Best and Worst Remakes (3 Viewers)

Spitfrnd

Spitfrnd

Banned
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
6,923
The issue of remakes came up again in the Time Machine thread which leaves me to ask what do folks consider some of the best and worst of the breed. Since this is an absolute and not a relative question, the remake need not be better or worse than the original to qualify for its respective list. So let's hear what you think? Since I already commented a bit on this in the Time Machine thread I will hold mine back for a bit.
 
Fun with Dick and Jane with Jim Carrey was pretty good in my opinion, a bad remake I'm guessing will be The Birds that is slated to come out in 2011 with George Clooney and Naomi Watts.

Vick
 
How about "King Kong", a classic if ever there was one. This film has been remade twice. The first remake was the absolutely terrible version with Bridges and Lange. Boy, was it bad. The second remake, just a few years ago, with Watts and company, was a lot better than version #2, but still inferior to the feel of the original, IMO. Another story with multiple remakes has been "I Am Legend". Version #1 was "The Last Man On Earth" with Vincent Price. Version #2 was "Omega Man" with Charleton Heston. Version #3 was "I Am Legend" with Will Smith. I liked all 3 versions. Somewhat different adaptations but all well done and basically true to the book. Versions 2 & 3 kinda came up with hopeful endings but they were still good films. No real favorite there but I did like the feel of version #3. -- lancer
 
I've seen them all. Fun.

Not of This Earth (1995)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114004/

Notable actors...

Michael York ... Paul Johnson (alien)

Richard Belzer ... Jeremy Pallin

Not of This Earth (1988)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095756/

Notable actor...

Lenny Juliano ... Jeremy

This guy had to have been the inspiration for MST3K's TV's Frank character.

002531_47.jpg


Not of This Earth (1957)

Director:Roger Corman

Notable actors...

Beverly Garland ... Nurse Nadine Storey

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050778
 
"The Thing" is a great remake. The worst remake I can recall is "The Fog". The original was decent but the remake made me laugh out loud. I'm showing my horror film colors.
 
Scott said:
I've seen them all. Fun.

Not of This Earth (1995)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114004/

Notable actors...

Michael York ... Paul Johnson (alien)

Richard Belzer ... Jeremy Pallin

Not of This Earth (1988)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095756/

Notable actor...

Lenny Juliano ... Jeremy

This guy had to have been the inspiration for MST3K's TV's Frank character.

002531_47.jpg


Not of This Earth (1957)

Director:Roger Corman

Notable actors...

Beverly Garland ... Nurse Nadine Storey

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050778
Click to expand...
Great Scott, I will look for these. I have only seen the 57 version a long time ago.
 
They are all "bad" but fun. The 1988 version is more of a "soft core" film.
 
lancer said:
How about "King Kong", a classic if ever there was one. This film has been remade twice. The first remake was the absolutely terrible version with Bridges and Lange. Boy, was it bad. The second remake, just a few years ago, with Watts and company, was a lot better than version #2, but still inferior to the feel of the original, IMO. Another story with multiple remakes has been "I Am Legend". Version #1 was "The Last Man On Earth" with Vincent Price. Version #2 was "Omega Man" with Charleton Heston. Version #3 was "I Am Legend" with Will Smith. I liked all 3 versions. Somewhat different adaptations but all well done and basically true to the book. Versions 2 & 3 kinda came up with hopeful endings but they were still good films. No real favorite there but I did like the feel of version #3. -- lancer
Click to expand...

The 3rd version was good up till the end when those terrible CGI characters came on.Would have been much better with real actors.
Mark
 
My favoite fifties movie was THEM with James Whitmore, with all the new technology available, I wish they would re-make it. I thought "The Thing" John Carpenter's version was BETTER than the original, and The worst re-make has to be The Day The Earth Stood Still. They butchered the original, which was and still is--a classic!!...................Stryker
 
Yeah, Carpenters 'The Thing' is a great movie with a cool soundtrack and funny quotes. It's hard to beat The Lord of The Rings as a remake if you count the early lame animated release as the original :eek:
 
How about John Wayne's Alamo vs. the 2004 Alamo? Each has their moments but I wouldnt call either cinematic legends.
 
theBaron said:
Actually, there's one other actor of note in that version--Traci Lords. That was one of her early movies as she made the jump from (underage) porn actress to mainstream actress.
Click to expand...
Ah, well that is a good reason to give it a try.;):D
 
lancer said:
How about "King Kong", a classic if ever there was one. This film has been remade twice. The first remake was the absolutely terrible version with Bridges and Lange. Boy, was it bad. The second remake, just a few years ago, with Watts and company, was a lot better than version #2, but still inferior to the feel of the original, IMO. Another story with multiple remakes has been "I Am Legend". Version #1 was "The Last Man On Earth" with Vincent Price. Version #2 was "Omega Man" with Charleton Heston. Version #3 was "I Am Legend" with Will Smith. I liked all 3 versions. Somewhat different adaptations but all well done and basically true to the book. Versions 2 & 3 kinda came up with hopeful endings but they were still good films. No real favorite there but I did like the feel of version #3. -- lancer
Click to expand...
I liked #2 and #3 of the "Last Man on Earth remakes. Will Smith is always quite good and Charleton wrote the book on self sacrifice roles. I could have done without shooting the dog in #3 and the next to last scene appeared rather contrived to me.
 
Stryker II said:
My favoite fifties movie was THEM with James Whitmore, with all the new technology available, I wish they would re-make it. I thought "The Thing" John Carpenter's version was BETTER than the original, and The worst re-make has to be The Day The Earth Stood Still. They butchered the original, which was and still is--a classic!!...................Stryker
Click to expand...
I still enjoy Them; it was nominated for a Best Special Effects Oscar but lost to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I found James Arness the most memorable in that movie though. I also agree about the 1982 Kurt Russel version of The Thing and the Original The Day the Earth Stood Still. Special Effects could not save the remake.
 
VanguardFC007 said:
How about John Wayne's Alamo vs. the 2004 Alamo? Each has their moments but I wouldnt call either cinematic legends.
Click to expand...

No, Wayne's Alamo is a classic in my opinion, also Wayne directed it to be a direct image of the Cold War, and how the US should stand to the tyrannical USSR. 2004 for was a more 'depressing' look at the defenders stand, still I like them both.

Vick
 
Lewey Gun Vick said:
No, Wayne's Alamo is a classic in my opinion, also Wayne directed it to be a direct image of the Cold War, and how the US should stand to the tyrannical USSR. 2004 for was a more 'depressing' look at the defenders stand, still I like them both.

Vick
Click to expand...
I like Bob's the best.;):D
 
Few more to mention: The 2 versions of "All Quiet On The Western Front"; the 2 versions of "On The Beach"; 2 versions of "The Thin Red Line". I have no real criticisms here. I like all six versions of these films. All are well done. If I had to choose, I would pick the original AQOTWF because of "atmosphere". WW1 mud, trenches, etc. just looks right in black & white. I really liked the remake of OTB with Assante and Ward. Just really well done, as was the original. I quess I just liked the updated feel and the character development better. TRL is more controversial I realize, but I think the remake is one of the best war movies made. Very introspective, well acted, and some hard to beat combat scenes along with beautiful photography and music score. -- lancer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 4 (members: 0, guests: 4)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top