Movie Remakes they SHOULD consider
 

I've just about had it with Hollywood and the pletheora of bad remakes. But, surely, there are a few remakes that could be done that might actually be good and worthwhile.

What would you LIKE to see remade into a good film and who would it star?

In no particular order:

• Xanadu
• Mame Please, dear gawd, cast someone who can sing in the title roll!
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Cannibal: The Musical

How's about The Towering Inferno. Now, you might not like the cast I have in mind but stick with me for a minute...

Tom Cruise
Ben Affleck
Britney Spears (in her film debut!)
Mark Whalberg
O.J. Simpson (revising his original role)
Jack Black
That Napoleon Dynamite guy
Gary Busey


Ok, here is the difference in plot from the original: In the new version, nobody survives! I'd pay $20 for a ticket to a movie in which I get to watch all of these people incinerate.

:cool:

Heck, I'd pay $100 to see them incinerated for real!

Brittney Spears's film debut.

I unfortunately stand corrected. Looks like a hell of a film, with emphasis on the "hell" part.

Where The Boys Aren't #27

I WAS halfway serious about the question I posed.

Really I was.

I've been musing over remaking the Philadelphia Story with contemporary actors, only I can't come up with a female star that doesn't make me shudder.

The Cabinet of Dr Calligari

Well, I can't wait to see the Flash Gordon remake, but I'd like to see a remake of Battle Beyond the Stars.

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.

I agree.

I think they should do all five books as movies. Live action would be interesting. These were my favorite books as a kid.
:)

I know it's too soon, but I'd really like The Lord of the Rings to be remade.


(or maybe just the last two installments)

One of my most hated Disney films is the live-action '101 Dalmatians'. I wish they would remake that one in the style of the animated film. The story is about the dogs and them being masters of their human owners, it's not supposed to have been a silly 'Home Alone' type movie with burglars falling all over the place. And although I love Glenn Close, I didn't think she was even close to being the evil Rosalind Russell-type character that Cruella was/is.

Remake that with talking dogs (like in 'Babe') and someone like Joanna Lumley as Cruella and I'll be a happy girl.

oh wow....why?? :eek:

I love the whole set. why without those two? admittedly shes not THE actress of all time but why no Andy? maybe just replace her?

I think he original Star Wars should be remade with Ben Affleck as Luke, Paris Hilton as Leia, William Shatner as Obi-Wan, and Keanu Reeves as Han Solo.

I agree to that only if Gibert Gottfried is the voice of Darth Vader.

Eh, I just found them both (her especially), to be more of a distraction than anything. Of course, I only saw it once. Maybe I should give it another chance.

The first two Godfather movies are just very dear to my heart, probably two of my all-time favorite films. I thought the 3rd just didn't fit with the other two and it was mainly because I couldn't get past her acting.

Andy Garcia was ok, but I've liked him better in other films.

That is SO wrong on SO many levels.

I would have to see it just to see the train wreck

I know this is a little tangential (what isn't tangential here, anyway?), but what about movies that need to get made that for one reason or another just haven't?

I'm thinking of things like:
- "Stranger in a Strange Land" - Daniel Waters (Heathers, Demolition Man) wrote a script based on the Heinlein novel. Still no flick...

- "The Dice Man" - one of my favorite books. At one point was optioned by John Frankenheimer. Now it's supposed to be done by Dan Waters (see above) and his brother Mark.

...come to think of it, this might be too much of a tangent. Carry on.

I'd like to see a remake of Disney's own "The Black Hole" - starring Crispin Glover in the Anthony Perkins role...

A fine addition indeed.