It's actually been remade at least three times, as far as I know. The first time was in '62, with a script by Robert Bloch (who wrote the novel 'Psycho'). The third time was last year, which I have never seen.

My favorite version of Caligari (though it's not really a remake at all) is the movie 'Dr. Caligari' by Steve Sayadian, aka Rinse Dream. It's an R-Rated movie that is actually a sequel to the X-Rated flick 'Nightdreams'. You don't need to see the porn flick to appreciate the completely twisted 'Caligari', which was cowritten by Jerry Stahl (the 'Permanent Midnight' guy), and the score is by Mitchell Froom - a truly swanky guy.

It's really a must-see. And if you can't find it, give me a PM, I might know someone who has a copy ;)

My criteria for a film that should be remade was that it was poorly done the first time. And I don't have much of a memory for poorly done films.

My criteria would be a great story that somehow failed to work on the screen. A recent example for me would be 'Clockers' - I loved the Richard Price book and saw it like a movie in my head. The Spike Lee flick just fizzled for me.

Entertainment Weekly has occasional sidebars on this topic. This very week, their "Remake This Please" pick was THE BLACK CAULDRON. Their reasoning, and I think it sound, was that the Lloyd Alexander fantasy series is a highly successful prize winning property, and Disney did just about everything wrong they could with it back in the dismal early eighties.

flippyshark - I read that, too. For me, The Black Cauldron is one of my guilty Disney pleasures. I have the original poster hanging in my living room, I have the bootleg original score CD, and I just bought the French DVD (because it's anamorphic, of course). Is it flawed? Sure. But when I compare it to other sword and sorcery animated flicks from my youth (Bakshi's LoTR and even Wizards - or Rankin Bass' The Hobbit), it still looks good.

I've been thinking about remakes that HAVE been great. There are several really wonderful versions of Dangerous Liaisons. Why can't all remakes be that good?

There are a few books that SHOULD'VE been good films but just disappointed.

Interview With a Vampire comes to mind. Fun read, awful film. Same with Road to Wellville. Such potential! I'd really like to see both of those made into GOOD films.

Re: Wizards - Indeed, that was an ill era for epic animated fantasy. I kind of have a soft spot for Wizards myself, mostly because it was a PG movie that had a lot of violence and a sexy scantily clad elf princess, so it was cheap thrills city. I got the DVD recetnly, and no. it's not a great movie.

I would at least like to see an anamorphic correct aspext ratio presentation of Black Cauldron. The domestic release is a complete throwaway.

I guess the recent Lord of the Rings IS the good remake of a bad seventies animated fantasy.

I'd like to see the Grimms Bros Robber Bridegroom made into an animated feature - that one's so delightfully creepy

Could I interest you in a Horned King cel that needs some love and to be reframed before the paint flakes?

I wouldn't mind seeing "The Godfather 3" remade without Andy Garcia or Sophia Coppola.