Hollywood’s Obsession
Over the past few years, there has been a pandemic rash of remakes by Hollywood. To give you an example, here’s a sample list:
- War of the Worlds
- The Hills Have Eyes
- The Hills Have Eyes II (upcoming sequel for the original film)
- When a Stranger Calls
- The Amytiville Horror
- Hairspray (upcoming remake)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- The Ring (remake of original Japanese version)
- The Grudge (remake of original Japanese version)
- The Stepford Wives
- Darkwater
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
If Hollywood isn’t busy remaking prior films, they’re finding ways to squeeze out as much money as they can from existing film franchises by making pointless prequels/sequels. It’s a disturbing trend, and it appears that the studios are seeking out an easy profit rather than buying/developing new (good) scripts to make movies that haven’t been made before. Oh, I’m not against remakes – if the original film was of poor quality. But, did we really need an Americanized version of the terrible Godzilla film from 1998?
P.S.
Someone please explain how Godzilla bypassed the entire continental United States – without wrecking any city – and landed in New York to lay eggs in Madison Square Garden? Okay, I just spoiled the movie, but you weren’t missing anything anyway.
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DQ – it isn’t just the movies either. Broadway makes me nuts. There are nothing but remakes. I mean, I know that Phantom is so great blah blah blah, but Grease is coming back, Les Mis, blah blah blah. Even Talk Radio is back. When they remade The Odd Couple a year or two ago, we saw it with Broderick and Lane, and it could not have been worse. It simply didn’t hold up. And I loved the TV show and the old movie. The Producers? Very good, not nearly as good as the original movie, which was great, and the movie remake this year was simply awful.
It comes down to this: look for the indies and small off-Broadway shows (if you are lucky enough to live near NYC). Go to your local play productions – there can be some really good stuff there. Look for the new writers with ideas that make you feel something. The big movies can be wonderful entertainment, some even make you think. But usually you can write the next line yourself, and that ain’t good.
Best idea – stay at home and watch Family Guy.
Mike
Remakes are the in thing, unfortunately.
You’re right about seeing indie films or going to small plays/shows. I try to go the little theater here whenever there’s something I want to see; at least it’s original!