Favorite Remakes or Originals

[Son of a Preacher Man]

The original is never surpassed by the remake.  However, sometimes there are elements in the remake that I enjoy more than the original.  Sabrina [/i] was mentioned so let's use it for an example.  I love the original best--I mean, c'mon--Audrey Hepburn[/i][/u]!!!!!!!  But, Bogart was forced into making it... and it shows.  I didn't think Holden did a good job in it either.  Harrison Ford and Greg Kinear out-acted them in the respective roles.  

But, the first one was still the best.

I think there are so many good and original stories out there that I'll never understand why Hollywood keeps opting for remakes.

[marc]

Frequently I watch remakes and simply ask "why?"  Psycho is a good example of this.  What did it add to the story?  Color?  Color was around when Hitchcock made the original, but he not only chose not to use it, but used black-and-white effectively, at times even to add symbolism to the movie.  Unless a filmmaker is working with a time-tested piece of literature (such as Shakespeare or, say, Moby Dick, which begs a new cinematic retelling) or re-making a movie that is inaccesible to most (a foreign-language film, for instance) I see no reason to remake a film, and believe it is usually done simply because studios are afraid to take chances.

[duckman]

I always liked "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty.  Nothing sounds as appealing as a "liver and whey shake".  

It was a remake of "Here Comes Mr. Jordon".

Duckman

[admin]

It's definitely not the "Bishop's Wife" remake. I am trying to think of remakes I like.

[dgdodd]

[!--QuoteBegin--][/span][table border=\"0\" align=\"center\" width=\"95%\" cellpadding=\"3\" cellspacing=\"1\"][tr][td]Quote (Jim Abb @ Feb. 17 2003,06:47)[/td][/tr][tr][td id=\"QUOTE\"][!--QuoteEBegin--]And my favourite version of a Christmas Carol was the one starring George C. Scott....was that like the 30th remake?? lol![/quote]
My favorite remake of A Christmas Carol was Scrooged with Bill Murry.  I truly enjoy watching Bill Murry experience the 3 ghosts of Christmas.  It is a HOOT!   :clap:

Did anyone see the Music Man remake with Matthew Broderick, last night?  I didn't like it as well as the original.  It didn't seem to have as much energy.  Just my opinion.

[dgdodd]

I just finished watching "The Shop Around the Corner" with Jimmy Stewart.  I liked it better than it's remake "You've Got Mail" with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  I generally like the older movies anyway.  Another original I really like is "Sabrina."  I think it it much better than the remake with Harrison Ford.

Any thoughts?

Generally I think I tend to like originals better than remakes.
Not always ... I am a fan of both the orig. and newer versions of The Parent Trap. If I had to pick which is better, I guess I'd go with the newer one because overall I think Lindsay Lohan is better cast as the twins than Hayley Mills was in the original.

Lolita is another one ... original's good; so's the newer version. But in that case if I had to choose, I'd go with the original because Shirley Winters and James Mason get points over Melanie Griffith and Jeremy Irons. But I think Dominique Swain is better in the 90s version than Sue Lyons was in the 60s version.

[Barb1957]

Marc, I agree ... first Psycho is definitely better than the remake! I didn't think of that one earlier, glad you brought it up. I didn't think the remake was bad, just not near as good as the original. Same with Cape Fear -- remake not bad, but I prefer the original.

[marc]

I liked "Heaven Can Wait", but I've never seen the original.

Re-reading my post just now, I would like to disavow any link betweeen the first line and the last.  While the fear of risk-taking is usually the motivation behind green-lighting remakes, the Psycho remake itself was a bit of a risk because of the way it was handled.  I still see no reason for it being made, but will admit it did involve risk-taking.

[seekr]

My favorite remake was "Meet Joe Black" with Brad Pitt. The original, was "Death takes a Holiday", and was black and white. It is one I rerent every so often. I guess I'll have to search for it at the pawn shops where I get most of my movies, really cheap.

Maurine

[Jim Abb]

I liked the original Sabrina, but actually liked the remake better. I agree that Ford and Kinnear were the difference. I love Bogie, but the role just didn't seem to fit him well.

I also agree that Heaven Can Wait was better than the first. There was a third one made recently, Down to Earth, that I didn't think that was good at all.

Another good remake was the Wuthering Heights starring Ralph Feinnes. Much better than earlier versions, I thought. I'm pretty sure that was a made for TV version, and not a theatrical release.

And my favourite version of a Christmas Carol was the one starring George C. Scott....was that like the 30th remake?? lol!

[dgdodd]

I saw a really good movie last night!  It is one that has been remade, but I thought the remake was the original.  Angels In The  Outfield was originally made in 1951.  It featured the Pittsburgh Pirates.  While the Disney produced Angels In The Outfield is great, I tend to like the old black and whites better.   :thumbup:   It was truly delightful!  I think I will try to find it on VHS or DVD.