Remakes - How many have been any good?

[upsidedownwalrus]

the departed was an excellent remake and so was batman begins

What was Batman Begins a remake of ?

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Incidentally, would we not perhaps wish to distinguish a remake from a reworking?

Exactly. Batman Begins was a reworking or a reboot, but definitely not a remake.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

On the OP topic, I thought the remake of "The Bird Cage" with Robin Williams/Gene Hackman was absolutely hilarious. But I've not seen the French original.

 

[Fez909]

Evil Dead 2, which is practically a remake of The Evil Dead.

 

[Lea]

On the OP topic, I thought the remake of "The Bird Cage" with Robin Williams/Gene Hackman was absolutely hilarious. But I've not seen the French original.

I've seen that aswell and really enjoyed it. I've seen the original. Both are just as good.

 

[gsv]

Evil Dead 2, which is practically a remake of The Evil Dead.

Often billed that way, but I thought it was an honest-to-goodness sequel. It just recaps the first film (with some alterations) in the first 20 minutes, then moves swiftly on. Army of Darkness similarly recaps ED and ED2 at the start.

GS(v)

 

[belboid]

I don't know - what's the other one called then?

iirr it's Satan Met A Lady - with Bette Davis! And you are a cad, sir, for getting it in before I did

 

[kabbes]

The 1970s Invasion of the Bodysnatchers was brilliant -- much better than the 1950s (IIRC) original. The 1980s remake was unmitigatingly awful though.

The interesting thing about the three films is how the prevalent mood and attitude of the times shows up in each, however. The 1950s one is blatently about Communism, the 1970s one is bleak and despairing whilst the 1980s one is gung-ho US military-wins-all lightweight tosh.

 

[El Jefe]

Wasn't the Matrix basically a remake of Dark City?

 

[miniGMgoit]

What about Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween?
I really liked it. I love the first part of it. The bit when they show Michael as a kid. Rob Zombie does white trash better than most people.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Wasn't the Matrix basically a remake of Dark City?

I've heard a lot of people say this, but IMO the stories are really pretty different.

 

[CharlieAddict]

Fist of Legend is better than fist of fury.

and how can i forget about The Manchurian Candidate?

 

[Sabu]

I thought the recent remake of Assault on Precinct 13 was better than Carpenter's. Though Carpenter's score for the film wasn't topped.

 

[belboid]

and how can i forget about The Manchurian Candidate?

easilly, because the remake is shit

 

[Orang Utan]

easilly, because the remake is shit

Really? I've just received it from lovefilm

 

[belboid]

a slight exageration maybe, buty it's still nowt compared to the original, which ws superb

 

[El Jefe]

a slight exageration maybe, buty it's still nowt compared to the original, which ws superb

If I hadn't seen the original, the remake would pass for a reasonable, but unremarkable Hollywood thriller.

But the original is SUCH a great film, it renders the remake reprehensible

 

[Fedayn]

The remake of 'All quiet on the Western Front' is pretty good.
Kinski's Nosferatu compares wll with the Max Schreck original.
HEAT (Deniro and Pacino) is a terrible, in parts line for line, remake of the much better LA Takedown.
Laurentiis 1976 King Kong was pretty good, it did have Jessica Lange in it.

 

[Orang Utan]

If I hadn't seen the original, the remake would pass for a reasonable, but unremarkable Hollywood thriller.

But the original is SUCH a great film, it renders the remake reprehensible

I might enjoy it then - I haven't seen the original yet.
I saw Soderburgh's Solaris and really like it, but I haven't had the courage to watch the original yet.

 

[Dante]

I've always quite liked Last Man Standing, not quite as gritty as the original, but the blood fest and body count makes it a great friday night flick. plus Christopher Walken. dead good!