| remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 08 May 2008 17:55  |
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Two subjects here really:
1. Remakes - the best and the most pointless (may be the same film)
King Kong - the 70s one was pointless, as was Jackson's recent effort, but at least the latter was splendid entertainment
The Italian Job - not so much a remake as a hijack
The Vanishing - why remake your own (fine) film, adding in pointless love-interest and a happy ending that undercuts the essence of the film - oh yeah, money!
Roxanne - loved it & almost prepared to forgive those that thought Cyrano de Bergerac was the remake 
2. Re-releases - the UK suffers a real paucity of choice compared to the US, especially when it comes to world cinema, black and white films etc. When I worked in a video shop I despaired at the 300th re-release and repackaging of 'The Italian Job' and numerous other 'classics' when there were so many other great films being ignored. The advent of director's cuts in some ways added insult to injury, though some of them have proved better than the original cinema releases.
Apocalypse Now - loved the additional footage, which made it a more complete film in so many ways
Blade Runner - mentioned in another thread - is two "director's cuts" taking the pee?
Aliens - liked the extra footage, felt it added tension
Alien - clearly a studio rip-off
Dune - wish they would release the extended version!
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 08 May 2008 18:57  |
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I agree with all of it, Melmoth.
Yes, I thought King Kong - the 70s remake was hopeless and Jackson's recent attempt was more of the same. I have heard he has remade the Dambusters.... boohoo. Why bother!
The Italian Job the remake was not even half as good as the orignal. Where was the charm and why did Edward Norton sign up to this rubbish? I loved Benny Hill in the original. He was cheeky and funny.
The Vanishing I have never seen, remake or original.
Roxanne - alright, good giggle and worth it for Steve Martin's mugging.
Apocalypse Now - I have one copy of this and that's it. It was a difficult film to make and when it came out, a work of brilliance. Time has not dulled it and I particularly love the helicopter and Wagner bit - one of my favourite bits in the film, apart from the Harrison Ford 5 minutes (yes, he is actually in it). My only wish is that they would remake the helicopter scene with Apache gunships instead of the smaller helicopters they used in that film.
Blade Runner - haven't bothered buying the latest one. Owning one copy of it is enough.
Aliens - Haven't seen the re-release.
Alien - nor this one.
Dune - only have the one version and that's good enough. It is enough of a weird movie anyway.
I'll add some of my own.
Remakes
Why remake Hallowe'en? Wasn't John Carpenter good enough for some people?
And Psycho - utterly pointless and completely futile.
Vanilla Sky - Yawn.
The Ladykillers - I heard it was worse than the old film with loads of swearing in it. Tom Hanks should hang his head in shame.
And films I hope they NEVER remake.
Star Wars.
The Great Escape
Citizen Kane.
Jaws
Gone with the Wind.
The Wizard of Oz
Sound of Music
The Exorcist.
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 08 May 2008 21:38 |
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| Mich wrote on Thu, 08 May 2008 18:57 |
Yes, I thought King Kong - the 70s remake was hopeless and Jackson's recent attempt was more of the same. I have heard he has remade the Dambusters.... boohoo. Why bother!
Dune - only have the one version and that's good enough. It is enough of a weird movie anyway.
I'll add some of my own.
Remakes
Why remake Hallowe'en? Wasn't John Carpenter good enough for some people?
And Psycho - utterly pointless and completely futile.
The Ladykillers - I heard it was worse than the old film with loads of swearing in it. Tom Hanks should hang his head in shame.
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yep, you've highlighted some real turkeys there - especially Ladykillers & Psycho. I haven't seen the Halloween remake - got bored with slash & stalk & nobody did them as well as Dario Argento anyway (possibly excepting Carpenter). Let's hope Jackson gets on with The Hobbit soon. 
I think the full-length Dune might have been a little more coherent - there was a tv mini-series of that and the sequel (Children of Dune) which made a lot more sense, although it lacked some of the panache of Lynch's effort.
I may have banged on about this before but there was a version of Dune supposed to be made in the 70s with Alejandro Jodorowsky at the helm. The idea was to have different artists creating different elements of the film, including Moebius, Chris Foss, and Giger. Pink Floyd were to do the soundtrack and Salvador Dali was going to act in the film (for $100,000 an hour). What a movie that could have been.... but Hollywood thought it too
weird & pulled the plug on the financing.... 
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 08 May 2008 21:41 |
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The Hobbit is being made as 2 films, but Jackson is not the director. They're being made with Guillermo Del Toro.
[Updated on: Thu, 08 May 2008 21:44]
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 08 May 2008 21:58 |
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| Flipty wrote on Thu, 08 May 2008 21:41 |
The Hobbit is being made as 2 films, but Jackson is not the director. They're being made with Guillermo Del Toro.
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thanks for the info - I'm disappointed it's not Jackson as he did such a fine job with the LOTR.
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Sun, 11 May 2008 18:45 |
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I think Jackson is the producer of Hobbit.
I like the idea of Del Toro doing the Hobbit but I really thought this was something Jackson WANTED to film.
Dune was probably one of Lynch's most commercial films. It was one he didn't need to write either and it was strange already so any strangeness Lynch could have added to the film made little difference. Lynch gave it a very surreal quality, but for my money, the film simply shouldn't have been made at all. It is too difficult to make any sort of sense of, unless you've read the book and can identify with the characters.
I was quite sad about the mess they made of the Ladykillers. The original was such a brilliant film and so nicely made. Why relocate it and put profanity in it?
If ANY director or studio has the gall to remake Kind Hearts and Coronets, I hope they shoot them! It is an almost perfect film, both in script, acting and plot. Even Citizen Kane doesn't quite manage to make you care about the main character in the same way as Kind Hearts does.
[Updated on: Sun, 11 May 2008 18:51]
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Wed, 14 May 2008 22:37 |
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I've just noticed that there is now ANOTHER edition of the Indiana Jones Trilogy.
Bet there's no Steven Spielberg commentary on it, though!
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 15 May 2008 09:43 |
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| Mich wrote on Wed, 14 May 2008 22:37 |
I've just noticed that there is now ANOTHER edition of the Indiana Jones Trilogy.
Bet there's no Steven Spielberg commentary on it, though!
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they needed to get that out now, a good 6 months before they release the 'Indiana Jones Christmas Tetralogy' box set....
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 15 May 2008 19:41 |
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Seen the new Indy film yet?
I can't wait.
I bet its going to be brilliant.
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| Re: remakes, re-releases and director's cuts |
Thu, 15 May 2008 21:23 |
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no - not too excited about it to be honest; enjoyed the 1st two, but thought the 3rd was a bit disappointing.
The first two were great roller-coaster rides & a bit rough around the edges (like the first two Mad Max films). The 3rd felt like it had been polished too much (like the 3rd Mad Max film was) & so lost it's charm for me.
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