Remakes that are better than original | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Remakes that are better than original

nelsonmuntz

Point Center
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
43,953
Reaction Score
32,128
Here is a controversial one: Arthur

I really hate Liza Minelli. I think she is a terrible actress that mugs for the camera, and I think she is hideously ugly, which matters in this movie. Her character was really unlikable and kind of nasty and self-centered. So why is it believable that the heir to a fortune would give it all up for her, which is the central point to the whole plot. The Susan character in the original is actually very sympathetic, and seems like a victim to Minelli's gold-digging and Arthur's general recklessness. It actually isn't clear at all why he leaves Susan, other than he just happens to like Minelli better, which makes Arthur seem like a real jerk.

Another issue with the original is that Dudley Moore is way too old. He was 45 during filming. I think the character is a bad 70's sketch comedy portrayal of a drunk guy, and there is no depth or self-realization of what a loser he is. I can't believe he got nominated for an Oscar for that train wreck of a performance.

Finally, John Gielgud is just a jerk in the movie. His dripping sarcasm could be perceived as annoyance not just with the character, but with the whole stupid movie.

I won't get into the sequel too much. I thought it was an adequate, amusing movie. My issue is more with the original, which I think is one of the more overrated movies of all time.
 

meyers7

You Talkin’ To Me?
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
23,194
Reaction Score
59,511
My kids have recently gotten into "The Parent Trap" movies and I gotta say the Lindsay Lohan version is so much better.
I still liked the original better. But yes the remake was pretty cute.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
5,286
Reaction Score
9,284
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
A Fistful of Dollars
 

nelsonmuntz

Point Center
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
43,953
Reaction Score
32,128
Both Red Dragons were awesome, but I like the second one a little more mostly because of the first 5 minutes. When the cellist misses the note, Hopkins wince was subtle but so freaking awesome.
 

nelsonmuntz

Point Center
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
43,953
Reaction Score
32,128
Count of Monte Cristo - I was never a big Richard Chamberlain fan, and thought he chewed the scenery in the original. This story is so good it is almost impossible to screw up.
 
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
10,823
Reaction Score
28,247
Here is a controversial one: Arthur

I really hate Liza Minelli. I think she is a terrible actress that mugs for the camera, and I think she is hideously ugly, which matters in this movie. Her character was really unlikable and kind of nasty and self-centered. So why is it believable that the heir to a fortune would give it all up for her, which is the central point to the whole plot. The Susan character in the original is actually very sympathetic, and seems like a victim to Minelli's gold-digging and Arthur's general recklessness. It actually isn't clear at all why he leaves Susan, other than he just happens to like Minelli better, which makes Arthur seem like a real jerk.

Another issue with the original is that Dudley Moore is way too old. He was 45 during filming. I think the character is a bad 70's sketch comedy portrayal of a drunk guy, and there is no depth or self-realization of what a loser he is. I can't believe he got nominated for an Oscar for that train wreck of a performance.

Finally, John Gielgud is just a jerk in the movie. His dripping sarcasm could be perceived as annoyance not just with the character, but with the whole stupid movie.

I won't get into the sequel too much. I thought it was an adequate, amusing movie. My issue is more with the original, which I think is one of the more overrated movies of all time.

I don't know that I've ever met anyone who's seen both versions of "Arthur".
 

August_West

Universal remote, put it down on docking station.
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
51,027
Reaction Score
87,244
Both Red Dragons were awesome, but I like the second one a little more mostly because of the first 5 minutes. When the cellist misses the note, Hopkins wince was subtle but so freaking awesome.


Avatar/Post
 

IMind

Wildly Inaccurate
Joined
Aug 29, 2011
Messages
1,871
Reaction Score
2,636
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
A Fistful of Dollars

The 1970s Invasion of the Body Snatchers was decidedly creepy. I haven't seen it for years, but it's probably worth a re-watch.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
1,919
Reaction Score
2,723
The 1970s Invasion of the Body Snatchers was decidedly creepy. I haven't seen it for years, but it's probably worth a re-watch.

306529.jpg
 
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
894
Reaction Score
1,808
to me, the two The Thing are wildly different movies - both good, but not sure I can compare them.

I was thinking the same thing, the Hawks version and the Carpenter version are almost two different stories. I haven't read the short story the movie's were based on, but my understanding is that the Carpenter version comes closer to capturing the shape-shifting aspect of the alien and the paranoia among the researchers from the story. Still, like you said, both are good on their own merits.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
26,115
Reaction Score
31,392
True Grit

3:10 to Yuma

Wasn't the second True Grit really just another swing at an adaptation of the book? I don't consider it to be a true remake.
 
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
17,537
Reaction Score
36,440
Wasn't the second True Grit really just another swing at an adaptation of the book? I don't consider it to be a true remake.

I would agree with that. The first one was more focused on the John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn while serving to diminish the girl, and in the Coen Brothers remake, the opposite is true.
 

CL82

2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Champions
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
56,511
Reaction Score
206,265
Yes Hailee Steinfeld was very, very good. Got a Oscar nomination for it. She also got a Golden Globe nomination this year for Edge of 17, another good performance.
So I just realized that this is the same kid who sings this song:
Pretty talented kid.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
894
Reaction Score
1,808
This isn't a fair comparison, but the Peter Jackson version of Fellowship of the Ring and Two Towers blow away Ralph Bakshi's LOTR.
 

Waquoit

Mr. Positive
Joined
Aug 24, 2011
Messages
32,177
Reaction Score
82,185
And yes, Glen Campbell was better than Matt Damon too.

Yeah, no. Campbell's performance might have been the worst acting in a major motion picture I've ever seen.
 

Bliss

Mizzou Ballyhoo
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Messages
627
Reaction Score
936
Both Red Dragons were awesome, but I like the second one a little more mostly because of the first 5 minutes. When the cellist misses the note, Hopkins wince was subtle but so freaking awesome.

The second movie was more true to the book's ending.
 
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
4,085
Reaction Score
2,046
King Kong
The Thing
Agree with True Grit and War of the Worlds calls above
Batman
Cape Fear
 

HuskyHawk

The triumphant return of the Blues Brothers.
Joined
Sep 12, 2011
Messages
31,859
Reaction Score
81,475
Dunno. I loved Goldie back in the day. Let's see how Kate holds up.

Agree. Goldie beats Kate at the same ages. Kate's eyes are too far apart.

I think it's easy for people to forget what certain celebs once looked like. Teri Garr in Young Frankenstein for example.
 

Online statistics

Members online
525
Guests online
3,311
Total visitors
3,836

Forum statistics

Threads
155,762
Messages
4,030,755
Members
9,864
Latest member
leepaul


Top Bottom