The age of remakes and sequels
August 26th 2007 00:27
We seem to be ensconced in the age of sequels, remakes and/or the transition of television series into films. Even successful, recent movies like The Departed are a remake (I didn’t know that when I saw it and was disappointed to learn this fact) and it certainly seems to be vexing people, including me.
While working on Film Peek and my own blog as well as reading other recent posts it seems people are generally tired of sequels being made from films that didn’t need or shouldn't have a sequel, for example The Lost Boys, where the original should be left to stand on its own. It feels increasingly rare lately that a film is completely prototypal. That’s not to say that all remakes and sequels don’t work (some do), it’s just that there are so many that it seems too commonplace and almost a cop-out. To me, it often seems insulting to try and transform a classic, authentic and successful film into a modern hit.
Thank goodness for the independent films sector, shown at places like The Dendy and Palace. They give me hope as well as choice.
For some reason, I'm more tolerant of films that were originally books. Maybe it’s because I have a subconscious lower expectation that the book version is always going to be superior to the film version, as people generally state. Some worthwhile adaptations have been created, such as American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. Yet, of course there are some that had potential but didn’t quite work such as Perfume by Patrick Suskind.
Just to give you an idea, here is a list of all some films that fit into the above category in some way. I won’t give a commentary of each one as they are pretty self-explanatory, plus some (not all) make me cringe so much it’s hard to type:
Jurassic Park IV - sequel
Indiana Jones IV - sequel
King of Kong – Remake of film of same name
3:10 To Yuma – remake of film of same name
The Invasion – remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers
The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown – book into film
The Devil Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger - book into film
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller - book into film
The Bourne trilogy
The Batman series
Wonder Woman – television series adapted into film
Pink Panther - television series adapted into film
Star Trek series
The Lost Boys 2 - sequel
OK, I’m going to leave it there as the list could just keep growing and that might be dull as well as disheartening.
So, I’m wondering which sequel, remake or adaptation do you think should never have seen the light of a cinema? A film that I think should never have been created from a book is The Da Vinci Code. I thank Buddha that I only saw ten minutes of it, what a load of dull, monotonous tripe that was.
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Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
p/s...i didn't know 'The Da Vinci Code' was a remake...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Thanks for popping in. Yes, The Departed is a remake of Infernal Affairs made in 2002. I agree that too many sequels take away the essence of the original unless it is done really well.
I'm sorry, my last statement was ambiguous. The Da Vinci Code is an example (to me anyway) of a book made into a film that went wrong, it's not a re-make. I'll adjust that sentence so that it makes proper sense, thank-you.
Byeee
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
oh yes this bothers me too. I was just saying to my sister over the weekend how unoriginal the latest movies are. It seems that there is a major lacking of imagination in Hollywood.
I can`t think of the name now... the movie starts with the kids on the plane going to Paris and the boy has a dream that the plane will explode... and then it does. Although I didn`t like the ending of it I reckoned it was a great idea - the sequel? spoilt the whole thing.
Grease 2
Some of the remakes of Jane Austen books - Pride and Prejudice has just been slaughtered by some.
Psycho
Planet of the Apes
Pink Panther
The Scarlet Letter is one of my big irks. The Hollywood ending just ruined what the whole book was about in the first place!
Yeah i could go on too! Reading the book first always has to be done doesn`t it? Otherwise you read the book with this set notion of which way the story is set to go.
Great post.
Ash
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
it seems to me that people have just lost all imagination lately! Instead of even trying to come up with something new, they simply "remake" it, change the title and voilas!
*Sigh* I too am sick to death of sequels, they are never as good as the original, and many times boring and disappointing...
I enjoyed The DaVinci Code, the book, but was sorely disappointed with the movie as well...
I had no idea they made a Lost Boys sequel either! The orginal, although a bit campy, was a great movie!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
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Fat Cult
Techbreak
I think most people are sick of the sequels and remakes, but, there's enough of the population willing to see a movie on brand appeal alone, that the studios realize it's good business.
As for original movies, did you see After the Wedding? Incredible...
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
There are two movie theatres in the Dallas Fort Worth area that show independent films. I also get tired of remakes. I agree with you wholeheartedly about the book to movie thing. Great post.
Mis
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It’s so true isn’t it? I tried to tone down my exasperation for what is happening in my post, but in general why is it so hard to create original films?! I guess (and I hate sounding jaded), it comes down to money. If the first one works, then they may as well try it with anothe one, it obviously seems worth the risk.
I can’t think of the film you mentioned with the kids on the plane going to Paris and the boy has a dream that the plane will explode... so I can't help you there I'm afraid.
I agree:
This happens too often. I think one of the reasons why viewers still see sequels is that they liked the original so much that they hope the second will be as good or maybe even better.
I agree with some many of what you listed And I added my comments in blue (couldn’t resist):
Grease 2 – makes me cringe, it was appalling.
Some of the remakes of Jane Austen books - Pride and Prejudice has just been slaughtered by some. I agree completely and what a pity.
Psycho – the sequels make me laugh which indicates what I think of them/
Planet of the Apes – oh yes, say no more...
Pink Panther – haven’t seen that one and probably won’t.
The Scarlet Letter is one of my big irks. I didn’t see the film as I assumed there was no way it could be as good as the book.
Thanks for all your comments,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Hi Nick
Good to see you, thanks for your comments.
Yes, I agree:
That seems to be at the crux of the phenomenon as well as making as much money as possible from one drawn-out idea.
Yes, I am so fed up sequels and remakes and generally only see them if I’ve read enough opinions (from trusted sources) that they are worthwhile. Otherwise what is the point? I can spend my money and time doing other things and seeing original films from the independent/foreign films sector, which thankfully in Sydney we have a good choice of places to see them at certain cinemas.
Yes, The Lost Boys sequel is being made; it’s still in the early stages. If you feel like knowing more, I did a post on Film Peek.
Byeee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Yes, it just seems to be getting worse and worse. If only people were to stop seeing them, it might make a difference, after all the film companies won’t make as much money and that’s bound to have an effect. But like I said to Nick, I think people are hopeful that a sequel will be as good if not better than the original that they liked.
Yeppie, your review of After the Wedding is excellent. It's on my list when I feel strong enough to see it.
Thanks for your comments,
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Hi Mis
Thank goodness you have somewhere to see the non-sequel/remake films....I don’t know what I’d do without mine. I’m lucky I have one which is a ten-minute walk up the road and then another one a ten-minute drive away plus the couple in the city.
Yes, the book to movie adaptation seems to rarely work, disheartening isn't it?
Good to see you,
Tracy
Comment by Optomistic Opportunism
Bohemian Hiphop
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
It is a strange phenomenon the films we cop from Hollywood these days. They are forever investing in low risk high budget stuff that they can expect to make more millions on.
Maybe one day the sheep who watch all these 1,2 and 3's (on this note I shoould say I'm gonna have to see the new Indiana Jones - love that guy) will realise what a write-off it all is and Paris, Rio and Sydney can jump-start the industry in our own direction.
Ready when you are...
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I haven’t seen you for a while, hope you’re well.
Yes, it is strange how long this phenomenon is going to carry on for, I hope it’s not as long as we’ve endured endless ‘reality programs’.
I do think some sequels work well and are enjoyable but it just seems to be taken too far, where we learn that too many films originate from a remake, a sequel or book. We need a string injection of freshness
Hope you enjoy Indy 4, I think that it has a good chance of working well especially as Harrison Ford is still in it.
Thanks for your comments,
Tracy
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I cant open the can of worms that is crappy remakes and sequels but i will throw out Stephen Kings name for lackluster adaptations.
The thing that bugs me is in a straight to DVD age we are actually getting sequels to lame originals.
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
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So who's moaning and groaning, not me. Top of the Day to ye, me darlin'
katyzzz...into life.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
It is a can of worms isn’t it and not a good one...there doesn’t seem to be many chirpy things to say on the subject. And as Cib said, there’s more to come.
Yes, the straight-to-DVD seems to be happening more often doesn’t it or is it that I’ve just noticed it more lately? I'm not sure...
I’m sure there must be some good sequels/remakes but at the moment I can’t think of any.....
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Nice to see you even if movies aren't your thing.
Byeee
Tracy
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I hoped he was wrong.
Instead he was dead right. We are are right in the centre of one of most artistically conservative times.
Music has becomes recycled to the point of being cover versions that are worse than the originals (eg: What about me?") Or we have remixes that take two good songs and wreck them both. (Can enyone remember what the original Supertramp songs sounded like?)
Film is also having the same issues.
The studios are frightened to try anything new incase it fails.
However they are happy put money into something that has been a proven success.
Remake and rehash a classic to cash in on the original fan base.
Now even classic books are getting the treatment.
Thomas Keneally penned 1985 for a newspaper and it absolutely sucked. (Big Mother indeed)
Gone with the Wind 2 was penned just few years ago.
and
Now James Bond is being written by another author.
Very conservative attitude to something that should be both exciting and bold.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I read your comment just before I went to bed last night and thought about what you said. I know this isn't a lengthy response to your comment, but it's all true and you have outlined it so well:
Yet, you would think that we would be in a particularly non-conservative time considering we have far more rights than we did decades ago, e.g. women's rights, indigenous and those sorts of issues and in some ways society is far more open.
I don't think I'm being very eloquent, but I hope my message is making sense.
Thanks for your comments, much appreciated,
Tracy
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
No Reservations, the new Catherine Zeta Jones movie is a remake. I think it's a French film and Aaron Eckhart's character is Italian.
I read a review that said that No Reservations was just lacking...basically Hollywood got a hold of it and sucked the life out of it. The reviewer said the original was much better.
However, I'm looking forward to High School Musical 2 just so I don't have to endure the first one anymore.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Nice to see you, hope you’ve been well.
Yes, No Reservations is based on a remake of the German film Mostly Martha and based on an original script by Sandra Nettelbeck. As you would expect the original is better, less formulaic and more believable.
I actually saw No Reservations at the cheapie night at the cinema last night. It was time for some fluff. Life has been a bit up and down and I wanted some escapism and as you would expect you’re generally in safe hands with Hollywood films. I’d seen three thoughtful films in the last fortnight, The White Planet, Forbidden Lies and The Homesong Stories..
It was better than I expected, I think largely because Zeta-Jones is a believable character and her young niece Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) is superb. As a fluff film, it did the job quite well.
I hadn’t heard of High School Musical 2, I see it’s a Disney film so that’s definitely got potential, especially for your children I would imagine ,
Byeee
Comment by lee
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Tracy