Remake Overreaction
Having just dealt with a friend who’s up in arms about a new movie based on the board game Clue, I’m inspired to write about my annoyance at people who get so upset about remakes. (That said, this new Clue is not a remake, but a new movie inspired by the board game. There’s a difference.)
Some people get so upset when a movie is remade. They’ll rant and rave about how good the original is and how the studio is going to muck this one up. I mean, seriously, people get upset! It’s ridiculous.
I have absolutely no problems with remakes. For one, the original movie doesn’t instantly disappear from the face of the earth. It still exists. If you, the viewer, prefer the original, THEN WATCH THE ORIGINAL and ignore the remake. No one is forcing you to foresake the original and suddenly put your passion behind the remake. You can completely ignore the fact that the remake even exists. There is no reason to waste emotion energy on a remake.
For two, sometimes the remakes are better. Technology is the main area in which this is true. Go back and watch a horror movie from the 70’s or 80’s. The thrill and scare may be there, but the blood and effects are laughable. Today’s technology allows for a much more realistic look. I’ll concede that remakes of horror films tend to lose some of the thrill and scare in favor of better effects, but that’s not always the case. I think it worth the risk to remake a movie, with the chance it could be equally as good, script-wise, and undoubtedly better effects-wise.
“Clash of the Titans” is a great example. The remake is in the works as I write this. It’s such a classic, that some would say it’s untouchable. In my opinion, no film is untouchable. As for “Clash of the Titans”, I love the original. It’s a great story and truly fantastic. But, it’s dated. The effects are not that good. I’m quite anxious to see it with today’s movie technology. This movie has the potential to top the original.
And, for three, it’s a movie. Seriously. IT’S A MOVIE! Life, history, the universe is not changed in any way by the fact your favorite movie is getting a remake. It’s not worth losing sleep over. So, calm down and tell me what you love about the original. There’s no need to work up a storm in your soul over a measily movie.
Posted: March 6th, 2009 under Film, Personal.
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