Remakes - Good or Bad?

[Lindsay]

Maybe this post is somewhere else - I am still really new to this site's forum - sorry if this is redundant!

Can you really remake a classic? What are some good ones and what are some bad ones??

[Lindsay]

My favorite two remakes are
Sabrina and You've got Mail.

Sabrina was remade from the orginal staring William Holden, Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn. The new version features Greg Kinear, Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. I didn't think I could ever like something that replaced Audrey Hepburn but in this case I have to say I love the new Sabrina way more than the old. I really disliked Audrey's character in her version and I really fell in love with Linus played by Harrison Ford.

You've Got Mail is a remake from a classic called Shop Around the Corner. Again, who would have thought I would prefer a movie that tried to counter the great Jimmy Stewart but it's true. I love You've got Mail and really didn't like Shop Around the Corner at all... the only reason I finished it is for my love of Mr. Stewart and my need to compare the two movies fairly.

Terrible re-make:

Charade into The Truth About Charlie

Where to start on this one..... first of all, I don't think you can replace the Great Mr. Grant! And the chemistry between Grant and Hepburn can't be equalled. Also, I have to leave the lights on every time I watch Charade, it is full of Suspence but really I was looking for excuses to get up when watching The Truth About Charlie - I think I got up and did the dishes instead of watching to the end....

[David]

The only way I think you can successfully remake a classic is to have a better cast with an improved script. Which isn't likely in today's productions (haven't seen many though ). But, classic remakes of classics did exist - Maltese Falcon comes to mind here

But generally, I say no to today's Hollywood remakes - such as the Thin Man. Who can replace Powell and Loy?

[R.C.]

I say no to remakes. I got so mad when they did the remake of John's Rooster Cogburn. The only good thing that came out of that movie was the fact that people went back and watched the original.

Hollywood seriously needs to get some new ideas and leave the classics well alone.

[Reanne]

I'd have to say no to remakes as well... all Hollywood seems to do with a great classic film is trash it. They feel like they need to add swearing and 'other things' to make it more appealing to the public. Very sad situation... but true.

[Marie]

Modern remakes? Ehh...no I don't think so. I can't tell you how much the Cheaper By The Dozen remake with Steve Martin irritates me. The original film is fairly accurate to the true story of the Gilbreth family. I have no idea why Hollywood decided to remake it (COMPLETELY ignoring the facts and fantastic story) with a lousy/cheesy/annoying story about a family with 12 kids? It's a remake in name only, and it's infuriating to think that the story of the Gilbreths was just passed over and forgotten.

On the other hand, the remake of True Grit wasn't horrible.

[MissMonoki]

I have no principal objections against remakes. The question is, why would you want to remake a classic? It is usually a case of pure moneymaking and lack of creativity. And I still like to think that films are also about artistry.

Then again, some films are so iconic to me, that I would have a problem with a modern version. It taints the original and the modern version just can't win. But it is difficult to come up with something new, everything has been done, in some form or another. So most modern films borrow from classics, and that's ok.