Warner Bros. has two "Wizard of Oz" remakes in development. Universal has the Oz-inspired "Wicked." And now Disney has an Oz movie too -- from the producer of "Alice in Wonderland," no less.Joe Roth, the studio-executive-turned-producer, is developing a movie called "Brick" that delves into how the Wizard of Oz came to sit behind the curtain (like Dorothy, he's apparently from Kansas). Mitchell Kapner, the writer on the mob comedy "The Whole Nine Yards," has written a draft of a screenplay, basing it on pieces from several other L. Frank Baum "Oz" books as well as his original ideas.
I've read most of Frank Baum "Oz" books (aloud years ago to my oldest son) and from what I can remember, there's plenty of material to adapt.
But this whole thing has got me thinking: If I had a billion dollars and could pay studios not to remake classic movies, which ones would I include in that protected list?
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Apartment
The Shawshank Redemption
Casablanca
The Godfather, Parts 1 and 2
Taxi Driver
Dr. Strangelove
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That's off the top of my head. I'm basically trying to think of movies I consider to be 'perfect' films. I mean, how can you top 'perfection'?
If you could 'protect' a list of films from being the subject of a remake -- remember what happened to poor, poor Psycho -- what movies would you choose?
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13 comments:
Not that I'm for remaking everything, but I don't think re-making a film is necessarily because the original needs an "improvement". I think re-makes could potentially shed a different light on the same topic/idea/characters, if they're well-done. I think Alice in Wonderland, for example, could be re-made by fifteen different filmmakers and you'd end up with fifteen completely different films.
To Kill A Mockingbird was a good film, but it was still adapted from the novel, and I'd love to see another take on the novel- The film I envisioned as I was reading it was completely different than the classic film.
That said, if the people re-making or adapting aren't good enough, or don't understand or respect the original material... well, there are plenty of examples of how wrong re-makes can go.
The Breakfast Club
I would, however, pay studios/filmmakers to NOT make Catcher in the Rye. That novel does NOT ever need to be a film.
i would like to see someone handle the Oz books in a faithful manner without having to add some slick spin to it. that's a version that hasn't happened.
as for Psycho, that wasn't a remake, it was a refilm. hopefully neither will ever happen/again
as for things I would say don't even think about it. I would agree with the original list. Add it to Harry Potter and Twilight. not cause they are perfect but because the current movies are plenty and the hate to a remake would probably make the Internet explode. anything John Hughes, especially a Home Alone reboot.
and I disagree about Catcher in the Rye. I am not opposed to a film version. Just so long as the right people are doing it. Someone that will be faithful to the book could do a very nice job.
I haven't seen the remake of Twelve Angry Men, but that certainly didn't need a remake.
Being There
The Searchers (anything with the Duke in it, good or bad; good luck with Rooster Cogburn...)
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Marathon Man
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Amadeus
American Graffiti
@Darren. They made it here in India. It was called 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisala' (A verdict in waiting).
I'd put 'The Sound of Music' on that list too.
Ugh. If they want to make an OZ film... do the orginial story.
I also wish Hollywood would stop remaking perfectly good foreign films.. [Rec] for example
@Nikhil--Lots of Bollywood remakes are more fun than the Hollywood originals--I'm thinking particularly of Chachi 420/Mrs. Doubtfire and Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai/My Best Friend's Wedding.
You all know I agree with Violet, but I think what is interesting about you list, Scott, is not that the films are perfect, but they all have a distinctive imprint of an auteur director or an iconic actor/actors.
I'm trying to even remember, if i have seen a remake that held up to the original, and i'm truly at a lose on that one.
Star Wars, The Big Chill and Central Station
West Side Story, Annie Hall, Hannah and her Sisters, All About Eve, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, Caddyshack
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