The thorny subject of remakes.

ozpass

Remakes. Remakes of Films, remakes of games, rehashing of concepts.

Are remakes good then, or bad? I can't quite decide. In terms of impact, or perceived quality they're almost always inferior to the original. There's something about the average remake that appeals to me though- I think it's the 'tipping of the hat' that it represents to the original. A remake of something basically implies that the original was of sufficient quality to warrant doing all over again.

So what do you guys think? Can you provide any examples of remakes that improve on the original? Or horror stories where the opposite is true.......

Gordon

Remakes are ethically wrong unless it brings about a change that embues the original essence of the creation but adds to it or puts a different slant on it.

To give music examples:
Stevie Ray Vaughn's remake of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile" (as with most of his 'cover versions' was exactly the same as Hendrix's [minus the soul of Hendrix]). It leaves a metal taste in one's mouth as it is a blatant attempt at a copy but gives no added bonus to the original creation.

On a similar note: Hendrix's version of Along the watchtower gives Dylan's creation a new twist and adds to the very marrow of the idea.

This is similar to the Sugababes (although afaik the lyrics are not the same) and Gary Newmans song (Freak like me is the title of the sugababes). Gary Newman (as Bob Dylan to "All along the watchtowr) said that he preferred this version, as do I personally. The reason: they have tried to step on the shoulders of giants as opposed to taking a photograph of the giant and claiming artistic ownership of the view.

ozpass

That's a good point- I love Gary Numan's tunes. The only modern take on his music that's bettered it (IMO) is Basement Jaxx' "Where's Your Head At", although the sampled riff is only three notes so it's scarcely a remake.

Armand Van Helden should have fleas surgically implanted in his arse for his appalling butchery of "Cars".

Mr. Fancypants

There has been a few good remakes that i can think of......although they are certainly in the minority.

Oceans 11 was much better than the original in my opinion.
The Fly
The Thing
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers was remade twice. Once in the seventies and once in the 90's. The 90's version is truly awful, but i loved the 70's version. Had Jeff Goldblum. Remember the ending freaked me out at the time.
Little Shop Of Horrors is another one that springs to mind, if only for Steve Martins performance of the Dentist..."When i was young just a bad little kid, my momma noticed funny things i did, like shooting puppies with a bibi gun, I'd poison guppies when i was done...."

Music wise, the only thing that comes into my head straight away is Prince doing "Whole lotta love" on tour last year, bloody hell did that rock...

Dr Funkenstein

Horror stories?.....
I feel compelled to warn the public never to view the remake of seventies classic road movie 'Vanishing Point'.
(You know the one...guy in a white Dodge Challenger)
I was close to weeping at the 'Aaron Spelling' stylee prodution of this monster.Jason 9021 f'king O Preistley was the dj and the main dude was a shelbyville version of Peter Fonda.
Ever notice those 'made for tv' movies always have look-a-likes of real actors in them?.
Another nausiating element of the remake is the way it keeps flashing back to his past.Think south park....the dead wife...meeting an indian guy....every possible cliche imaginable.
The idea of the original, as with all good seventies movies, is that you the viewer figure out why he's running.
Anyway...don't say you weren't warned.
Lataz

Panda

the transformers cartoon currently showing on sky 1, looks like a freaking cross between Gigantor and pokemon.... ugh.....

evie

wasn't the Time Machine starring that wonder of Irish loveliness, Samantha Mumba, a remake?? Did it not flop at the cinema??? hmmmm

Also the recent Disney film the Parent Trap, also a remake and though I am ashamed to say it, I have seen the original and it is way better. (how pathetic am I?)

There are millions of songs that have been redone eg: was in france recently and saw a really bad female rapper rapping the words in french of Respect!
some things are better left to the originals!