Great ideas, bad execution: bad movies that should be remade
#1
Great ideas, bad execution: bad movies that should be remade
Usually we get remakes of great movies that turn out to be bad remakes.
But I always think about the movie that held such high promise. The movie that started off well, but turned into a cluster f* by studio dickery, or they rewrote the script to punch it up for some big name the producer wanted attached to the project, or they just got saddled with a poor director who couldn't direct an episode of the Surreal Life.
My choices for bad movies I want to see remade into great movies are:
A Sound of Thunder
This movie could have been good...seriously good. Great even. You should be fired as a director and barred from making any more movies if you cannot handle a Ray Bradbury story and make the movie great.
I, Robot
For the same reason as above...great story, lousy execution. And the worst of all is that the material was laid out for a fantastic movie version of this back in the 70's. All somebody had to do was tweak it a little to bring it into the 21st century. But they totally changed it and turned it into a 90 minute Nike commercial.
The original script was written in the late 70s by Harlan Ellison. http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Illustra...7499519&sr=1-4
Why they had to go and screw that up is beyond me. Somebody needs to go back and work from Ellison's treatment and be more true to the story.
Supergirl
Some may maintain that a Supergirl movie was never a good idea, but I honestly believe in the hands of the right director it could kick serious butt. Put Quentin Terantino on the job, or perhaps Robert Rodriguez, and cast Rose McGowan as Kara/Supergirl and just make it a bad ass action movie and you'd have something worth talking about.
Swamp Thing
I know this movie has its fans but they could really delve more into the material Alan Moore gave us with this character. Even making a movie based on the work of Stephen Bissette and Rick Veitch would be preferable to this tale of a man in a rubber suit in a bad b-movie that is barely above Sci-Fi channel standards. There just is no reason this couldn't be made today and be a powerful movie in the hands of the right creative team.
But I always think about the movie that held such high promise. The movie that started off well, but turned into a cluster f* by studio dickery, or they rewrote the script to punch it up for some big name the producer wanted attached to the project, or they just got saddled with a poor director who couldn't direct an episode of the Surreal Life.
My choices for bad movies I want to see remade into great movies are:
A Sound of Thunder
This movie could have been good...seriously good. Great even. You should be fired as a director and barred from making any more movies if you cannot handle a Ray Bradbury story and make the movie great.
I, Robot
For the same reason as above...great story, lousy execution. And the worst of all is that the material was laid out for a fantastic movie version of this back in the 70's. All somebody had to do was tweak it a little to bring it into the 21st century. But they totally changed it and turned it into a 90 minute Nike commercial.
The original script was written in the late 70s by Harlan Ellison. http://www.amazon.com/Robot-Illustra...7499519&sr=1-4
Why they had to go and screw that up is beyond me. Somebody needs to go back and work from Ellison's treatment and be more true to the story.
Supergirl
Some may maintain that a Supergirl movie was never a good idea, but I honestly believe in the hands of the right director it could kick serious butt. Put Quentin Terantino on the job, or perhaps Robert Rodriguez, and cast Rose McGowan as Kara/Supergirl and just make it a bad ass action movie and you'd have something worth talking about.
Swamp Thing
I know this movie has its fans but they could really delve more into the material Alan Moore gave us with this character. Even making a movie based on the work of Stephen Bissette and Rick Veitch would be preferable to this tale of a man in a rubber suit in a bad b-movie that is barely above Sci-Fi channel standards. There just is no reason this couldn't be made today and be a powerful movie in the hands of the right creative team.
#6
Moderator
Originally Posted by riotinmyskull
there is no need to remake any movie ever. period.
#8
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Men in Black
I, Robot
Starsky and Hutch
Evolution (this movie does have some good scenes/jokes but not nearly enough)
Star Trek: Nemesis
The 6th Day
xXx
Van Helsing
Bicentennial Man
Ghost Rider
Death of A President
Underworld
Stephen Kings Desperation
I, Robot
Starsky and Hutch
Evolution (this movie does have some good scenes/jokes but not nearly enough)
Star Trek: Nemesis
The 6th Day
xXx
Van Helsing
Bicentennial Man
Ghost Rider
Death of A President
Underworld
Stephen Kings Desperation
Last edited by chris_sc77; 04-06-08 at 02:29 PM.
#9
Originally Posted by riotinmyskull
there is no need to remake any movie ever. period.
It disappoints me when something that I looked forward to comes out (like A Sound of Thunder) and it turns out to suck balls. Not only did it not live up to its potential, but now that property won't be touched again for a long time because it had its chance and failed. I maintain it's not the property that's the failure, it's the handling of the property and the end result.
At least they didn't give up on the Hulk. The Incredible Hulk looks far more promising. So by remake I don't mean they should take the same script and try it again.
Last edited by calhoun07; 04-06-08 at 03:11 PM.
#10
DVD Talk Hero
Will Smith seems to be taking a beating in this thread (I like I, Robot, BTW).
I'll add:
30 Days of Night - Great concept but very poor execution.
I'll add:
30 Days of Night - Great concept but very poor execution.
#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by wm lopez
Stayin' Alive
Smokey & The Bandit 3
Superman 4
Jaws 3-d
Smokey & The Bandit 3
Superman 4
Jaws 3-d
#15
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Originally Posted by FinkPish
Can you point out what good ideas these movies contained that was just executed poorly?
Perhaps Soderbergh or Scorsese could direct the remake, with Tom Stoppard writing the script (plus polishes by Charlie Kaufman and Neil Labute). Clint Eastwood could be Hoagie.
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Seeing one of his movies listed above, I'll add that just about every Stephen King movie should be remade. There were some good ones, but most of them have been terrible.
#17
.. just about every Stephen King movie should be remade.
I'll add Johnny Mnemonic to the list. Gibson's vision deserves so much better.
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
One that always comes to mind is Westworld. I love the movie and I love the story but I think it could have been executed better. In my opinion that story has a lot of potential.
#19
Originally Posted by visitor Q
Including the most recent one. So disappointing.
I'll add Johnny Mnemonic to the list. Gibson's vision deserves so much better.
I'll add Johnny Mnemonic to the list. Gibson's vision deserves so much better.
#20
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Originally Posted by chris_sc77
Bicentennial Man
There were some great ideas in this movie and alot of things that really could have been explored better than they were.
Artificial beings gaining rights/recognition as artificial beings. What happens when the line between human/artificial being is blurred, but not presented in that "robots are trying to take over" cliche.
#21
Pearl Harbor- Sure it is a historical movie, but Michael Bay did such a shitty job with this movie as he tried to copy Titanic with the love story, and the movie came out like crap. This could have been a great movie, as Michael Bay should stick to popcorn movies, not historical movies.
Star Wars Prequels- I am not going to go into it for the 10,000 time why they are bad, but the story was there, the setup was there with 4,5,6, but Lucas totally executed the love story, young Anakin, and the turn scene so bad, these movies are average at best.
Star Wars Prequels- I am not going to go into it for the 10,000 time why they are bad, but the story was there, the setup was there with 4,5,6, but Lucas totally executed the love story, young Anakin, and the turn scene so bad, these movies are average at best.
#22
DVD Talk Godfather
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KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.
#25
DVD Talk Hero
I just saw it for the first time on FX not too long ago, but Urban Legend seems to fit.
It's a decent premise for a slasher flick, but the execution was hilariously bad. I guess this goes for a lot of modern slasher flicks, though.
It's a decent premise for a slasher flick, but the execution was hilariously bad. I guess this goes for a lot of modern slasher flicks, though.