People often complain about the abundance of remakes in Hollywood, but there are some remakes which seem destined to fail before springing a surprise. Remakes tend to come under a lot of scrutiny if they are messing with a beloved classic that fans would prefer to leave untouched. However, there a few remakes which have taken on an impossible task and succeeded.
Hollywood loves remaking foreign movies, old classics and films with cult followings. All of these face similar problems, as fans want to see remakes which are respectful of the original, but new ideas are also important. Striking this balance isn’t easy, and this is why so many remakes fall flat. Remakes have a patchy record in Hollywood, but there are some interesting exceptions to this rule.
12 Upcoming Movie Reboots & Remakes We’re Actually Looking Forward To
With the anticipation of several movie reboots, a few are creating significant buzz and excitement for how these classic stories will be retold.
The originalRoad Houseis a classic of 1980s schlocky action, and it is often referred to as a guilty pleasure. Recapturing this same sense of B-movie fun should have been an impossible task, especially when reports emerged that the remake was using CGI in some of its fight scenes. Doug Liman’s version ofRoad Houseworks by creating the same atmosphere of gleeful, chaotic action with some more sophisticated technology and a better plot.
Ultimately,Road Houseis a success because it doesn’t try too hard to stick to the style of Patrick Swayze’s version.
Road Houseimproves on the originalin a few key ways. It incorporates a mystery plot and fleshes out the character of Dalton. Both of these things make the movie more interesting outside its action scenes. For all its indulgent bar fights, this is something that is lacking in the original. Ultimately,Road Houseis a success because it doesn’t try too hard to stick to the style of Patrick Swayze’s version.
Ocean’s 11was conceived as a vehicle for the Rat Pack.The heist genre provides the perfect platform for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and the rest of the group to showcase their personas as lovable rogues.Steven Soderbergh’s remake faced a tough challenge replicating the cool factor of the original, so he started by casting George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the lead roles.
Ocean’s Elevenis just as stylish as the original, but it comes with a much more exciting plot.
Ocean’s Elevenis just as stylish as the original, but it comes with a much more exciting plot. While the Rat Pack version often coasts on the charms of its cast, the remake gives the entire gang something to do, and it has many more twists and turns as the heist unfolds. It’s no wonder that it kick-started an entire franchise, and there arefresh reports ofOcean’s 14,which will bring the gang back together for the first time since 2007.
The originalKing Kong,released in 1933, was a revolutionary cinematic spectacle, showcasing the cutting-edge of visual effects of the era. Decades later, it seems quaint and artificial in a way that dates it terribly, but a remake would have to recapture the same sense of wonder that made it such a hit. Peter Jackson was the perfect director for the project, fresh off the back of hisLord of the Ringstrilogy.
Although remaking a staple of film history would be a daunting task for any director, Jackson found his own ways to innovate.
Although remaking a staple of film history would be a daunting task for any director, Jackson found his own ways to innovate. He uses motion capture technology to make Kong look more realistic than ever before. With a characteristically superb performance from Andy Serkis,King Kongrecaptures the same sense of awe that the original had over 70 years earlier.
Throughout his career, Gary Cooper developed a reputation for playing heroic characters, and his on-screen persona embodied the ideals of courage and morality. Adam Sandler doesn’t seem like a natural fit to remake one of his most popular movies. Cooper was nominated for an Oscar for 1936’sMr. Deeds Goes to Town,but Sandler puts his own spin on the remake.
By playing to his strengths as a comedian, Sandler avoids any direct comparisons with the Oscar-nominated classic.
Mr. Deedsuses the structure of the rags-to-riches story from the original, but it has a lot more in common with Sandler’s other comedies.His Longfellow Deeds is more Billy Madison than Gary Cooper.By playing to his strengths as a comedian, Sandler avoids any direct comparisons with the Oscar-nominated classic.Mr. Deedsis one ofAdam Sandler’s funniest movies, and it requires no knowledge ofMr. Deeds Goes to Town.
When people complain about movie remakes, they tend to underline the idea that Hollywood is lacking in original ideas.A Star Is Bornprovides ample fuel for this fire, since Bradley Cooper’s musical is a remake of a movie that already has two remakes. The original version ofA Star Is Bornwas released in 1937, followed by remakes with Judy Garland in 1954 and Barbra Streisand in 1976.
The original version ofA Star Is Bornwas released in 1937, followed by remakes with Judy Garland in 1954 and Barbra Streisand in 1976.
The 1954 version was a brilliant remake, showcasing the singing and acting talents of Garland with a charming performance from James Mason beside her.Another remake was unnecessary, and the 1976 version failed to impress critics. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s third remake seemed doomed, butA Star Is Born’s brilliant soundtrackand two superb performances from the leads made it a hit.
The Producerswas Mel Brooks' directorial debut, and it immediately marked him out as an irreverent and fresh voice in comedy. Almost 60 years later, it’s still one of his funniest movies. After the success ofThe Producers, Brooks adapted it into a stage musical. This was another big hit, but turning this into another movie risked too many comparisons with the original starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel.
The musical elements obviously help differentiate the remake from the original, but the movie only works because Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are so entertaining.
The musical elements obviously help differentiate the remake from the original, but the movie only works because Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick are so entertaining. Lane’s Max Bialystock is more of a showman than Mostel’s, and Broderick’s Leo Bloom is the perfect rube.The duo bring their own quirks to their roles, which means that they don’t affect the legacy of the original.
John Wayne was the king of the Westerns for years, and his movies helped shape the genre into what it is today. Remaking one of his classics seemed like a fool’s errand when the Coen brothers took on the project. They had already attempted another remake of a classic movie, but their version ofThe Ladykillersdoesn’t compare to the original. They proved withTrue Gritthat they were indeed capable of a great remake.
The Coen brothers had already attempted another remake of a classic movie, but their version ofThe Ladykillersdoesn’t compare to the original.
True Gritisn’t the first Coen brothers Western, and they showed withNo Country for Old Menthree years earlier that they were comfortable in the genre.True Gritwas a critical and commercial success, grossing over $250 million and earning 10 Oscar nominations. Although a remake was a daunting task, the Coen brothers remake ofTrue Gritsurpasses the original, and it breathed new life into the Western genre.
Disney’s live-action remakeshave been fairly inconsistent. Many people have questioned the need for such remakes when the originals are so enjoyable, and movies likeThe Lion KingandLady and the Tramphave failed to make their animal characters as engaging as their animated counterparts.The Jungle Bookmight be the one movie that proves live-action can be as visually rich as Disney’s animated classics.
With some fun updates to the soundtrack and a superb voice cast,The Jungle Bookis a worthy remake.
Even though the animals inThe Jungle Bookdon’t move their facial muscles as much as they do in the animated original, they each have unique ways of talking and moving that convey their emotions. Jon Favreau also uses clever lighting and blocking tricks to make the characters more intimidating or more friendly, depending on what the scene requires. With some fun updates to the soundtrack and a superb voice cast,The Jungle Bookis a worthy remake that paints an immersive portrait of the Indian wilderness.
1961’sThe Parent Trapstars Haley Mills in a dual role. It uses some clever editing, body doubles and shrewd blocking to give the illusion that she is two different characters. 1998’s remake had a tough act to follow, butthe biggest problem was finding a young actor who could give a similarly convincing performance. Mills was praised for playing two roles with such distinction inThe Parent Trap,and the remake wouldn’t have worked if Lindsay Lohan hadn’t been just as good.
Lohan’s performance is key to the success ofThe Parent Trap,but the script is also superb.
Lohan’s performance is key to the success ofThe Parent Trap,but the script is also superb. The remake doesn’t share too much in common with the original. There are a few callbacks and Easter eggs, but the story is modernized and reinvented so thatThe Parent Trapfeels fresh. Good child actors are sometimes hard to find, butThe Parent Trapand its remake found two of them.
The originalInvasion of the Body Snatchersis a classic of 1950s sci-fi. The story follows a town being replaced by alien impostors who mimic the appearance and habits of people. It has been interpreted as a metaphor for both the rise of communism during the Cold War and the wave of McCarthyism which made friends and neighbors suspicious of each other in the 1950s.
The remake ofInvasion of the Body Snatchersfaced the challenge of finding a new angle that resonated with contemporary audiences.
Although the Cold War was still ongoing in 1978, McCarthyism was a thing of the past. This meant that the remake ofInvasion of the Body Snatchersfaced the challenge of finding a new angle that resonated with contemporary audiences. America’s trust in its institutions was fading fast in the 1970s after the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal.The 1978 version ofInvasion of the Body Snatchersexamines how society can strip people of their individuality and freedom.This makes the remake just as vital and interesting as the original, with a completely new context.
