Remaking old movies

After seeing the previews for the remake of "True Grit", I have to ask the question, Has Hollywood run out of ideas for new entertainment? Not that the movie couldn't be an improvement over the original with John Wayne and Glen Campbell. I don't think I'll ever go to a theater to see a remake if I've seen the orginal. When Steve Martin redid the Pink Panther, I felt offended. I haven't seen it, and I don't think there's any way he could have done a better job than Peter Sellers. My biggest fear is that Hollywood will try to remake a classic like Dr. Strangelove or Blazing Saddles.

most of the movies out are remakes, based on novels, comic books movies of from tv shows or get this.......
board games

I think that Hollywood basically has run of of ideas

I know they are doing a Lone Ranger movie and they have retold the story of Gullivers Travels with Jack Black as Gulliver

Also I saw a trailer for Red Riding Hood, based on the book but more scary lol

Don't forget "The Green Hornet" next month too. Watching the original "True Grit" right now on TCM.

And a "Blazing Saddles" or "Young Frankenstein" remake may not be too far off. Mel Brooks re-did "The Producers" as a Broadway play and then as a movie, and "Young Frankenstein" was written as a Broadway play as well. And then there's "Spam-a-lot", based on "Monty Python and the Holy Grail".

The last movie I saw in a theater that was an original idea (not a remake or based on a book, novel, story or newspaper) was "National Treasure" - of course, I don't see many movies in the theater.

They have not had an original idea in years, hell remember I am legend with Will Smith, that was the 3rd remake, the original was called I am legend, the second version was Omega Man with Charlston Heston and then the last one. I go because my wife makes me take her on Sundays but I have not enjoyed a movie for real in a long time.

"Has Hollywood run out of ideas for new entertainment?"

Ran out of entertainment? No. They can sell you plenty of that (now including vibrating seats, 3D glasses, and Happy Meal product tie-ins, too).

Ran out of good films? Yes. They ran out a long time ago.

How to make a movie in Hollywood: My top 10 countdown <drumroll>

1) Special effects. Make shit get all blowed up n' shit.
2) Terrorism. Insert some patriotic sub-plot or at least bring 9/11 into the story arc.
3) Huge stars. "Call central casting. Get a meeting with Cameron Diaz' people."
4) 3D. It looks like its coming right at ya™
5) Remake an old movie.
6) Remake an old TV show. Brady Bunch, SWAT, Starksy & Hutch, Scooby Doo, Charlie's Angels, The A-Team, Get Smart, Dukes of Hazzard, Dragnet, ad nauseam .
7) Remake a remake. Fuck it, producers have mortgages to pay too, ya know.
8) Make a movie based a video game.
9) Make a video game based on a movie. Then place the game back into in a movie. Gold mine right there I tell ya.
10) Sparkly vampires, anyone?







Wait, I just re-read the question. I just noticed that you never said they had to be good ideas. So I would like to change both answers to 'No'.

Some people might think Avatar was original, but the overall plot seemed very familiar. It reminded me a little bit of Dances With Wolves, and about a dozen other movies. However, even if it wasn't a totally original plot, the visuals were unique and stunning, and the movie was great entertainment.

LOL, that is exactly what I said about halfway through Avatar: "All this is is Dances with Wolves with aliens instead of Sioux." Cool special effects with a re-hashed plot.

The last movie I really enjoyed at the theater was The Hangover, and that's just because I think Galifianakis is hilarious. Before that it was probably The Sixth Sense, which wasn't altogether original but was certainly clever and well done.

RED wasn't bad. Although John Malkovich was a much better actor than Bruce was.

As for a remake of Blazing Saddles, I don't see how they could do it these days. Trying to be politically correct would make the movie about two minutes long.

My 2 cents - the latests release of True Grit is truer to Portis' book. With all respect to the Duke, it is much better

LOL, that is exactly what I said about halfway through Avatar: "All this is is Dances with Wolves with aliens instead of Sioux." . Originally Posted by BigWayne

Funny, I've said 'All this is is Pocahontas with aliens instead of Indians'

They just keep re-hashing the same stuff.

Atlas Shrugged is coming.

I am terrified and excited if that is true JG. One of my top 5 favorite books, and while I would love to see it I cannot imagine who would be appropriate to cast.

Thier also remaking Red Dawn

Sorry, but I love the older movies....classics if I may say like Bringing Up Baby, Little Women, any movie with Cary Grant in it, any movie that Hitchcock did (Rope is excellent) and yes, even the "musicals."

Very few movies made from books nowadays are true to the books, which is sad. I end up being disappointed many times because of it. The remakes are no better. Its like letting John Tesh do a remake of a Led Zep or Hendrix song.