http://www.indy.com/posts/10115 en-us Joey Fingers I recently lived in Santa Monica and one day, after watching Tim's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I made my way over to Subway for a sandwich. Upon entering, I looked over to realize there was only myself and one other customer -- the Umpa Lumpa guy from Tim's movie! I wanted to ask him to bust into song but I thought that might be rude. I let that little guy walk right out of my life... Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:52:42 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25888 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25888 Drinky_McGee Tim Burton has tremendous abilities, but he needs to stop murdering my childhood. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was his worst offense. I probably wouldn't have found it so wretched were it not for the comparison you have to draw between it and the original Willy Wonka. And then there's Planet of the Apes. Why, Tim, why? There are works of filmic genius that needn't ever be remade because they were done so well the first time that no one can possibly do better. Tim, if you're reading this, KEEP YOUR FILTHY PAWS OF CASABLANCA AND CITIZEN KANE!!! DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!! Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:39:41 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25887 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25887 joe.shearer I can't bring myself to call that movie anything but awesome, but I'd be hard pressed to call it better than Romero's movie. From the exploding head to the shopping mall fantasy to the crazy finale, that is one great movie. But I love Snyder's maybe almost equally. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:03:45 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25880 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25880 Zombieguy Romero's is great, but the first five minutes of the remake (Little zombie girl) is some of the scariest s**t I've ever seen. Zombies are not supposed to run... it's in the union contract. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:48:55 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25869 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25869 joe.shearer Wow, seriously...>? Romero's Dawn is a complete classic. Don't get me wrong, I brought up Snyder's Dawn as a worthy remake, but I don't know about it being better. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:39:17 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25865 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25865 joe.shearer I loved the Peter Jackson Kong, but I'd still argue that the original is the best. I don't think that technological improvements necessitate remaking everything (or at least those films that might benefit from it). Some movies are better for their bad graphics, and seeing the originals in all their glory given the limitations of the time is half of the joy of seeing some of those older films. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:37:48 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25864 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25864 Nate there is a need for remakes though. With the advancement of special effects they can really make the audience feel like they are watching something real. Like King Kong for example in the recent remake that thing looked real, in the original you could tell it was a lump of clay. Technology made it possible for the dream to become reality. But with a remake like the recent Poseidon Adventure the special effects did not help at all. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:58:00 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25845 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25845 evernhamanderson Sometimes you are right Joe, and when you are right, you are right! A few come to mind: "The Seven Samurai" became "The Magnificent Seven" Both good, both critically acclaimed, but Kirosawa's film only got noticed here in the US after the fact. Luc Besson's,(All Hail the Luc), "La Femme Nikita" became a poorly remade American film starring Bridget Fonda called "No Way Out". While "No Way Out" was a poor attempt at a remake, it drew attention to a true masterpiece. Lately, the influx of remade Japanese horror films seems to be all the craze. Look at Takashi Shimizu's "The Grudge". Sorry Sarah Michelle. You will always be nothing more than a Vampire Slayer to me. Speaking of Sarah Michelle Geller; look at "Cruel Intentions". This tripe has been remade too many times as well. Everything from a baroque piece to NY socialites. Same story though....It's tired. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:27:12 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25823 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25823 Nate To go the other direction, I liked Scorcese's Cape Fear better than the original. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:24:04 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25801 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25801 Christopher Lloyd Zach Snyder's "Dawn of the Dead" > George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead" Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:20:15 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25788 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25788 IndianaYankee absolutely true. The movie was based in modern times, in NYC. The book was in the 70's and in Compton CA. Thought the book was WAY better than the movie (I know..they usually are) Especially how in the book the girl he met was acutally a day walker and how the vamps were starting to evolve. More compelling story than just blowing himself up in his lab to save the girl and boy.... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:40:51 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25782 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25782 Nate It's kind of funny that none of those movies (Omega/I am Legend) follow the book. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:13:29 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25777 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25777 MyUsernameGoesHere I watched The Last Man on Earth over a year ago and the Omega Man 3 times growing up - I'm a sucker for Charlton Heston end of the world flicks. If amazing scenery and special effects are your thing I can understand why you enjoyed the Fresh Prince of the Apocalypse. Having seen the other two first I didn't like the story. btw - feel free to watch The Last Man on Earth on youtube - they have the full movie posted into 9 parts - The scene of the burning body pits as Price's daughter is taken away is great. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:01:44 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25774 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25774 Victory33 No way, did you actually watch those other flicks or just read about them? Maybe Last Man on Earth was better, but I Am Legend was much better than Omega Man...that movie pretty much sucked. I Am Legend was a solid action flick, with some great special effects, primarily the amazing scenery of a desolate New York. The scene in the building, when he's chasing his dog was the most suspenseful scene I have seen in a movie in years. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:09:22 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25767 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25767 MyUsernameGoesHere I am Legend was pretty bad - Vincent Price the Last Man on Earth and Chuck Heston's the Omega Man was a lot better - Somewhere along the way Hollywood has equated adding more special effects to actually being good. Even George Lucas couldn't pass up on adding extra scenes to the original Star Wars which to me totally unecessary. Nothing disconnects me more from a movie when the CGI is overdone and animated characters are brought in (e.g. Han Solo converstation to Jabba). Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:38:38 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25757 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25757 randydaytona I really liked the new one better. I own the special 2 disc edition for some reason. I have the original too (it came free with the new one). Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:25:42 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25740 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25740 Channing Considering 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' was itself based on someone else's idea ('Farewell to the Master,' by Harry Bates), you could say Hollywood ran out of original ideas long ago. Now it's merely recycling the recycling. I long ago gave up the automatic bashing of remakes. Without remakes, we wouldn't have 'The House of Wax' (the Vincent Price "original" wasn't actually the original), "The Maltese Falcon" (which was the third go at the story), "The Big Lebowski" ("The Big Sleep"). Though I don't think any new remakes could improve on the originals to such a degree, I think taking a different approach to the material can justify the attempt. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:47:06 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25738 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25738 joe.shearer Randy...seriously. You really think that piece of slicked-up, sensationalistic piece of OC-wannabe garbage was better than the original? Really. Come on. Watch the original again. You tell me one thing, aside from the additional gore, that was better in the Michael Bay/Marcus Nispel TCM than in Tobe Hooper's classic. And yes, that did touch a nerve. The original is a complete classic of rogue filmmaking, it was brutal and scary and really not as gory as you remember. There had been nothing like it when it came out. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:50:47 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25736 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25736 randydaytona The Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Jessica Biel was better than the original. And not just because she was running around in a tight, white tank top the entire time. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:15:46 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25730 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25730 kara686 Sorry that I can't get over the Valley Girl thing but I just read it is being made into a musical still set in the 80's. WHY WHY WHY??? This cannot be good. Bow your head and have a moment of silence for the 80's. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:01:57 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25727 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25727 IndianaYankee yeah...Myusernamegoeshere.....see your point, and sure that it is true. Also agree that 'dead" movie was decent (gotta love Ving Rhames!, cool m-fer) but still think that some movies should be left classic, thats all. And when it comes to movies like Cloverfield or (insert Woody Allen movie here) I can see why they have to go back to the well too! Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:46:12 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25723 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25723 joe.shearer Another instance where the remake, while not better than the original, was at least a worthy take on the material and a good movie, was the Zack Snyder "Dawn of the Dead." And IndianaYankee, I've said it several times on this site that the reason there are so many remakes has nothing to do with creativity, or lack thereof...it's all financial. They want a property/franchise that will sell, and remakes do well at the box office. Hollywood on the whole ran out of "original ideas" years and years ago. The vast majority of films out there are simply rehashes of other films with minor tweaks (i.e. 8 out of 10 romantic comedies and action flicks). The reason why they keep doing it is because people will go pay to see an action film that's just like another one rather than embrace a film that has new ideas. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:40:08 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25719 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25719 IndianaYankee What is the deal with Hollywood and all these remakes they are doing? Was having this very discussion with a friend last week when he mentioned they are doing a remake on (cant remember if it was Jason or Freddie/ Nightmre movie.) The other day I saw they are coming out with a new version of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" I mean....has Hollywood's well run so dry that they have run out original ideas that they have to re-make some old classics? That's sad. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:31:16 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25715 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25715 MyUsernameGoesHere How about "The Wicker Man" with Nik Cage? terrible Psycho with Vince Vaughn? I thought they were scheduled to remake The Breakfast Club There should be some sort of law to protect such acts of vile sacrilege Having said that some remakes are better - 1982 John Carpenter version of The Thing Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:21:21 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25709 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25709 joe.shearer But her question is did the remake of "Halloween" ruin the original? I'd argue no in that case, because the franchise had already been bled so badly that the remake couldn't do any more to hurt it. I disliked the remake as well, and count the original as one of my favorite films. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:16:07 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25708 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25708 Nate The Halloween remake by Rob Zombie was inferior to the original in my opinion. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:37:20 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25699 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25699 joe.shearer To me, it's not the remaking that ruins the original, because if anything it brings more attention to the first film (i.e. more TV showings and/or a new DVD release), but it's the people who see the almost always inferior remakes, then proclaim them superior to the first film. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is the one that comes to mind immediately. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:26:26 -0400 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25694 http://www.indy.com/posts/10115#comment_25694