I'm not saying you are saying this, mousepod, but it is just a thought that popped into my head.

It suddenly occurred to me that the feeling many people have that a great movie is somehow dimished if a crappy remake is made is similar to the feeling that ones marriage is somehow dimished when other people are allowed to do it that you don't approve of.

In neither case is one really affected by the other. The Godfather is a great movie and it will continue to be if McG makes it again, shot for shot, starring Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller. And yet many people would feel that that such a thing would taint or diminish the sanctity of the original.

Obviously the impacts of the feeling are the some, but now I'm wondering if they come from the same place.

I sorta want to mojo you for that keen observation, Alex ... but I will refrain.

I hear your point, Alex. That's not what I'm saying, but it's an interesting argument probably worth pursuing. Let me see if I can articulate why these bad remakes distress me so...

I'm a media fan. The few LoTers who've been to my house can attest that I have a fairly sizable collection of movies and music. One of my greatest joys is turning a friend on to some weird piece of art that they may have missed or otherwise overlooked. That's why I've been a professional DJ, a booking agent, an A&R guy, a podcaster...

A bad remake of a forgotten classic tends to create a negative feeling where there should be a blank slate. When friends are hanging out at my place, and I pull out a movie that I know they'll like, I don't want to have to explain that "it's much better than the one with Nicolas Cage - trust me..."

I remember being disgusted when the flammable band Great White had a minor MTV hit with a great Ian Hunter song... or when Bongwater covered one of my favorite tunes by Slapp Happy...

Sloppy and artless remakes might not diminish the original, but they certainly lumber the original with unnecessary baggage.

UGH! I remember that awful cover! I was playing the original and a younger friend said "this is a Great White song". I felt old, but lucky.

Go Bruno Ganz

Watched Heaven Can Wait last night. Total guilty pleasure movie. I must say, that for a fluff movie, it was quite entertaining. And Mark Ruffalo is really cute.

I think you meant 'Just Like Heaven'?

I agree Mark Ruffalo is very cute. I liked him in 'You Can Count on Me'.

Did ya squall like a little girl for that last scene?

Yeah, me too.

I did. Laura Linney is tops in my book. Love her. :)

That whole movie hit home for me. I mean, every time I visit my older sister she looks at me and says, 'Get out.' Even after only 5 minutes or so... :D

Exactly! I haven't seen You Can Count on Me. I really liked him in 13 going on 30. He's adorable. I want to smell him.