Choose 5 Movies That Should NEVER Be Remade
Choose 5 Movies That Should NEVER Be Remade
Only 5 when there are probably at least 10 times that number if you take into consideration all movies, Hollywood, British, French, Italian, etc.? If you were to search the lists that have been made on Google or Bing of movies that should never be remade you will come up with pages of lists, and although there are some movies repeated by many, no two lists are the same. It's a matter of each individual person's taste in determining what is unique and cannot be reproduced. Although I have chosen 5 I could have chosen 20 or more, but let's make this a "Sophie's Choice". This is not to be a list of our favourite movies, but for reasons that are our own and/or as agreed with and borrowed from the many critics, why we personally consider 5 that are so iconic that they should never be remade. These are my 5 choices:
Citizen Kane
From Encyclopedia Britannica:
"Citizen Kane is acclaimed by many critics as the greatest movie ever made. As a landmark work in the history of cinema, it ranks among the few films ever produced for which a remake, in the opinion of most critics, is all but unthinkable.
Welles was only 25 years old when he produced the film, and the movie’s groundbreaking techniques under his direction—primarily the innovative lighting and focusing methods of cinematographer Gregg Toland and the dramatic editing style of Robert Wise —continue to influence filmmakers today."
IMO Welles was a genius, and whatever he produced was special.
Casablanca
This does happen to be my favourite movie, but it is also one that has been chosen by many to be so perfect that it should never be remade. To me, the repartee between Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains) was incomparable, and the movie reeks with phrases that are still quoted today. Many of the actors with speaking parts are actually refugees from Europe, and as this movie was filmed during WW2 a lot of the emotion was genuine - for example, when Yvonne's (Madeleine Lebeau's) face was full frame while she was singing The Marseillaise the tears on her face were genuine.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Although it isn't my favourite SciFi film, it is reputed to be the best of its genre ever made.
From Sccopwhoop:
"Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey was the most realistic description of space travel up until Inception came and shattered a few myths. He blended the pacing, the music, and the visuals very skilfully and gifted us with a movie that quintessentially stands out as the best sci-fi film the world has ever seen. It's a shame that Kubrick is no longer with us but this is one film that deserves to remain untainted by modern Hollywood."
The Princess Bride
From Screenrant:
"Any director willing to try and recreate one of the greatest cinematic love stories ever told would be attempting a feat more daring than entering the fire-swamp (we'd give them full marks for bravery, but we'd consider them fools). The surprising phenomenon The Princess Bride took the world by storm thanks to the movie's perfect blend of action, comedy, romance, thriller, and drama.
The film could be considered a tad corny, but that's exactly part of its appeal and one of the biggest mistakes a filmmaker could make is potentially trying to redo this movie with a more serious tone. As we wish, just leave this film alone."
The Godfather
From TheCinemaholic
"A book that caused a sensation and the film, considered today as arguably the greatest film ever made, ‘The Godfather’ revolutionized the mob-war genre and took the film industry by a storm. Detouring from its quotidian predecessors, the film tried to translate the point of view of the mobster’s conflict and dilemma protecting the ones they love to the audience. Based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name, the film didn’t glorify bad guys, but it glorified what the bad guys would do to protect their families........He took the audience into the mob's home, acquainted us with their secret family recipes and made us a part of christening their new-born, we saw something we had never seen before. The essence of the mobster genre changed forever and the legacy of the film lives on today."
Now, what are YOUR 5 choices, and WHY?
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The posting of the article on remakes made me think of this, and I commented on that article that I intended to do this one, so here's looking at you, kids.
You should post an article on sequels which are better than the original. I would imagine such sequels are a little less rare than better remakes.
The Empire Strikes Back. Episode IV was good, but Empire blew it out of the water.
So true. As did Star Trek II: TWoK, Terminator 2, Toy story 2, ect..
Agree on TWoK and Terminator. I wasn't as crazy about Toy Story 2 as the first one. Toy Story 3, though - Disney has got to stop making me cry with movies like that and Up.
What about Toy Story 4?
Too many sequels have been and are being made - it would take me too long to try to create such an article. At this time I'm busy trying to prepare my next movie quiz - the one limited to horror movies, due to the approaching Hallowe'en.
Oh, wait, I'm mixing up my sequels. It was Toy Story 4 that made me cry my eyes out.
To be fair, Toy Story is one of those rare franchises that keeps knocking it out of the park with each film.
Good one Buzz. Yes, once we get close to perfection, we don't like imitations.
Here is my list:
1) Goodfellas (1990)
This was a story that takes place at a time when the infamous five Mafia families ruled NYC. What makes this film memorable is that it tells the tale of a young man's rise and fall. Something most of us can relate to. It was a one of a kind that in a way was a thing of beauty.
2) The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The story of a generation. The one that survived the Great Depression and fought the Second World War. If you were lucky enough to have known them, this movie personifies them.
3) Marty (1954)
Who could not feel sympathy for Marty? The story of a lonely guy from the Bronx who finds....(I don't want to tell the ending.)
4) Gladiator (2000)
Possibly the best action movie ever. It has just enough story line to tell the tale of a turning point in the long history of ancient Rome.
5) The Searchers (1956)
The best western ever made? A complex story, very relevant to the times we live in. That year long journey to find a niece/sister can never be forgotten. Another feather in the cap of director John Ford.
You are right Buzz, there are many.
A great movie for sure, but IMHO Saving Private Ryan is better when it comes to action...
That one too!
Thank you Vic for fulfilling what I had requested, the reasons FOR your choices. And as expected, it's all a matter of personal taste.
I agree with some of the ones already named, particularly Casablanca and The Best Years Of Our Lives
I would add Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, Animal House, and The Deerhunter.
There are so many that should not be remade, but as everybody is different everybody would have their own lists and reasons why. And you're right Buzz, there are so many that make the list. My five (yeah, I know, I put in six movies... sue me) are :
1) Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein
With today's PC culture any attempted remake of the above would lose so much of the comedy that made those two movies work.
2) The Birds
Alfred Hitchcock suspense at it's best. Never explains why the birds start to attack or why it all ends, but the terror lives on.
3) Breakfast Club
Possibly the best brat pack film, how the actors define their characters and mix together to create the story is so seldom repeatable it's best not to even try.
4) Jaws
This comes up on many lists of greatest films ever and well deserves it's status. The story and the suspense makes the movie a classic and would not be recaptured in a remake.
5) To Kill a Mockingbird
The store is a masterpiece and does not need to be touched. The film also has lessons and morals that still apply today but due to the PC culture would be impacted and I believe lose the depth of the lesson.
Ah yes, Snuffy, my movie quiz champion. "Ours not to reason why, ours but to do or die."
Just leave those 2 alone
1) Same Time Next Year (1978)
2) Silkwood (1983)
3) Forbidden Planet (1956)
4) Jaws (1978)
5) The Deer Hunter (1978)
Going to add one..
6) Raging Bull (1980)
There are lots of movies which should not be remade. I'll offer 5 from the 1980's:
Honorable mentions to:
I almost forgot another classic, Robocop.
One I didn't realize had a remake was Philadelphia Story. I loved that movie. Then I saw a remake was made called high society.
No where near as good.
Remakes are rarely as good as the original.
Absolutely correct, and also rarely but sometimes better.
At the moment, I cannot think of any remakes that are at least as good, if not better than the original.
There are some remakes that are good. As I commented in Perrie's Remake article, I thought that the BBC Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth was better than the previous and subsequent ones. I agree that Clooney's Oceans 11 was probably better than the original notwithstanding the original's iconic actors. Some people think that George C. Scott's A Christmas Carol is better than the original Alastair Sim one, and it is pretty good in a number of ways but IMO still does not eclipse the original .
I remember reading a rumor that The Princess Bride was going to be remade. I think the plan was abandoned, thank goodness. I can't imagine anyone could improve on that one.
It WAS done, but it was for fun and charity. You have to read this story in VARIETY.
The Princess Bride Remake
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I see. At the time, I thought that there was a serious plan by a major studio to remake it. I was prepared to have a sit-in at home with Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin.
There was, in fact there might still be, but I think that even the concept is causing a revolution.
One movie that could never be remade,
Arsenic and Old Lace.
I loved that movie.
"Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops."
Also, I'm not sure any actor today could play Cary Grant's part anywhere near as well as he did, nor look as good doing it.
2nd...
Rocky Horror Picture Show.