Movie remakes that are better than the originals

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Are there any?

― always the traffic, always the lights, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 09:06 (twenty years ago)

The second Maltese Falcon. I don't know what separates a remake from a new movie taken from the same text as an old one, though.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 09:22 (twenty years ago)

'the manchurian candidate'

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 11:46 (twenty years ago)

Surely you jest! Do you prefer the 80s remake of Breathless?

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 11:52 (twenty years ago)

Imitation of Life

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 11:55 (twenty years ago)

Does High Society count?

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 11:57 (twenty years ago)

There's an obvious actual improvement, but I can't remember it.

I'm willing to listen to arguments about The Magnificent Seven, though I don't personally agree.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:03 (twenty years ago)

enrique otm.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:04 (twenty years ago)

Oh, it's Ocean's Eleven.

Some people also preferred the new Solaris, though I never saw either of them.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

I must watch Bob Le Flambeur, but The Good Thief is a hell of a film.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

Happiness of the Katakuris, though the original is fine too.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:08 (twenty years ago)

Also, Gion Festival Music, which is Mizoguchi's remake of his own Sisters of Gion. I like the original too, still.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:11 (twenty years ago)

Reservoir Dogs :)

Tuomas just reminded me: The first 15 minutes of Evil Dead II

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:12 (twenty years ago)

"High Society" would count 'though i disagree.

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:13 (twenty years ago)

The Man Who Knew Too Much .. Maybe the '56 version is just more watchable quality-wise...

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't say it's better, but I enjoyed You've Got Mail just as much as the original Shop Around the Corner.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:17 (twenty years ago)

I second the nods to "The Maltese Falcon," and "The Man Who Knew Too Much." How 'bout "Floating Weeds"?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

I know I'm insane for this but in some ways I prefer Loser to The Apartment.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:23 (twenty years ago)

What was the original of "Happiness of the Katakuris", Tuomas?

"Man Who Knew Too Much" is prob'ly right, tho 30s Hitchcock has its own pleasures and I love them as much as any of his later stuff.

No way on "Manchurian Candidate" or "Solaris" - I seem to remember George Clooney saying he was influenced by the book, not Tarkovsky, but I've got a huge crush on the dour Russian.

I think Evil Dead II is just a remake with a bigger budget, more cartoony and fun.

Has anybody seen any of the B&W original epics de Mille made? How do they stand up against his remakes?

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

I know I'm insane for this but in some ways I prefer Loser to The Apartment.

That's not just insanity, that's pure craziness.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

Is Desperado really just a remake of El Mariachi?

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

I'm willing to listen to arguments about The Magnificent Seven, though I don't personally agree.

Battle Beyond the Stars!

No? Alright then.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

Cyrano De Bergerac . But really the same problem as The Maltese Falcon that Jetlag Willy metioned above.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:57 (twenty years ago)

Here's a list of "remakes"
http://www-db.stanford.edu/pub/movies/remakes.html
although a lot of them are just retellings of classic stories or adaptations of the same book or movies that follow a similar premise...
Even then, there are very few where the remake is better than the original...

But if so, I'd say What's Up Doc is better than Bringing Up Baby .. but I really wouldn't count that as a remake...

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 12:57 (twenty years ago)

Nooooooo! You'd take Streisand over Hepburn? Madness!

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:00 (twenty years ago)

Nu-Manchu Candidate v. bad.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:19 (twenty years ago)

You'd take Streisand over Hepburn? Madness!
Certainly not! I mean as actresses I wouldn't. But as films, in this case, yes.

― geyser muffler and a quarter (Dave225), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

What was the original of "Happiness of the Katakuris", Tuomas?

I'll answer instead. ;-)

It's a Korean film called The Quiet Family. It doesn't feature some of the more interesting features of Happiness (such as the demented Naval Officer/British Royal) and substitutes them for the traditional Korean film themes of incest and rape.

The two are pretty equal, in my opinion, but quite different.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

the problem with the first 'manchurian candidate' is that it's a spoof spy movie (oh no! big bald chinaman! oh no!) that people treat like it's Deadly Serious. the second one takes itself more seriously, but i still think it's more entertaining, has better performances (possible exception: janet leigh), makes more sense, and is politically more interesting.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't say it's better, but I enjoyed You've Got Mail just as much as the original Shop Around the Corner.

Now that IS insanity!

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

i walked out of the manchurian candidate remake - does a whole different cast & crew take over after the first act or something?

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

yes... a KOREAN cast and crew

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

HIGH HOPES FOR HERBIE RELOADED!

― Huk-L, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

I think I had the same problems with the original Manchurian Candidate as I had with Dr. Strangelove -- this sense of dark satire that's so sly and of its time that it just doesn't connect with me at all.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

"sly" = "I get the feeling this is supposed to be funny, somehow, but nothing funny is actually happening."

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:06 (twenty years ago)

Surely the remake of "Lolita" couldn't be any worse than the original?

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

Actually, the two Lolitas are just about even, in my book.

Performance-wise:

Dominique Swain > Sue Lyon
Jerermy Irons = James Mason
Melanie Griffith < Shelly Winters

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

(also, xpost to myself = "funny" = either funny or pointed)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Is the Lolita remake funny? Because the previews made it look all sad/tragic, which is totally the wrong way to go.

I didn't see the Manchurian Candidate remake, but I can't imagine it possibly being better than the original, which RULEZ.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

'strangelove' i think is funny and quite broad, really. not so 'manchurian candidate', where sinatra doesn't seem to be in on the job. streep was very funny in the new film, but it wasn't all laffs by any means. i think the whole kennedy thing made the first version seem 'important', 'significant' or whatever, but was meant by its writer to be a joke. so i don't think it works well enough as either a joke or as a 'serious' film about brainwashing. i found it easier to commit to the 'brainwashing' thing in demme's version.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

... but it's Peter Sellers who ruins the first film, who ruins the second?

― Vicious Cop Kills Gentle Fool (Dada), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

yeah i like both lolitas abt equally too

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:11 (twenty years ago)

Everybody hated the remake it seemed, but I thought it was pretty good, Jeremy Irons very believable as Humbert. I've always liked Shelley Winters in the first one, and have come to like the movie overall, but the sccond one seemed truer to the book overall.
(massive xpost)

I wouldn't say it's better, but I enjoyed You've Got Mail just as much as the original Shop Around the Corner.

Now that IS insanity!
Dadaismus is telling you the truth.

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

Peter Sellers does hijack the original, turning the mysterious Clare Quilty into just another wacky Peter Sellers performance.

Vivian Darkbloom to thread!

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

I prefer The Ring to Ringu by leaps and bounds.

― pullapartgirl (pullapartgirl), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

NRQ is like the pauline kael of ILM ie if he likes something (the dreamers, i heart huckabees, manchurian candidate remake etc) you know it's going to be a steaming pile of shit, and vice versa (eg kill bill)

― contrarian, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

from an adaptation standpoint both versions of lolita are too frightened of the story they're telling, and the fatal casting in both instances = lolita

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

contrarian, you pay too much attention. even i'd forgotten that i liked 'the dreamers' you crazy stalker.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

Contrarian sounds like "the Rex Reed of ILE."

>"sly" = "I get the feeling this is supposed to be funny, somehow, but nothing funny is actually happening."<

Anything subtler than Meet the Fockers? Ya mean like when Raymond shoots the liberal senator and milk pours out? Heinz 57? Brilliantly funny.

Anyway:

The Fly

Never Say Never Again

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:42 (twenty years ago)

brilliant! i'd never have thought of 'nsna'.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:47 (twenty years ago)

'the thing'

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

'scarface'

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:50 (twenty years ago)

You're right, Dr. Morbius, I can't deal with subtle humor because I go for shit like Meet the Fockers -- WTF, dude.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:52 (twenty years ago)

(Just because I defend populism doesn't mean I actually watch tons of mainstream movies.)

(I'm also the only person I know who hated There's Something About Mary.)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 14:53 (twenty years ago)

I didn't like it much either, tho I thought Matt Dillon was funny.

I'm just kinda taken aback at the Strangelove/Manchurian "dark satire that's so sly and of its time that it just doesn't connect with me" thing, cuz that typifies the subversive '50s/'60s humor -- do you like Lenny Bruce, Nichols & May, Lord Buckley etc?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:03 (twenty years ago)

First Lolita had the advantage of a screenplay by Nabokov, who I think was well aware that the film couldn't/shouldn't be the book. Second Lolita? Adrian Fucking Clueless Lyne.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

The Ten Commandements?
The Man Who Knew Too Much?
Invasion of the Body Snatchers?

All debatable I guess.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

Black Cat is a pretty good version of La Femme Nikita (and Bullet in the Head a very weird version of The Deerhunter) but I would hesitate to say either is actually better than the original.

Jimmy Cagney's Scarface is a million times better than Al's lame ass version btw.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Nabokov got screen credit, but the film was most definitely written by Kubrick, who could not do explicit scenes/dialogue in 1962.

It's Hawks/Paul Muni's Scarface, and only a gangsta could prefer the DePalma/Stone cartoon.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

Well, if it doesn't connect with me, it doesn't connect with me. Sorry! I've never heard of Lord Buckley, have read about Lenny Bruce but never saw him in action, and only know Nichols and May by their reputation.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Bob Le Flambeur >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The Good Thief. The latter is a joke.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

A case could be made for Red Dragon vs. Manhunter (Manhunter is really good, though).

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

I think you're being too harsh on the DePalma Scarface, tho I'd still take the orig.

I'm aware of the debate re. Nabokov's actual input to Lolita but still, he was involved. And I'd take Kubrick over Lyne in a nanosecond.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

A case could be made for Red Dragon vs. Manhunter

A case of Scotch, maybe.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:17 (twenty years ago)

I don't like either of those movies much (Thomas Harris sucks whoever is directing his stuff) but I'd rather rewatch Manhunter than see even a second of Red Dragon.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

HOUSE OF WAX REMAKE WAS SUPERIOR TO THE ORIGINAL

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

Because Paris gets offed?

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

Jay, don't apologize. With satire and humor of a particular era esp, if you steep yourself in it for awhile you may find your responses changing if the style clicks after greater exposure.

I'm pretty sure Vlad N's letters acknowledge that his screenplay was essentially not used -- in fact, didn't he publish it to illustrate that?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

peter sellers' clare quilty should have been reason enough not to remake lolita. i havent seen this movie for years but so many beautiful scenes come straight to mind - humbert walking around quilty's mansion, lo hula hooping in the backyard, charlotte (shelly winters so great) cha cha chaing, lo in the backseat of the car with the wind rushing through it while humbert lectures her, lo in the school play, humbert painting lo's toenails. really, why would you remake this movie. the whole premise is perfect for the 1950s/60s.

― sunny successor (katharine), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

Because you are Adrian Lyne and you are the most pompous asshole on earth?

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

First Lolita had the advantage of a screenplay by Nabokov, who I think was well aware that the film couldn't/shouldn't be the book. Second Lolita? Adrian Fucking Clueless Lyne.

lyne's way more savvy about film than nabokov ever was tho, and only partly by virtue of having made some

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:29 (twenty years ago)

I wish he had made it more like Jacob's Ladder and less like Fatal Attraction.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

Or not made it all really, but whatever.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

SOMEONE PLEEZE ANSWER: Is the Lolita remake funny?

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

So far "The Thing" has been the only OTM answer on this damn thread.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

The scene where they're fucking while she's reading comic books is pretty funny.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

I'm not sure that I knew The Thing was a remake!

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:34 (twenty years ago)

You think so, n/a? You want to rep for the first Maltese Falcon and Ocean's Eleven?

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

I meant for movies I've seen obv.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

Ooh, ooh, I got it! Little Shop of Horrors!!!

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

both lolita scripts are based on the notion that the book itself is unfilmable - frankly i think kubrick would have been less convinced of this (and could have made a way better film) if nabokov hadn't been involved at all.

(n/a it's comedic but actual-laughswise mileage may vary)

― jones (actual), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

"I'm not sure that I knew The Thing was a remake!"

Yeah, the original isn't called The Thing, it's called It Came from Outer Space, I think. It's Howard Hawks and it's quite good obv. Carpenter's Fog remake is also good, but I've not seen the original.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

No wait apparently it is called The Thing From Another World (which makes more sense.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

Lolita is unfilmable, in that its virtues are literary ones. You can make a film with the same plot, but it really can't hope to do what the novel does. And I don't think that holds true for all film adaptations.

― Jetlag Willy (noodle vague), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:51 (twenty years ago)

I think both versions of Lolita are terrible movies, total failures, unspeakable atrocities. And this is despite the fact that one has James Mason and the other has Jeremy Irons.

― slightly more subdued (kenan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 15:56 (twenty years ago)

They're both good movies, they're just NOT the book, and one should expect that. The original took half-hour breaks to become The Peter Sellers Show.

An ideal film of Lolita would've had long. location-shot highway motel ugliness montages.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

Maybe Vincent Gallo should direct the next remake, then.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

heat is better than la takedown

― fe zaffe (fezaffe), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

gloria is better than leon the professional

― fe zaffe (fezaffe), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

The whole trick is to neither take Humbert at face value or make him look like a fool -- the Lynne film is particularly guilty of both.

― slightly more subdued (kenan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

the blade is better than one-armed swordsman

― fe zaffe (fezaffe), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:15 (twenty years ago)

Cronenberg's The Fly and Chuck Russell's The Blob are both better than the originals.

I'm sure I'll be mangled for this but I like A Fistful of Dollars better than Yojimbo.

― Film_Frank, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

Jackson's LotR is way the fuck better than Bakshi's. He's not gonna outdo Cooper on "Kong" though, or if he does it'll be the best movie ever. He probably won't fall face flat like Guellermin, at least.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

Dawn of the Dead!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

"I'm sure I'll be mangled for this but I like A Fistful of Dollars better than Yojimbo."

No way, that's the worst Leone Western and one of the better Kurosawa Samurai epics. Once Upon A Time In The West is better than Johnny Guitar though.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:45 (twenty years ago)

I'm sure I'll be mangled for this but I like A Fistful of Dollars better than Yojimbo.

no youre right. also last man standing > for a fistful of dollars. xpost

― fe zaffe (fezaffe), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

The Good Thief is an excellent film! Almost the equal of Bob le Flambeur.

But so far, The Thing is really the only right answer. Classic.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

Dawn of the Dead!

You are on teh crack.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

But so far, The Thing is really the only right answer.

Dude, Little Shop of Horrors! Or are you going to rep for the Jack Nicholson version?

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

I agree that "The Thing" is a fine answer. Also "The Fly" and I would almost agree with "Body Snatchers" (76), if it wasn't for the original being so damn excellent. However, there is no better "Yojimbo" than "Yojimbo" (unless you count "Deadwood"), and there is no better "Dawn of the Dead" than Romero's, although the remake was better than I expected.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 16:56 (twenty years ago)

What? I thought Romero DID the remake HIMSELF?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

Nah dude, he had nothing to do with it. The director is some young dude who had mostly done commercials and shit, I think.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

And IMDB says I am wrong! As usual!

xpost! To be honest, I still haven't seen the OG haha.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

I fully expect to be dragged into the street and beaten into blubbering submission with my own shoes for this comment, but I think the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (with -- that's right -- Pierce Brosnan) is better than the original (with -- oh yeah, -- Steve McQueen).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:08 (twenty years ago)

xpost! To be honest, I still haven't seen the OG haha.

See it, for real!

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:09 (twenty years ago)

>Once Upon A Time In The West is better than Johnny Guitar though.<

C'mon -- same basic premise, but hardly a remake, anymore than Taxi Driver is of The Searchers.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:09 (twenty years ago)

Without doubt The Thing/ The Fly and The Blob are much superior remakes. The first Invasion of the Bodysnatchers remake is quite possibly better than the previous one. But not the Abel Ferarra version which is a titanic bore IMO.

The Dawn of the Dead remake is awful. I thought on first viewing it was merely average, second viewing tells a different story. Romero had nothing to do with it, but from what I saw of Land of the Dead at Cannes it isn't going to fare much better (especially one zombie looking up to the sky and screaming, "Nooooooooo", Darth Vader style after a zombie pal is shot dead.)

Is "Never say Never Again" better than "Thunderball"? I might just say yes...

― Film_Frank, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:16 (twenty years ago)

> especially one zombie looking up to the sky and screaming, "Nooooooooo", Darth Vader style after a zombie pal is shot dead

This worries me greatly.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

I thought the Dawn of the Dead remake was much more watchable when I saw it the second time. It zips right along and has some good moments (the amazing opening sequence, celebrity zombie sniping, etc.), but it's not nothing on the orig.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

Uh yeah, the original is like the best zombie movie ever. The remake blows. ESPECIALLY the ending.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, the ending is awful. The cheap cam footage notwithstanding, THERE ARE NO TROPICAL ISLANDS IN LAKE MICHIGAN FUXORS!

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

>Is "Never say Never Again" better than "Thunderball"?<

Dude, it's got KLAUS-MARIA BRANDAUER.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:24 (twenty years ago)

> especially one zombie looking up to the sky and screaming, "Nooooooooo", Darth Vader style after a zombie pal is shot dead
This worries me greatly.

-- Austin Still (austin.swinbur...), June 8th, 2005.

It should.

― Film Frank, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

Assault on Precinct 13 >>> Rio Bravo. John Carpenter has the TOUCH!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Is Carpenter's The Fog really a remake?

― Andrew L of Brockley, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago)

I second Hunt for Red October. Also, don't feel bad, Ash, I read most of his books.

― luna (luna.c), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:42 (twenty years ago)

"Is Carpenter's The Fog really a remake?"

Yes, it's a remake of THe Birds.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:44 (twenty years ago)

his girl friday!!!

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

I just saw Precinct 13 (and Halloween) for the first time in the last year, and John Carpenter was a hack. And those films are NOT Rio Bravo / Birds remakes just because he told some fuctard interviewers he was 'inspired.' There are no Dean Martin or Rick Nelson figures in AP13.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

I was kidding about The Birds.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

I apparently I love hackwork because I think almost everything that Carpenter did to be really entertaining. He's one of my favorite directors.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:53 (twenty years ago)

The Thing is a great, great movie.

― Gear! (can Jung shill it, Mu?) (Gear!), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

Carpenter is an interesting entertaining director up to about 1988. Then he's a useless hack.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

I liked "Starman" (naked Jeff Bridges > E.T.).

I've always resisted seeing his Thing cuz apparently it's a gorefest, and Hawks/Nyby's is the model of restraint and suggestion (also why I've never seen Schrader's Cat People).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

the best thing about Carpenter's Thing is that he shows you everything and you still don't know what the fuck's going on.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:02 (twenty years ago)

Carpenter is one my fave director without doubt - everything he has touched I love, except Memoirs of an Invisible Man and Ghosts of Mars. EVERYTHING else I have adored.

He's a damn tricky interview though (in saying that, I was a bit intimidated)

― Film_Frank, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:06 (twenty years ago)

Oh I still liked Ghost of Mars! The Species chick! Ice Cube! A Marilyn Manson look-a-like! It's all good to me.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

He spends a good deal of his "Precinct" DVD commentary apologizing for the limitations of the movie. It's resourceful for a microbudget, sure, but aside from blowing away the little girl, there's not much to compete with Hawks-Wayne in fine form.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:10 (twenty years ago)

Prince of Darkness is underrated says I.

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

The Thief of Bagdad (Sabu over Doug Fairbanks)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:12 (twenty years ago)

So let me get this straight: if Carpenter is claiming he was inspired by Rio Brava, we should ignore him, but if he is self-deprecating, we should pay attention?

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:16 (twenty years ago)

the 'ghost of mars' soundtrack must be pretty good too.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:27 (twenty years ago)

'once upon a time' is like a westernz greatest hits: '3.10 to yuma' and 'shane' 'specially. 'johnny guitar' is in the mix.

― n_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:36 (twenty years ago)

Gaslight

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

no way!!!!!

― n_RQ, Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

well they're both good.
wait, was there a third one?

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:45 (twenty years ago)

what can i say, i like ingrid bergman and love joseph cotten.

― oops (Oops), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Ghosts of Mars sndtrk has Buckethead on it!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 18:50 (twenty years ago)

where do i begin responding to things in this thread?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

i thought the dawn of the dead remake was pretty bad, really canadian, but the opening is awesome.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

>Is "Never say Never Again" better than "Thunderball"?<

Dude, it's got KLAUS-MARIA BRANDAUER.

And wooden direction and crap music.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 19:23 (twenty years ago)

I fully expect to be dragged into the street and beaten into blubbering submission with my own shoes for this comment, but I think the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (with -- that's right -- Pierce Brosnan) is better than the original (with -- oh yeah, -- Steve McQueen).

I agree with you. I do not like the original version. This might be because it's very dated, and also because I don't like Steve McQueen.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

What are the capers like in the first one? I though the capers in the second were great (I only saw it on a plane, so I missed most of the middle).

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

the problem with the first 'manchurian candidate' is that it's a spoof spy movie (oh no! big bald chinaman! oh no!) that people treat like it's Deadly Serious.

um, are you for real? the manchurian candidate "a spoof spy movie?" are you sure you saw the same film i did? the one with one of the darkest endings in any american movie ever?

parts of it are obv supposed to be funny, but citizen kane has its funny moments too and that doesn't exactly make it a fast-paced screwball comedy (pauline kael's ability to make ANY movie sound like a comedy notwithstanding).

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 8 June 2005 22:52 (twenty years ago)

where do i begin responding to things in this thread?

OTM. The problem with this particular line of conversation is that almost everyone presumes all remakes are in the market to replace the original, which is wrong.

And Carpenter is no hack. What Kent Jones said, et al.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 9 June 2005 02:11 (twenty years ago)

Another obvious one here, the Richard Burton / John Hurt version of 1984 over the original 1956 one (haven't seen the early 50s made-for-TV one)

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Thursday, 9 June 2005 03:37 (twenty years ago)

there really are no capers in the original Thomas Crown, its pretty dour and dull imo, remake def. far superior

― H (Heruy), Thursday, 9 June 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

Okay you Carpenter defenders, I'll bite - what do you see of worth in his output post, from "Into The Mouth of Madness" forward? I'm still not sure what you like about "Ghosts of Mars," mind you.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Thursday, 9 June 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

the night of the living dead remake is pretty good, if not superior. also magnificent 7 is of at least equal quality w/ seven samurai. diabolique has a great camp factor going for it.

(true lies was apparently a remake, and apparently somehow better than the source material! from article here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/257364/ref%3Ded%5Fart%5F303890%5Ftxt%5F1/026-5537654-5422033)

i have a horrible feeling about the longest yard remake, tho i haven't seen it yet.

also in the works apparently: king kong, logan's run, the incredible shrinking man, and horrifyingly, straw dogs. (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/movies/9232688.htm)

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Thursday, 9 June 2005 04:56 (twenty years ago)

Okay you Carpenter defenders, I'll bite - what do you see of worth in his output post, from "Into The Mouth of Madness" forward? I'm still not sure what you like about "Ghosts of Mars," mind you.

-- Austin Still (austin.swinbur...), June 9th, 2005.

I liked In the Mouth of Madness actually, but after that everything hes done has been utter shit.

― latebloomer: Pain Don't Hurt (latebloomer), Thursday, 9 June 2005 05:03 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I chose that one because it's about the last time I can recall any real juice from the guy.

― Austin Still (Austin, Still), Thursday, 9 June 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

I like Escape From LA well enough and Ghosts of Mars was entertaining (what can I say I have a weakness for Ice Cube and the Species lady), but yeah post-94 he's mostly coasted.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 9 June 2005 05:14 (twenty years ago)

Oh wait and Pam Grier and Clea Duvall are in it too. Yeah, Ghosts of Mars was fine by me.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 9 June 2005 05:16 (twenty years ago)

And Jason Statham, wait, haha I can't believe I forgot how many people I like were in this flick. That must be why I remember it so fondly (although I remember the ripped from Resident Evil ending being weak.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 9 June 2005 05:18 (twenty years ago)

I liked all the actors in Ghosts of Mars too, but I'd have liked it more if they'd just come on screen and said their names and stood around modelling the costumes and chatting to each other about the price of cheese.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 9 June 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

The ending of Escape from L.A. is hysterical! And the millennial-eschatological implications are more powerful than its "fuck it" punchline-ness would indicate. Can't really remember much else about it, but that's more than enough for me.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 9 June 2005 06:37 (twenty years ago)

Vampires was pretty much atrocious, though.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 9 June 2005 06:38 (twenty years ago)

I'm not sure if actually like Happiness of the Katakuris more than The Quiet Family. I haven't seen The Quiet Family ever since it came out, and they're very different. The Korean film is quite low-key in it's humour, whereas Katakuris - well, it's a Takashi Miike movie. I think Happiness of the Katakuris has more enjoyable scenes but is uneven (true for Miike in general), and The Quiet Family works better as a whole.

I wouldn't say it's better, but I enjoyed You've Got Mail just as much as the original Shop Around the Corner.

Now that IS insanity!

Well, what can I say, I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and I thought You've Got Mail was a surprisingly good one - not nearly as schmaltzy as I expected it to be. Shop Around the Corner had some good subplots and supporting characters (the shop owner!), and James Stewart obviously has more charisma than Tom Hanks, but I think the remake was right in focusing on the mail romance theme, which didn't get as much space in the original. I don't think either version is exactly a masterpiece though.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 9 June 2005 07:11 (twenty years ago)

"I liked all the actors in Ghosts of Mars too, but I'd have liked it more if they'd just come on screen and said their names and stood around modelling the costumes and chatting to each other about the price of cheese."

I have no clue why this is more watchable than them looking alternately frightened and tough.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

I like cheese.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

No enough apparently!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

I see what you've done there.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

I don't think either version is exactly a masterpiece though.
Tumoas, this is insane - The Shop Around The Corner is a masterpiece. The next thing you'll be telling us is that some Melanie Griffith movie improves upon The Lady Eve, but neither is exactly a masterpiece.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

I think I am going to make a pledge not to ever watch another movie that is a remake.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 9 June 2005 14:55 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

The Poseidon Adventure vs. Poseidon?

― slecked, Monday, 30 June 2008 03:08 (seventeen years ago)

Wrong.

― Eric H., Monday, 30 June 2008 03:10 (seventeen years ago)

~~Dawn of the Dead!~~ The Hills Have Eyes

― Pillbox, Monday, 30 June 2008 03:14 (seventeen years ago)

some real wtfs on here. kubrick's lolita and og manchu candidate bad films? kin ell. they may not be perfect in every department but they are both amazing.

― Frogman Henry, Monday, 30 June 2008 03:20 (seventeen years ago)

Those are still easier to understand than the contention that Dr. Strangelove isn't funny.

― Oilyrags, Monday, 30 June 2008 03:23 (seventeen years ago)

Dr. Strangelove is funny alright, it's just not ROTFL funny like many of the more unintellectual comedies of today

― slecked, Monday, 30 June 2008 15:39 (seventeen years ago)

If you want semen jokes, you got 'em.

― Oilyrags, Monday, 30 June 2008 15:55 (seventeen years ago)

if anyone says the remake of can't buy me love is better than the original they are gonna get cut

― homosexual II, Monday, 30 June 2008 17:54 (seventeen years ago)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 30 June 2008 17:56 (seventeen years ago)

ugh i hate unintellectual comedies

― max, Monday, 30 June 2008 17:56 (seventeen years ago)

I know I'm insane for this but in some ways I prefer Loser to The Apartment.

-- Sterling Clover (s_clover), Wednesday, June 8, 2005 12:23 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Link

http://www.galeon.com/mikeln/img/rolleyes.gif

― s1ocki, Monday, 30 June 2008 17:59 (seventeen years ago)

Dr. Strangelove is awesome, Peter Sellers is so awesome in the first version of Lolita, I don't understand anything about this thread

― Mr. Que, Monday, 30 June 2008 17:59 (seventeen years ago)

If the very idea of Peter Sellers as a sleazy, murderous paedophile doesn't sound like cinematic gold to you, then you must be dead.

― James Morrison, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 00:18 (seventeen years ago)

haha s1ocki otm

― some dude, Tuesday, 1 July 2008 00:49 (seventeen years ago)

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