Friday, May 17, 2013

Best and Worst Movie Remake Blogfest


To celebrate Friday I thought it would be a great time to let loose so today I'm participating in the Best and Worst Movie Blogfest which is hosted by Alex J. CavanaughStephen TrempFather Dragon Al, and Livia Peterson.

Everyone knows sometimes Hollywood can run out of ideas turn to some classic movies and re-tune and re-vamp them to bring to a modern audience. Some of these movies can be absolutely brilliant (due to a new director's perspective or new technology that wasn't available in the original's day) but some, well actually a lot, can be dismal failures. Here are some of my best and worst remakes:


The Best:

Star Trek


I chose Star Trek for the best remake because I could not (and still can't) stand the original Star Trek. I actually could not stand a lot of sci-fi before a friend dragged me along to the midnight screening of Star Wars... see Wars, not Trek.

I didn't think I'd like the new Star Trek movie but I risked giving it a go just because Zachary Quinton was in it and I was not sorry. I actually enjoyed it. It's a movie that I can actually watch repeatedly and I'm looking forward to seeing Star Trek into darkness.



The Worst:

The Ring


Anyone that knows me knows that there are two things I absolutely love: 1. anything from Japan and 2. anything that is horror, but the one thing I can't stand is for American directors to take those two things (Japanese horror movies) and ruin a perfectly wonderful story. The Ring is one of those movies. I have to admit I first saw the American version of the Ring before watching the Japanese version (I've even read the novel version... now that is definitely different) and even then I knew I hated it. Now having seen Ring 1, 2, Birthday and Sadako (all Japanese), I really love Sadako (that's the Japanese name for Samara) and I just pray that America will leave this series alone and not crucify it any more with any other remakes.

If you don't believe me that Japan knows how to do horror movies right, just check out what they do for promotion.




What is your best or worst remake?

13 comments:

Heather R. Holden said...

My friends once dragged me to see the sequel to the Americanized Ring, despite the fact that I never saw the first one. Um, yeah, did not enjoy it. I don't doubt it when you say the original series from Japan is better!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I almost picked Star Trek too. I'm going to see the next one tomorrow.

Jay Noel said...

Great job! You came up with two movies I didn't think about. The original Star Trek was such a snoozer. But then again, I was pretty young. I just remember it being so out there...and weird.

nutschell said...

i love the new Star Trek versions. :)
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Kate Larkindale said...

Those US remakes of Japanese horrors never work that well. There's something about Japanese culture that lends itself well to horror.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I just saw the latest Star Trek - I bet you will add that one to your list of favorites!
Thanks for participating in our blogfest.

Stephen Tremp said...

Nope. Someone will come along and ruin anything good by trying to fix what isn't broke. Far too many made remakes running amok and living among us.

Thanks for stopping by and saying hello!

Mark Means said...

I'm going to agree with Star Trek because all the other movies they've given us have been hit or miss. I hope J.J. Abrams can give us some solid and consistent stories :)

Al Diaz said...

I so much enjoyed Star Trek. I am dying to watch Into the Darkness. Thanks for participating!

Maurice Mitchell said...

Now that is dedication! Hollywood could learn a thing or two about promoting films.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Star Trek was really good and I'd like to see the sequel too. Japan does wonderful horror but I still enjoyed the American version of The Ring. A terrible horror movie for me was the 2006 remake of The Omen. Glad I checked out your blog and I have an e-galley of Shadow Embraced.

Anonymous said...

I'm a big fan of the new STAR TREK reboot. They did a great job capturing the essence of each of the original actors.

Trisha said...

I thought the American Ring was really scary, namely the bit with the well and Samara and the TV. And yet I haven't seen the Japanese version. I did read the book recently and I agree, it's dramatically different. From the American film at least. :) I was also enamoured with Suzuki's incredible imagination!

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