Five Movie Re-Make’s Better Than The Original

The Nostalgia Critic was talking about movie remake’s the other day and it got me thinking about the remake’s I’ve seen. Most remake’s are just pale versions of the original (a shot by shot remake of Psycho?). Others make no sense at all (did we need another Point Break?). But some are really good, almost better than the original! For  instance Cape Fear is a remake. It’s so good that who even remembers the original? Other examples include Little Shop of Horrors, Karate Kid, True Grit, and The Departed.

So I decided to list a few of those that I’ve seen and enjoyed as proof that a re-make can work just fine.







Hairspray
   
While I’m not that familiar with the movie this was remaking, I did enjoy the musical version which hit theaters awhile back. I didn’t see the NBC version.








Ocean’s Eleven
  
I am not sure if I saw the old famous Rat Pack movie (and if you don’t know that term, I am way to old). But it looks like a fun enough movie. Thankfully George Clooney’s version kept the spirit of that old classic. This is one of those movies I was really eager to see and it did not disappoint.  It had a great cast that really shined. The sequels? Eh, that’s another story.







The Nutty Professor
  
This one was a pleasant surprise. I’ve seen the classic and it was ok. Honestly I found most of it kind of dull. Maybe it’s just to dated. I was glad that the remake made the choice it did, making Eddie Murphy large rather than trying to out geek the original Lewis version. I recognize the same plot threads but they’re done different enough so its not a carbon copy. And I think the Eddie Murphy version may have a little more heart honestly, the people feel more real and are therefore more memorable. It’s even funny, to bad they mucked it up with that awful sequel.








Father of the Bride
  
I actually saw and remember the original Spencer Tracy/Elizabeth Taylor movie and it was ok. It was harmless though also a bit of a bore. The remake took the basic plot elements from that movie and added just enough heart and humor to make it one of my favorite movies of all time. Steve Martin was surprisingly pitch perfect in this role. I simply love this movie, and I also love how they modernized some of the plot points so they would work in present day without losing the original intent behind them. For example, the fight the couple has in the original is lame at least the fight in the re-make makes more sense. The stuff they added, like Martin Short’s role, adds to the movie sand doesn’t hurt it. And they kept the ending where the daughter calls the father because he missed seeing her at the wedding. Even though that’s ridiculous I respect it for staying true to the the original.






Phenomenon

This is a big fat cheat. Not only was this an ABC/Disney TV movie, but it wasn’t even billed as a re-make. But in truth it is as it takes the original story and expands it. If you don’t remember, Phenomenon starred John Travolta and the movie was just tired cliche about a man who suddenly develops ESP powers. The TV movie went beyond where the original did, and I found myself enjoying it a whole lot more. It’s not to often a TV adaptation is better than a theatrical one, but this one was.





So where there any I saw that weren’t so good? Let’s do five real quick :



Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

I’d be lying if I said I loved this one. Really lying. But on the other hand, there is a lot to appreciate here. Still the classic is the best and this one don’t come close.







101 Dalmatians

Am I the only who did not care for these movies? I feel alseep during the second one.







Always

This Steven Spielberg remake of the 1943 “A Guy Named Joe” is just sooooooo boring!







Miracle on 34th Street

Not only did they gut the story but they turned a sweet little movie into a boring cliche’d romantic comedy!







Ghostbusters

Uh, yeah….nope.





Remake’s are probably not going anywhere anytime soon. You’ll notice I didn’t mention movies which are remake’s of classic TV shows. That’s another subject altogether. So comment and let me know which remake’s you liked, and the one’s that you feel were better off left well enough alone.