Unnecessary Remakes

Tarkus · 02-16-2003, 10:04 PM

Okay, I suppose a few remakes are better than the original. But first off flame me all you want, call me gay, whatever, but I love The Music Man. Now I see a remake on TV with Matthew Broderick. Umm, guys you can't remake a movie that starred Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Hermione Gingold, and Paul Ford and expect to do better. Stupid even to attempt it. Don't know why people try some of these remakes but this was a disaster before it even aired.

Tarkus

samifan24 · 02-16-2003, 10:07 PM

I will admit that I have not see the Broderick remake, but I agree on the premise of the remake. Although I'm still in college, I grew up watching Preston's "Music Man" and that is the version I came to love. When I first saw that they were making a remake of the "Music Man" I rolled my eyes too. Sometimes they just can't leave a good thing alone. Just my .02 though.

Aylmar · 02-16-2003, 10:09 PM

I agree totally. I didn't watch the remake, but I heard the ad for it on the radio this afternoon as I was running some little sedan off the road in my monstrous SUV. As soon as I heard the ad over the horn blowing in the background, I told the guy I was talking to on my cellphone..."This Music Man remake is a serious mistake."

In all seriousness, though, the made for TV movie was doomed from the start, in my opinion.

sabotai · 02-16-2003, 10:13 PM

"call me gay, whatever, but I love The Music Man."

You're so gay.

Lathum · 02-16-2003, 11:05 PM

I never even thought of the music man when I was growing up

JeeberD · 02-17-2003, 12:43 AM

What, they're making a Ferris Bueller remake?

mrushh · 02-17-2003, 01:14 AM

Music Man with a Prof. Hill who looks young enough to be the little brother...I don't think so.

(Rest easy, Mr. Preston.)

SackAttack · 02-17-2003, 01:36 AM

Isn't that kind of like what they're saying about the impending "Godfather Part IV"? Even if you're better, you're worse?

astralhaze · 02-17-2003, 04:51 AM

what what what what? godfather part IV?????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

stkelly52 · 02-17-2003, 05:57 AM

Has there ever been a good remake of anything? I can't think of one

Honolulu_Blue · 02-17-2003, 07:00 AM

The "Magnificent Seven" was, for all intents and purposes, a remake of "The Seven Samurai." Both are damn fine films. As for others... I will think on this.

Honolulu_Blue · 02-17-2003, 07:18 AM

"The Thing" was another good remake. I didn't think the "Night of the Living Dead" remake was all that bad either.

QuikSand · 02-17-2003, 07:19 AM

Maybe the most ridiculous idea for a remake I saw was a year or two ago there was a made-for-TC remake of Brian's Song being hawked on all the sports broadcasts. Are you kidding me? It's not like the original was shot without sound... what are you thinking?

Personally, I'd draw a line between a pure remake and a re-interpretation. I'd hate to get caught in the argument that West Side Story wasn't worth making, just because it had already been done 350 years earlier. I think I'd put The Magnificent Seven into that basket, too. And Kurosawa himself wasn't immune to reinterpretation... see all the Lear in Ran?

AgPete · 02-17-2003, 07:28 AM

Never seen The Music Man but some remakes I can think of that I thought weren't that bad--

Cape Fear--I'd rather a psychopathic DeNiro anyday even though Mitchum isn't exactly a slouch.

Hamlet--Olivier may be the greatest actor ever but Gibson and Branagh gave decent attempts to remake the Shakespeare legend.

Three Kings--Heard it was a modern day remake of Kelly's Heroes which is one of my favorite war films of all time. Thought Three Kings was unique enough to separate it from the original film.

Heaven Can Wait--How many different versions are there? The most recent one I can think of is the Chris Rock edition. I thought it was just as funny if not better than Warren Beatty's. (which was also based on a 1930's version I believe)

Dune--Haven't seen the remake and I may be one of the few people that enjoyed Lynch's version but it's always better to have a longer TV/Cable version if they truly want to capture the spirit of the book.

I'm a much bigger movie fan than music fan but music remakes bother me more than new film treatments. At least films can be drastically changed even if they end up being worse than the original. I heard a Tears for Fears remake on the radio yesterday!

They sure don't wait that long anymore to bring out the old hits.

jerem77 · 02-17-2003, 07:35 AM

While I would agree that most remakes don't even compare to the original (The Preacher's Wife doesn't even deserve to sit on the same shelf as The Bishop's Wife,) Music Man falls into a different category. As a stage production it is meant to be redone. It would be unfair to say that not school, College or community theatre could never do a production because "It wouldn't be as good as the original." Granted, by making it into a movie and now a TV movie they have chosen to step out of the theatre, but my guess is that Broderick chose to do this because of his love of the theatre, not the original movie. He is a Tony winning Actor, and if he wants to bring a popular play to the screen, good for him, even if it has been done before.

KWhit · 02-17-2003, 07:39 AM

Possibly the silliest remake ever:

Psycho - shot for shot

Dumb.

AgPete · 02-17-2003, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KWhit
Possibly the silliest remake ever:

Psycho - shot for shot

Dumb.

Ditto. Now that is a perfect example of screwing up a classic. I never bothered watching the remake, it seemed like an insult to even attempt that film. Why would anyone even bother remaking something from the master himself, in particular that film.

I guess M. Night Shamaylan remade The Birds into Signs. I enjoyed that movie because it changed enough to make it feel original. I heard Psycho though was a cookie cutter film of the original and there is only one Alfred Hitchcock so I haven't bothered to watch it. Maybe one day I'll catch it on cable.

Honolulu_Blue · 02-17-2003, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by QuikSand
Maybe the most ridiculous idea for a remake I saw was a year or two ago there was a made-for-TC remake of Brian's Song being hawked on all the sports broadcasts. Are you kidding me? It's not like the original was shot without sound... what are you thinking?

Personally, I'd draw a line between a pure remake and a re-interpretation. I'd hate to get caught in the argument that West Side Story wasn't worth making, just because it had already been done 350 years earlier. I think I'd put The Magnificent Seven into that basket, too. And Kurosawa himself wasn't immune to reinterpretation... see all the Lear in Ran?

Or "Throne of Blood" for that matter. It's MacBeth. Great movie too. Then again, it's Kurosawa, so you expect it.

I find it hard to consider any Shakespeare film a "re-make" as well. They fit into the re-interpretation category, as they are all film versions of a stage play, as opposed to re-makes of prior movies. Hard to say Branaugh or Gibson were trying to remake Olivier's movie.

Honolulu_Blue · 02-17-2003, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by QuikSand
Maybe the most ridiculous idea for a remake I saw was a year or two ago there was a made-for-TC remake of Brian's Song being hawked on all the sports broadcasts. Are you kidding me? It's not like the original was shot without sound... what are you thinking?

Personally, I'd draw a line between a pure remake and a re-interpretation. I'd hate to get caught in the argument that West Side Story wasn't worth making, just because it had already been done 350 years earlier. I think I'd put The Magnificent Seven into that basket, too. And Kurosawa himself wasn't immune to reinterpretation... see all the Lear in Ran?

Or "Throne of Blood" for that matter. It's MacBeth. Great movie too. Then again, it's Kurosawa, so you expect it.

I find it hard to consider any Shakespeare film a "re-make" as well. They fit into the re-interpretation category, as they are all film versions of a stage play, as opposed to re-makes of prior movies. Hard to say Branaugh or Gibson were trying to remake Olivier's movie.

ACStrider · 02-17-2003, 08:40 AM

I'd say Lord of the Rings, but I'm not sure if that one counts. There was a '70's version of the trilogy that was absolutely horrid. My hat goes off to Jackson for actually staying (for the most part --- some serious liberties in the Two Towers, but as a whole I'm pleased) fairly close to the book. I'm just waiting for some hollywood director to get in his/her head to remake "To Kill A Mockingbird".

AgPete · 02-17-2003, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Honolulu_Blue

I find it hard to consider any Shakespeare film a "re-make" as well. They fit into the re-interpretation category, as they are all film versions of a stage play, as opposed to re-makes of prior movies. Hard to say Branaugh or Gibson were trying to remake Olivier's movie.

That's true. Shakespeare may be the only original source that gets a free pass in this argument.

02-16-2003, 10:07 PM	#2
samifan24 Pro Starter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NC	I will admit that I have not see the Broderick remake, but I agree on the premise of the remake. Although I'm still in college, I grew up watching Preston's "Music Man" and that is the version I came to love. When I first saw that they were making a remake of the "Music Man" I rolled my eyes too. Sometimes they just can't leave a good thing alone. Just my .02 though. __________________ "You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball...and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time." -Jim Bouton

02-16-2003, 10:09 PM	#3
Aylmar High School Varsity Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles	I agree totally. I didn't watch the remake, but I heard the ad for it on the radio this afternoon as I was running some little sedan off the road in my monstrous SUV. As soon as I heard the ad over the horn blowing in the background, I told the guy I was talking to on my cellphone..."This Music Man remake is a serious mistake." In all seriousness, though, the made for TV movie was doomed from the start, in my opinion. __________________ "At its best, football is still football, an amalgam of thought and violence, chess with broken bones and shredded ligaments." -- Dave Kindred

02-17-2003, 12:43 AM	#6
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	What, they're making a Ferris Bueller remake? __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

02-17-2003, 01:14 AM	#7
mrushh High School Varsity Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Dallas,Tx	Music Man with a Prof. Hill who looks young enough to be the little brother...I don't think so. (Rest easy, Mr. Preston.) __________________ Visit "Cowtown, Arise. A TCU- TCY Dynasty" in the Dynasty section.

02-17-2003, 04:51 AM	#9
astralhaze College Prospect Join Date: Dec 2002	what what what what? godfather part IV?????? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO __________________ I can understand Brutus at every meaning, but that parahraphy threw me for a loop.

02-16-2003, 10:13 PM	#4
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	"call me gay, whatever, but I love The Music Man." You're so gay.

02-16-2003, 11:05 PM	#5
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	I never even thought of the music man when I was growing up

02-17-2003, 01:36 AM	#8
SackAttack Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI	Isn't that kind of like what they're saying about the impending "Godfather Part IV"? Even if you're better, you're worse?

02-17-2003, 05:57 AM	#10
stkelly52 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Seattle WA	Has there ever been a good remake of anything? I can't think of one __________________ Check out an undrafted free agent's attempt to make the Hall of Fame: Running to the Hall Now nominated for a Golden Scribe!

02-17-2003, 07:00 AM	#11
Honolulu_Blue Hockey Boy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Royal Oak, MI	The "Magnificent Seven" was, for all intents and purposes, a remake of "The Seven Samurai." Both are damn fine films. As for others... I will think on this. __________________ *Steve Yzerman*: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).

02-17-2003, 07:18 AM	#12
Honolulu_Blue Hockey Boy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Royal Oak, MI	"The Thing" was another good remake. I didn't think the "Night of the Living Dead" remake was all that bad either. __________________ *Steve Yzerman*: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).

02-17-2003, 07:19 AM	#13
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	Maybe the most ridiculous idea for a remake I saw was a year or two ago there was a made-for-TC remake of Brian's Song being hawked on all the sports broadcasts. Are you kidding me? It's not like the original was shot without sound... what are you thinking? Personally, I'd draw a line between a pure remake and a re-interpretation. I'd hate to get caught in the argument that West Side Story wasn't worth making, just because it had already been done 350 years earlier. I think I'd put The Magnificent Seven into that basket, too. And Kurosawa himself wasn't immune to reinterpretation... see all the Lear in Ran?

02-17-2003, 07:28 AM	#14
AgPete College Prospect Join Date: Jan 2001	Never seen The Music Man but some remakes I can think of that I thought weren't that bad-- Cape Fear--I'd rather a psychopathic DeNiro anyday even though Mitchum isn't exactly a slouch. Hamlet--Olivier may be the greatest actor ever but Gibson and Branagh gave decent attempts to remake the Shakespeare legend. Three Kings--Heard it was a modern day remake of Kelly's Heroes which is one of my favorite war films of all time. Thought Three Kings was unique enough to separate it from the original film. Heaven Can Wait--How many different versions are there? The most recent one I can think of is the Chris Rock edition. I thought it was just as funny if not better than Warren Beatty's. (which was also based on a 1930's version I believe) Dune--Haven't seen the remake and I may be one of the few people that enjoyed Lynch's version but it's always better to have a longer TV/Cable version if they truly want to capture the spirit of the book. I'm a much bigger movie fan than music fan but music remakes bother me more than new film treatments. At least films can be drastically changed even if they end up being worse than the original. I heard a Tears for Fears remake on the radio yesterday! They sure don't wait that long anymore to bring out the old hits. __________________ Click here for the FOF2004 World Football League Dynasty (WFL) - Football Goes Global! OOTP5 Psychology Experiment (Incomplete but fun read for MLB fans.) The FOFC All-Time NFL Team - Voted on by FOFC members.

02-17-2003, 07:35 AM	#15
jerem77 Mascot Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Collegeville, MN	While I would agree that most remakes don't even compare to the original (The Preacher's Wife doesn't even deserve to sit on the same shelf as The Bishop's Wife,) Music Man falls into a different category. As a stage production it is meant to be redone. It would be unfair to say that not school, College or community theatre could never do a production because "It wouldn't be as good as the original." Granted, by making it into a movie and now a TV movie they have chosen to step out of the theatre, but my guess is that Broderick chose to do this because of his love of the theatre, not the original movie. He is a Tony winning Actor, and if he wants to bring a popular play to the screen, good for him, even if it has been done before.

02-17-2003, 07:39 AM	#16
KWhit Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Conyers GA	Possibly the silliest remake ever: Psycho - shot for shot Dumb.

02-17-2003, 08:40 AM	#20
ACStrider High School JV Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX	I'd say Lord of the Rings, but I'm not sure if that one counts. There was a '70's version of the trilogy that was absolutely horrid. My hat goes off to Jackson for actually staying (for the most part --- some serious liberties in the Two Towers, but as a whole I'm pleased) fairly close to the book. I'm just waiting for some hollywood director to get in his/her head to remake "To Kill A Mockingbird". __________________ "I'm evil." "Oh you are not!" "Oh I am too." -- Brak

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