by Dan Hiland

Created on: June 02, 2009

John Huston once said, "Don't remake good movies. Remake bad ones!"

Words to live by.

And while I agree with the legendary director, it would be well to ask why remakes are done in the first place.

Is it because of vanity- the idea that I can do it better?

Is it due to the ignorance of a new generation- wanting something in color because black and white aren't pretty enough?

Is a film too old-fashioned (no longer politically correct) - and as such must undergo the ultimate act of censorship: total replacement by a new "product?"

In some cases, remakes are justified. Consider, for instance, a film made for TV or the theater, where production values are so sub par that the work and the public cry out for something better. The first vs. second versions of the Narnia series come to mind.

The problem with remakes, though, is that they allow film companies to take the easy way out. The story is already written, so all one has to do is tweak the script a little, pour in the money, add a few actors, then stir- and you have Instant Movie!

And the more remakes Hollywood cranks out, the more of an excuse the studio powers-that-be have for remaking yet something else- without considering that the original will never be topped, its quality of such a high caliber that any subsequent remakes will pale by comparison.

Call it a once-in-lifetime convergence of director, producer, actors, script, or what have you. Regardless of the forces involved, the product is so well-conceived and produced that it will stand the test of time.

Ultimately, the decision lies in what one wants: an inferior version vs. a different version- the latter telling the world it is not trying to improve on the original or replace it, instead offering a variation on that original.

One example of this would be the Batman franchise. The version with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson is classic, but so is the newer Christian Bale offering. They are two different films. Sure, a lot of the characters are the same, but the similarities end there. And that's okay.

On the other hand, some movies are so distinct, so iconic, that they defy attempts at imitation. Consider the following list:

The Maltese Falcon

Citizen Kane

The African Queen

Vertigo

Strangers On A Train

The Wizard of Oz

The Music Man

Dr. Strangelove

West Side Story

The Sound of Music

The Caine Mutiny

South Pacific

Casablanca

Who in their right mind would attempt to remake any of these films and expect the audience to take

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>