Reply to: Barrel Scraping redefined

[Platypus]

Solaris - well worth seeing.

I'm afraid I can't agree that the film is well worth seeing. Sorry

[AlfredJPruffock]

Maybe. Just maybe. It's a challenge.

1. Solaris. To my immense surprise, the remake starring George Clooney is a well-made adaptation. I know I'm supposed to go on about the much longer Russian original, and I can BS on cinema with the best of them, but TBH unless you're really interested in Tarkovsky, and if you only want to watch one version, this one is good. Clooney acted a good understated job here, that's why it bombed at the box-office: he didn't play the big star that his fans wanted.

2. The 39 Steps. The modern remake is closer to Buchan's novel, if that's what you want.

3. Um, let me think a bit....

Solaris - an excellent choice, if I may say so.

I read Lem's book back around 1980 then several years later saw Takovsky's version which is a hard act to follow.

That said I recently (over Xmas) saw Clooneys version and to my su'prise he did the movie justice and addec some original intriguing insights as to the nature of Solaris itself - well worth seeing.

[TheFaQQer]

Can think of a few


Ocean's 11
Postman Always Rings Twice
Payback
Ransom
The Thomas Crown Affair
War of the Worlds


(Though I did watch a few of the remakes before the originals)

WTF?

[BrianSnail]

Is there REALLY a need to remake Karate Kid?

wax on, wax off

[expat]

Has anyone seen the remake of Lolita? Can you compare it with the original Kubrick film, and or Nabokov's book?

[expat]

I suppose it usually depends on why the remake was made at all.

Possible good reasons:
- another take on the plot or its meaning
- the original author gets to do it his way now that he's more famous
- a different director with a different style or pacing
- the actor it really needed wasn't around first time

Frequent bad reasons
- the American audience won't watch it if it isn't in English
- the American audience won't watch it if it isn't in American English
- the American audience won't watch it if it isn't set in America
- the American audience won't watch it if it is too long or complex
- it worked before so let's see if it'll sell again.

[Cyberman]

Hmmmm, I see a possible plan B here - writing sitcoms. Clearly what is being submitted at the moment is complete dross if they have to resort to this stuff.

I can see it now - along the "Bread" lines but centred on a couple of hard up Bankers who have met with hard times....

Yeah. How about a sitcom based on a sad guy that has just passed his MBA and spends all of his day on a website trying to educate IT contractors on economics.

[OwlHoot]

It's the same in the cinema, why the heck are there so many re-makes, when the originals are great.
Its as if people are so afraid of doing something new, taking a chance and maybe failing at it, that they have to stick to the tried and tested formulas that have already worked.

It does annoy me.
I am trying to think of a remake that was better than the original, and I cant.
Can anyone else?

Lost in Space (maybe)

Mutiny on the Bounty (each in their own way - not saying earlier versions were bad)

[EternalOptimist]

I am looking forward to the remake of 'An Inconvenient truth' , I hope they persuade Jeremy Clarkson to do it.

[threaded]

Gays?

Oh yeah, of course. For some reason I don't tend to watch them. What's your opinion of the quality of remakes in that genre?

[Bagpuss]

I mean who wants a porn movie with no titties?

Gays?

[threaded]

There are some really good Danish movies that have been remade, and then the remakes, remade.

On the whole the Danish originals are way better; the American remakes lose major parts in the story line, mainly due to prudishness, leaving the result full of holes.

I mean who wants a porn movie with no titties?

[foritisme]

PS just thought of one that is better: David Cronenberg's The Fly is better than the daft Vincent Price version

Good Call !

[jmo21]

It's the same in the cinema, why the heck are there so many re-makes, when the originals are great.
Its as if people are so afraid of doing something new, taking a chance and maybe failing at it, that they have to stick to the tried and tested formulas that have already worked.

It does annoy me.
I am trying to think of a remake that was better than the original, and I cant.
Can anyone else?

The Italian job?

[Bagpuss]

Can think of a few


Ocean's 11
Postman Always Rings Twice
Payback
Ransom
The Thomas Crown Affair
War of the Worlds


(Though I did watch a few of the remakes before the originals)

Then the remake is the original in your mind. IMHO remakes these days often dumb down the subject matter.

PS just thought of one that is better: David Cronenberg's The Fly is better than the daft Vincent Price version