New & Improved?
Mar 19th 2007
Karen RoseWhen Goddesses Fall To Earth
Okay, so if you tuned in two weeks ago, you know my computer died and I had techno-DT’s. A week ago I got a new computer. Yay, me! Oh, wait. I actually haven’t accomplished anything in the last week except getting it set up and getting all my old stuff moved over. Oh, and I got my Rhapsody reinstalled so I can listen to Barry Manilow again. I missed Barry.
What was the problem, you ask? What took so long? In a word, it was “NEW & IMPROVED.” Okay, that’s technically three words, but you get my point. Windows has a new operating system called Vista and EVERYTHING looks DIFFERENT. So is it really new and improved? Only time will tell, I guess. Then I started to wonder, what IS new and improved, really? You hear it in ads all the time – everything from dish detergent to cars. But is the new dish detergent really any better than the old stuff? Eh. Every once in a great while something comes along that teeters humanity on its balance. Post-it Notes ® comes to mind. Now that is a ground-breaking, ground-shaking, can’t-live-without item. I’m not kidding. But are the neon pink ones any better than the standard yellow? Most of the time I really can’t tell the difference in the old product and the “new & improved.”
Remade movies, however, are a different thing. We watch a LOT of movies in our house as it’s my husband’s hobby. Sometimes the remake is better, but sometimes it’s really not and the difference is usually very apparent. One remake that was better was Sabrina. Oh, Lord, give me that Harrison Ford. I never really bought Bogart as Linus anyway. One remake I didn’t like as well was You’ve Got Mail. It’s a remake of In the Good Old Summertime with Van Johnson and Judy Garland (1949). I love that old movie.
Here’s one on which my former high school students and I vehemently disagreed: Colin Firth’s Pride and Prejudice or Keira Knightly’s version? Although Keira is lovely as Elizabeth, COLIN FIRTH RULES. Are we perfectly clear on this fact?
So what have you tried that’s truly NEW & IMPROVED? What movie remakes are better than the original? Which ones make you scratch your head and say, “What were they thinking?” Which movies should never be remade?
36 Comments »
36 Responses to “New & Improved?”
Stacy ~ on 19 Mar 2007 at 5:53 am #
I totally agree on the A&E Pride & Prejudice version. The Keira Knightly movie did have some wonderful, swoon-worthy moments, but I loved the longer Firth version. Sigh…
I loved “Little Women” with June Alison and Peter Lawford. I know that there was an earlier version, but I like this one better than the one done in the 90’s.
I didn’t see the re-make of “Pyscho” because I couldn’t imagine capturing what the original had. Who could be creepier than Anthony Perkins in that role?
Sabrina Jeffries on 19 Mar 2007 at 7:52 am #
Totally agree about the remake of Sabrina. I saw the remake first, and everyone kept telling me that the original was better, so I assumed that all the snappy dialogue that I loved in the remake actually came from the original.
Nope. And much as I like Bogey and love Audrey Hepburn, he and Hepburn together were just icky to me. I watched it once, then went back to loving the Harrison Ford version.
The P&Ps are a different matter. I like both. I really can’t choose. I watched both recently back to back, and while I really enjoyed having the more fleshed out version, I liked all the emotion Matthew MacFadyen brought to the movie.
But I do tend to like remakes. Like the mini-series of The Long Hot Summer . . . I lusted after Don Johnson for weeks. I do enjoy the Paul Newman movie, too, but I like the remake better.
So far, however, no one’s been able to top the Timothy Dalton or Orson Welles version of Jane Eyre for me. The movie one and the A&E one (with the lovely Ciaran Hinds), just left me cold. Go figure.
terrio on 19 Mar 2007 at 8:01 am #
I do love the mini-series version of P&P but I’m with Sabrina, Matthew McFadyen just brought so much to that role. I guess I love them both. I like the Hepburn version of Little Women but the newer one was alright as well. I was surprised that I like the version of Romeo & Juliet with Leo and Claire Danes. I thought I would hate them using the original text in a modern setting but somehow they made it work.
I think I would rather see a re-make of an older movie than sequals. I think sequals should be outlawed in most cases. My daughter sat and watched Dr. Doolittle III yesterday. Talk about totally unnecessary…
Karen Rose on 19 Mar 2007 at 8:21 am #
I agree on the sequels - and movies about TV shows are getting a little old, too - although I did like Scooby Doo, I must admit.
Little Women - I’ve seen most of the versions, I think, with Jo played by Kate Hepburn, June Alyson, Winona Ryder and even the TV miniseries with Susan Dey. I think I like he June Alyson one the best, but I do enjoy the Ryder version almost as much - and the ‘94 is such a beautifully filmed movie, with all the snowy scenes of New England. But Little Women is one of my favorite books of all time, so no movie comes close to the characters in my mind
Jane Eyre - I have to agree on the Welles version, altho George C. Scott was a great Rochester, too.
Claudia Dain on 19 Mar 2007 at 8:27 am #
I love watching movies. Love, love, love. Remakes or originals are both fun because I love seeing what time and distance can do to a plot.
You’ve Got Mail is a remake of In the Good Old Summertime, which was a remake of The Shop Around the Corner with Jimmy Stewart–original setting: Poland. Each movie is lovely in its own way.
One of my favorite good-time movies is Walk, Don’t Run with Cary Grant. Setting: Tokyo during the Olympics. I just found out it was a remake! The original was a movie set in Washington, DC during WWII starring Joel McCrea. The plot of this story relies upon crowded housing conditions, so you can see the ‘why’ on the setting for each of those movies.
I loved Sabrina when I first saw it with Bogart; it fit its time. It was probably only 12 to 15 years from its release date when I watched it for the first time. It worked for me then. The Harrison Ford version works better for me now, but I think that’s because the Bogart movie is 50 years old. Times and tastes really do change in that amount of time.
Can you tell I could happily talk movies all day long?
Buzz on 19 Mar 2007 at 8:36 am #
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DebMarlowe on 19 Mar 2007 at 9:06 am #
I love different things about both P&Ps, too. One of my favorite things about the new version is the tenderness that they allowed between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. For some reason that really affected me. I was used to the scornful interpretation of their relationship, but I liked the idea that some of that youthful feeling survived.
How about Down With Love? LOVE IT! Not a remake, but an homage to all those romantic comedies that I just adored watching when I was growing up. Love the dialogue, the fashion, the atmosphere, Tony Randall as the boss. Everything about that movie makes me laugh!
Kay on 19 Mar 2007 at 10:51 am #
To Kill A Mockingbird sould NEVER be remade. It was perfect the first time. One of the few movies that almost lives up to the book, and it is my favorite book. Also, How Green Was My Valley. I can’t imagine another, updated movie. It wasn’t perfect, but it just couldn’t be made now. There should be laws about movies like the updated Doctor Doolittle!
I do get a laugh out of the music remakes. The kids today think that they invented everything, and when I tell my son (who is 12 and knows everything–or so he says) that a song is a remake of another song, he doesn’t want to believe me.
Most New and Improved consumer products seem to be repackaging to me—like Karen’s example of the pink sticky notes. I am suspicious of anything with the claim, mainly because they do the same job but cost more.
I have not encountered Vista yet. I am nursing along my geriatric iMac, waiting for the new Apple operating system to come out. We’ll see how improved the new one is, then.
I did get a new phone a few months ago. It is very basic, but the instruction manual weighs more than the phone. My nine year old had to show me how to do the ring tones! Maybe I should just get the Jitterbug–what we call the Grandma phone–the one with nothing extra on it. (Although I am lusting for an iPhone)
SuzyQ on 19 Mar 2007 at 11:06 am #
Deb, I agree, Down With Love is a must see movie. You actually feel like you are watching a movie that was shot in the 60’s instead of today. Everything about it was well done. My husband even liked it - and he thought it was going to be another “chick flick”.
Wuthering Heights has been remade several times, but nothing compares with the original 1939 version. Everytime I watch that movie, I still need a box of tissues.
As for movies that should never me remade: Gone With The Wind. I love all kinds of movies (and believe me, I watch enough of them), but this movie still remains one of my favorites.
Karen Rose on 19 Mar 2007 at 11:13 am #
Ah, How Green Was My Valley - I loved that movie, too. I love Maureen O’Hara in almost anything. Valley made me think of Valley of Decision with Greer Garson and Gregory Peck - who is my favorite actor of all time. Great movie, no need to be redone.
I recently saw Walk, Don’t Run with Cary Grant - very good movie!
Another remake that came to mind - I saw the remake of Miracle on 34th Street and loved how Santa communicated in sign language - in the original he spoke Dutch. But Maureen O’Hara was in the original of that, too, so for me the original wins.
I’ve also seen The Shop Around The Corner with Jimmy Stewart - another favorite actor in a wonderful film. I love the oldies!
terrio on 19 Mar 2007 at 11:28 am #
I’m with Kay on the remaking of old songs. My daughter is 7 and it seems that Disney has these little groups on all the time in between shows and they are just re-doing old 80s songs. I start to sing along and she looks at me like I’m crazy. Now she’ll just stop and say “That’s an old one too?”
dbrown3400 on 19 Mar 2007 at 11:54 am #
One movie that comes to mind is Breakfast at Tiffanys. Few can duplicate the innate elegance of Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard in his prime was yummy. I agree with the Long, Hot Summer selection. Don Johnson is HOT in that movie as he was in a couple B movies before he got the dissipated look caused by drugs and alcohol. Citizen Kane should go on the list.
Several movies I’m thinking of started as Broadway plays. Does that count? Well, I’m off to work where I’m sure I’ll ask each customer to name their favorite movie.
Donna
anneriailin on 19 Mar 2007 at 11:58 am #
I love movies, but let me qualify that, I love classic movies. Don’t get me wrong, I love the newer movies also but I love the classic movies. I liked the original Sabrina but I also like the remake with Harrison Ford.
I was gonna mention the Cary Grant movie, Walk, Don’t Run, but someone beat me to it. I like both versions of that movie also. In fact, I have both movies sitting at home from Netflix ready to watch when I have time.
A couple of years ago, they made a remake of the Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn movie, Charade. It was called The Truth About Charlie. It was awful, imo.
The Philadelphia Story was remade as a musical, High Society. I enjoyed both. How can you go wrong with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in the same movie. Then add Louis Armstrong and you’ve got some great music!!
Movies that they should never remake. Casablanca. It’s a Wonderful Life (unfortunately, it’s been done).
I could talk movies all day also. I love love LOVE them.
–dorothy
colinfirthfan on 19 Mar 2007 at 12:05 pm #
Amen to anything with Colin Firth in it.
I was watching Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason last night (and switching to The Sixth Sense in the middle).
I LOOOOVE Colin Firth
(thought I’d put it in there in case anyone missed that fact)
Claudia Dain on 19 Mar 2007 at 12:07 pm #
It’s interesting how people born in the last 25 years see the movie industry. My kids feel like there’s so little new and original out there now, like all the great movies were made years and years ago. When they found out that Poseidon was a remake of The Poseidon Adventure, they immediately lost interest and refused to see it.
That shocked me. They’re desperate for new and never-been-done-before. I wonder if they’re typical?
They’ve all gone to see 300 and RAVE about it. It’s new! It’s original!
If it’s a remake of something, don’t tell me. I couldn’t bear to burst their bubble of happiness!
SuzyQ on 19 Mar 2007 at 12:48 pm #
Claudia, I hate to tell you this, but it is a remake. The original title was The 300 Spartans made in 1962.
Karen Rose on 19 Mar 2007 at 1:17 pm #
HA! Love it, SuzyQ. Claudia, bust their oh-so-typical bubble!!! A few years ago I used CASABLANCA in my high school creative writing class to discuss goal, motivation and conflict. I LOVE this movie. It does everything absolutely right. But it’s in black and white and many of the students sneered. Sneered - at Bogey and Bergman. I was poleaxed.
It was a school for the arts! I couldn’t believe how narrow minded they were. If it had been CHARMED, they would have been all over it. Now, I love Charmed, too, but this is Bogart and Bergman. Puh-leese, people.
The students got an earful and a half from me that day. Then I realized I sounded like my grandparents - we walked uphill both ways and LIKED it, by gum.
Janet on 19 Mar 2007 at 1:33 pm #
New to this blog, and so far, I really like it! As for movies and remakes…one comes to mind not mentioned so far, “Born Yesterday” starring Judy Holliday and William Holden. She won an Oscar for her role. There was a remake in the ’90’s with John Goodman that was just so not anywhere near good, let alone as great as the original. As for the 300 and The 300 Spartans, the earlier starred Richard Egan and was very good. Agree with most of you on the others. I will usually choose the oldie over the remake, although on Sabrina, I find I love both versions!
Hope to visit often, although am often off reading books (oddly enough, many of YOU are the authors of the very books I love to read). Thanks for having such a great site!
FilmPhan on 19 Mar 2007 at 2:02 pm #
I love to watch the old and then the new movies to compare them. Some of them are so different that it’s hard to even compare them. I agree that “Down with Love” is wonderful. It’s one of my favorite movies.
And “300″ was really good and very unique. You don’t see movies like that everyday. I didn’t watch the older one but I am pretty sure that they are completely different.
I love both “Sabrina”s. I love Audrey Hepburn but I love Harisson Ford too. And both “P&P” are great.
New ideas are good but sometimes a remake can be refreshing take on a very old idea. Sometimes, the stories just need an upgrade.
KMB25 on 19 Mar 2007 at 2:05 pm #
Ok…so I’m going to put my two cents in. Claudia, so you’re not going to be disappointed because the 300 is actually NOT a remake. Frank Miller was inspired to write the story of the 300 after seeing the the 300 Spartans and then only actually took one line from the movie, which was: “We’ll fight in the shade.”
In the graphic novel, he sites the three text sources used to make the movie….however, I don’t have a copy on me so I can’t site them myself.
However, thought you might want to know and breathe a sigh of relief! Inspired…but not a remake!
(I should mention that I know all this as my husband saw the 300 because he is such a huge comic book/graphic novel fan and Frank Miller is one of his favorite authors….and I just happened to say, “hey honey, did you know that someone on here said that the 300 was a remake?”)
As for remakes…I really really love the movie Sabrina! (the newer one of course…harrison ford is yummy). And I have to admit, I liked both the pride and prejudices…but Colin Firth is also very yummy!
~Kim
Sabrina Jeffries on 19 Mar 2007 at 2:35 pm #
In grad school, I had to give myself a crash course in film history because my dissertation involved film adaptations of books. So one of the movies I saw was Casablanca. Believe it or not, I’d never seen it until then.
It was the weirdest experience of my life. Bogie would speak a famous line and my first reaction was to snort and think, “What a cliche.” Then I’d remember that the cliche CAME from the movie. Very odd. I did enjoy the movie, but I think that dimmed my enjoyment some. I couldn’t separate it from the icon it had become.
On the other hand, I think “new and fresh” can be highly over-rated. In my “film history” phase, I watched tons of indie films. They were all new and fresh. Unfortunately, lots of them were also unsatisfying or bizarre. I like the occasional good indie film, don’t get me wrong (Slingblade is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen), but I’d rather have a fresh remake of an old story than a new story that’s just too “different” to be satisfying.
Maria Duncan on 19 Mar 2007 at 2:49 pm #
I thought You’ve Got Mail was a remake of ‘Shop Around the Corner’ with Jimmy Stewart.
Even though I love the BBC Colin Firth P&P, I do prefer the newer one. I just think Keira Knightley plays a better Elizabeth. And Colin Firth reminds me of my Dad.
I love the newest version of Jane Eyre, the BBC one. I thiunk it was made last year.
Claudia Dain on 19 Mar 2007 at 2:56 pm #
“Inspired, but not a remake.”
That’s a great distinction! I’ll bet it’s true of a lot of movies and we might not even be aware of it.
Suzanne Enoch on 19 Mar 2007 at 3:24 pm #
I’m starting to think that “new & improved” means “we made it too good the first time, and so please by a replacement that’ll break more often.” Or maybe I’m just cynical.
Movies. I LOVE movies. I’m of a mixed opinion about remakes, though. It seems like I enjoy the ones better where the filmmakers get the “feel” of the film rather than trying to copy it shot for shot (like the new “Psycho” — is that a tribute, or trying to make a buck w/out having an ounce of imagination of your own?).
The way George Lucas keeps remaking “Star Wars” seems like it’s diminishing the original. I understand that he wasn’t crazy with the effects available at the time, but heck, “Star Wars” wasn’t about the effects. Weird that even the director doesn’t get it, sometimes.
MizMacgyver on 19 Mar 2007 at 5:36 pm #
Just going to throw in my 2 cents on the movies. I love the Harrison Ford (let’s face it, I love Harrison Ford no matter what he is in) version of Sabrina and though I like both P&P’s I favor the older version. Though the newer “Darcy” is good, and does flesh out the role somewhat, Colin just “looks” like Darcy to me.
Nicole Jordan on 19 Mar 2007 at 6:22 pm #
I frankly think it’s sacrilege to suggest that the new KK version of P&P is better than the old!! Although I do agree with DebM — I loved the tender, romantic, intimate ending of the new version. Someone told me they had shot that last scene on the balcony specifically for an American audience, but the Brit version had a different, staid ending.
Honestly, I really liked both the new actors a lot. But my trouble was that I could “see” them acting… I couldn’t suspend disbelief and get swept in the story. Perhaps because I keep making comparisons with every single word spoken.
And nothing in the new version could top the choreography of that ballroom dance in the A&E version where Darcy and Elizabeth verbally joust as they perform the movements of the dance. That was sheer brilliance, IMHO.
NicoleJ
Karen Rose on 19 Mar 2007 at 7:25 pm #
I heard the same thing about the special KK P&P ending for American audiences. And I love that dance in the A&E version. Hubby gave me the A&E set on DVD for Christmas. Must sit down and watch them again. BUt after crazy deadline is met.
Speaking of Christmas, the one movie that’s been made a million times is Christmas Carol. IMO George C. Scott IS Scrooge. For me, nobody ba-humbugs better.
Kay on 19 Mar 2007 at 8:14 pm #
Oh, a Christmas Carol…….It has so many incarnations. DH is taken with the Bill Murry version, called Scrooged. It is not a replcement for the original, but it is a hoot. When he tells them to staple on the antlers—I’m laughing so hard just thinking about it.
My kids love the Muppets’ version. Micheal Cain is a believable Scrooge, and it takes some great acting to pull off talking to Kirmit like he’s Bob. The rats are a bit over the top.
A Christmas Story is another movie that should never be remade. They got it perfect. It has been out long enough that they just may try it, though.
Julia London on 19 Mar 2007 at 9:27 pm #
I loved both versions of P&P, but for different reasons. One was Colin Firth, the other was the new Mr. Darcy, LOL.
I love movies, too, but there is never enough time to watch them. I bought a bunch of DVDs one day and haven’t watched any of them yet.
Suzanne Enoch on 19 Mar 2007 at 11:22 pm #
“A Christmas Carol” — my two favs are the Muppet version also, and the one with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge. That man can act his hair off. Oh. Wait.
MizMacgyver on 20 Mar 2007 at 6:14 am #
Wait! Patrick Stewart as Scrooge? I have missed that one. I can almost picture him as Scrooge. I have to agree with Karen though, George C. Scott IS Scrooge.
Susan K on 20 Mar 2007 at 10:04 am #
Suzanne,
I have to agree with you on the “Star Wars” movies. I HATE what he did to my movies! Especially Return of the Jedi. Jabba’s Palace is like a disco hall now and the ending sucks. I liked the Ewok song! I actually wrote a compare/contrast paper in college based on the original Return of the Jedi & the Special Edition version. I got an A and I ripped apart the Special Edition version. THANKFULLY, George finally got smart and put the original theatrical versions out on DVD. (After he said he would never do it!)
RachelG on 20 Mar 2007 at 11:04 am #
Totally hated the Keira Knightly version of P and P. To me it was a “what were they thinking” movie. They took a classic piece of fiction and messed around with the dialogue. You NEVER change Jane Austen’s dialogue. P and P is a classic because the dialogue is perfection.
And don’t even get me started on the miscasting.
Karen Hawkins on 20 Mar 2007 at 12:21 pm #
Amen on the Colin Firth as THE Darcy. No one else will EVER top that.
Karen Rose, I know you have this passion for Firth, but really … that Firth tattoo … ????
And oh yes, the Muppet Christmas Carol is one of my FAVES. And yes, Patrick Stewart was great in his version, too. You know, he has SUCH an incredible, sexy voice that he could do ANY serious part and I’d sit there, mouth slack, nodding wildly, totally buying it.
Btw, I saw 300 and WOW. It’s the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. I did wish the narrator hadn’t talked so long at the end — sort of anticlimatic, but overall, I loved it, adored it, thought it was both beautiful and horrifying at one and the same time. Plus, after seeing it, my son and I came home and wikipedia’d the history behind the movie and it turns out the real 300 were even MORE heroic than the movie made them out to be!!! When does THAT ever happen?
TheNightPoet on 20 Mar 2007 at 11:13 pm #
I happened to like You’ve Got Mail, but I never saw In the Good Old Summertime, so I have no comparison.
I’m trying to think of movies that should never be remade…oh and low and behold some just came to me. This may sound silly, but all the Disney movies should NEVER come out with sequels!!! Has anyone seen the sequels to some of the Disney movies? They are awful. I have seen the second Little Mermaid and it was terrible. From what I hear, Cinderella 2 was bad too. And how about all The Land Before Times? The first one is still the best and always will be. lol Okay I’ll stop with the children movies. lol well maybe not…one more. haha Sorry these are the ones that have come to mind. I didn’t like the remake of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. My friends and I were laughing throughout the whole thing, along with some other people in the theatre that were about our age. I was also a little freaked out with it. I know it was based off the book, but I grew up with the original with Gene Wilder.
Dirty Dancing never should have been remade! Did anyone see the second one? It just wasn’t the same as the first one.
That’s what I can think of right now.
Andrea
pam on 27 Mar 2007 at 8:19 pm #
This will probably mark me as an old fogie, but I still like Laurence Olivier best as Darcy in the original P&P, even though the movie took many liberties with the story and Greer Garson is clearly too old for the part.