flicks was Them! about the mutated ants that were giants.
Click to expand...
Yes, some attempts at remakes are better than others. I’d also mention “The Time Machine” in the list of less-than-inspiring remakes. A good film, often overlooked now, in with the same theme, is Time After Time with Malcolm McDowell as H. G. Wells who chases Jack the Ripper into the 1970’s to stop him from murdering women in “utopia,” as Wells thought the future would be. A fun film and a good thriller, too.

Some originals stand on their own–in part because of when they were made. I think Them and The Creature from the Black Lagoon are in that category. Sure, the ants could be better done now, but the milieu of the films really can’t be recreated.

Now, The Monolith Monsters might be something that could be remade for a modern audience or The Mole People or even Tarantula. But who in their right mind would try to remake The Incredible Shrinking Man or Forbidden Planet? Both classics that, IMHO, ought to be left alone since they stand on their own perfectly well. 🙂
 
Della said:
Yes, some attempts at remakes are better than others. I’d also mention “The Time Machine” in the list of less-than-inspiring remakes. A good film, often overlooked now, in with the same theme, is Time After Time with Malcolm McDowell as H. G. Wells who chases Jack the Ripper into the 1970’s to stop him from murdering women in “utopia,” as Wells thought the future would be. A fun film and a good thriller, too.

Some originals stand on their own–in part because of when they were made. I think Them and The Creature from the Black Lagoon are in that category. Sure, the ants could be better done now, but the milieu of the films really can’t be recreated.

Now, The Monolith Monsters might be something that could be remade for a modern audience or The Mole People or even Tarantula. But who in their right mind would try to remake The Incredible Shrinking Man or Forbidden Planet? Both classics that, IMHO, ought to be left alone since they stand on their own perfectly well. 🙂
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I was thinking of Forbidden Planet too.
They did do a remake of The Blob not too many years ago.
What about Mysterious Island?
 
7_Sorrows said:
I was thinking of Forbidden Planet too.
They did do a remake of The Blob not too many years ago.
What about Mysterious Island?
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I haven’t seen the remake of The Blob, but the original wasn’t that great, either, although it was an original idea, for which I give it credit.

There have been attempts at remaking Mysterious Island–all dismal failures. The original is a little gem that needs no remakes. It’s not totally faithful to Verne, but then, Verne wrote for a different audience in a difference age. His works generally work best on film if given some rewrites, as in Journey to the Center of the Earth with James Madison–another little gem. Remakes of that film have also been blah to terrible.

No, when a film works, it works and should usually be left alone, as in It’s a Wonderful Life or Casablanca. A good film transcends time to reach new audiences. If it doesn’t, only then , IMHO, should anyone try to remake the same story.
 
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