By Cookie 'N' Screen
You see, whenever I mention remakes instantly the entire world gets angry. Only a select few, who haven’t really seen the original or heard of the original, get excited about remakes. Every time we hear that our beloved movies are getting re-mastered with a younger cast for a “new generation” we all scream (altogether now) “JUST RE-RELEASE THE OLD ONE!” Let’s face it, who needs another Red Dawn in their lives?
You see, whenever I mention remakes instantly the entire world gets angry. Only a select few, who haven’t really seen the original or heard of the original, get excited about remakes. Every time we hear that our beloved movies are getting re-mastered with a younger cast for a “new generation” we all scream (altogether now) “JUST RE-RELEASE THE OLD ONE!” Let’s face it, who needs another Red Dawn in their lives?
OH COME ON!
So the general consensus is, originals are amazing and remakes are awful. But, what happens if our beloved “original” wasn’t actually an original. What happens if THAT was the remake?
Wait, guys, what if a remake was actually… amazing?
Wait, guys, what if a remake was actually… amazing?
5. Cape Fear (1991)
Cape Fear is a brutal movie. I’m not one to hail violent movies but Martin Scorsese created a truly terrifying world. Considered one of the most tense and frightening movies of all time, Cape Fear centres around rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro) who is newly released from prison. Angered by his conviction, he heads to the small town of New Essex (that’s in America folks, not the orange populated county we all know and love). Here he hunts down Sam Bowden (Nick Notle); a lawyer who defended Cady but hid evidence that the woman was promiscuous, due to the violent nature of his crime. Cady is soon on the hunt for revenge. Scorsese created an atmospheric thriller movie using themes and obsessions to scare us witless…
Cape Fear is a brutal movie. I’m not one to hail violent movies but Martin Scorsese created a truly terrifying world. Considered one of the most tense and frightening movies of all time, Cape Fear centres around rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro) who is newly released from prison. Angered by his conviction, he heads to the small town of New Essex (that’s in America folks, not the orange populated county we all know and love). Here he hunts down Sam Bowden (Nick Notle); a lawyer who defended Cady but hid evidence that the woman was promiscuous, due to the violent nature of his crime. Cady is soon on the hunt for revenge. Scorsese created an atmospheric thriller movie using themes and obsessions to scare us witless…
Themes and obsessions that he may have borrowed from the original 1962 film. Starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, Cape Fear follows a similar storyline than before except Bowden testified and interrupted the attack. Also, the violence, being a sixties movie, is much less than the shocking 1991 movie as well as the ending being changed (Cady doesn’t actually die). With those changes and despite the amazing cast of Mitchum and Peck, the suspense and incredible acting (Di Nero was nominated for Best Actor) causes Scorsese’s version to surpass the 1962 original.
4. Twelve Monkeys (1995)
I am under the firm belief that Terry Gilliam is a genius. Whether it is Brazil, Time Bandits, Warlock or his Monty Python career I think he is legendary. So it is a bit hard for me not to be biased coming to Twelve Monkeys, which is actually a remake… ish. Much like most of Gilliam’s work, it is a plot difficult to explain. The movie is based around a virus which has forced the surviving population underground in a future dystopia. Bruce Willis plays James Cole, a man who is hired by scientists to time travel into the past and find a form of the virus so they can make a cure. Haunted by dreams of a shooting at an airport, Cole finds himself fighting against a Twelve Monkey’s terrorist organisation, meeting some unsavoury characters and only he can save the world.
I am under the firm belief that Terry Gilliam is a genius. Whether it is Brazil, Time Bandits, Warlock or his Monty Python career I think he is legendary. So it is a bit hard for me not to be biased coming to Twelve Monkeys, which is actually a remake… ish. Much like most of Gilliam’s work, it is a plot difficult to explain. The movie is based around a virus which has forced the surviving population underground in a future dystopia. Bruce Willis plays James Cole, a man who is hired by scientists to time travel into the past and find a form of the virus so they can make a cure. Haunted by dreams of a shooting at an airport, Cole finds himself fighting against a Twelve Monkey’s terrorist organisation, meeting some unsavoury characters and only he can save the world.
This insane plot of Twelve Monkeys couldn’t possibly have been done before. Well actually Twelve Monkeys is based on a 1962 short French film called La Jetée. I can only say that the two are worlds away. As Universal brought the rights to La Jetée to develop into a full film, premise is still the same; a population forced underground. The striking imagery of airports, women and creepy doctors within Twelve Monkeys can be traced back to its French counterpart. However, La Jetée is comprised solely of Polaroid shots flipped through as though you were being shown someone’s holiday snaps. So Twelve Monkeys is more of a film-lover’s film unless you like the quirk of La Jetée and its narration. Plus Brad Pitt was actually nominated for an Oscar for his character Jeffery Goines.
3. The Mummy (1999)
Actually cementing his place as an actor and not just a man who can play idiots, Brendan Fraser burst into our hearts with this family adventure movie The Mummy. The Mummy revolves around swash buckling explorer Rick O’Connell who is saved from prison by Librarian Evelyn (Evie) in order to help her locate the Book Of Amun Ra. Accidentally finding The Book Of The Dead, Evie releases ancient high priest Imhotep who, with his newly awakened spirit, plans to bring an end to the world and the human race. This is all due to a curse upon him as he slept with the Pharoh’s wife Anck Su Namun. Believing that Evie is actually the reincarnated spirit of his lover, Imohtep kidnaps her so they can rule the world together. With adventure and romance, The Mummy is the perfect family fun film. There are hilarious quips and stellar performances by Fraser and the ever lovely Rachel Weisz.
Actually cementing his place as an actor and not just a man who can play idiots, Brendan Fraser burst into our hearts with this family adventure movie The Mummy. The Mummy revolves around swash buckling explorer Rick O’Connell who is saved from prison by Librarian Evelyn (Evie) in order to help her locate the Book Of Amun Ra. Accidentally finding The Book Of The Dead, Evie releases ancient high priest Imhotep who, with his newly awakened spirit, plans to bring an end to the world and the human race. This is all due to a curse upon him as he slept with the Pharoh’s wife Anck Su Namun. Believing that Evie is actually the reincarnated spirit of his lover, Imohtep kidnaps her so they can rule the world together. With adventure and romance, The Mummy is the perfect family fun film. There are hilarious quips and stellar performances by Fraser and the ever lovely Rachel Weisz.
The Mummy was actually based on a 1932 movie starring Boris Karloff. Ok, this film may not be a word for word remake but it is loosely based on this movie. There is a terrifying (for the 1930’s anyway) Mummy named Imohtep who is just trying to find his ancient love Anck Su Namun… the original may just be the ultimate romantic comedy. After all, it is just about a man trying to find his soul mate… If you ignore all the death, that is. You’re best to stick with our favourite 1999 movie.
2. The Departed (2006)
Martin Scorsese, you’ve done it again, you old dog. You’ve taken another man’s film and but your stamp on it making it bigger and better… and only four years after the original. Amazing. The Departed burst onto our screens with an epic mind twisting storyline, hot action and so much testosterone, your guy friends would be quoting this for years to come. Boasting a cast of Mark Walhberg, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, The Departed is a film about cops, gangs and moles swept up at the box office and at The Academy Awards including Best Picture. It grabbed the world by the balls, making us scream “are you a cop?” for years to come.
Martin Scorsese, you’ve done it again, you old dog. You’ve taken another man’s film and but your stamp on it making it bigger and better… and only four years after the original. Amazing. The Departed burst onto our screens with an epic mind twisting storyline, hot action and so much testosterone, your guy friends would be quoting this for years to come. Boasting a cast of Mark Walhberg, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson, The Departed is a film about cops, gangs and moles swept up at the box office and at The Academy Awards including Best Picture. It grabbed the world by the balls, making us scream “are you a cop?” for years to come.
With little time between the original and The Departed, many might already know that The Departed was based on a Hong Kong film called Infernal Affairs. The plot is pretty much the same but instead of Irish mob bosses, it is the triad and instead of America… well it’s Hong Kong, obviously. Infernal Affairs wasn’t an unknown movie either. In fact, when it came out it received much acclaim from its home country and was hailed as a revival of Hong Kong Cinema.
1 . Scarface (1983)
Yes, yes, yes, one of the most iconic drug and crime lord movies (if that is a thing) is actually a remake. When Al Pacino’s Tony Montana swore and shot his way onto screens, the male population had a collective…. well, you get the picture. And they have been going that way ever since. Full of violence, drugs and some of the most quotable action thriller quips since The Godfather, Scarface captured everyone by the balls. The film does have a plot, it’s not all about cocaine; it tells the story of Cuban refugee who comes to Miami only to become drug cartel Kingpin during the cocaine boom of the 1980’s. Oh what do you know, it really is all about cocaine. And violence.
Yes, yes, yes, one of the most iconic drug and crime lord movies (if that is a thing) is actually a remake. When Al Pacino’s Tony Montana swore and shot his way onto screens, the male population had a collective…. well, you get the picture. And they have been going that way ever since. Full of violence, drugs and some of the most quotable action thriller quips since The Godfather, Scarface captured everyone by the balls. The film does have a plot, it’s not all about cocaine; it tells the story of Cuban refugee who comes to Miami only to become drug cartel Kingpin during the cocaine boom of the 1980’s. Oh what do you know, it really is all about cocaine. And violence.
It wasn’t the first movie of its kind, “so say hello to my little friend” Scarface (1932). Much like Cape Fear, the original is really tepid compared to its spawn and the most violence you’ll see here is a few rounds of fisticuffs and the climatic shoot out scene. And of course, it is less about cocaine traffickers and more about illegal booze hounds. Scarface (1932) may have been the basis of Brian De Palma’s film but De Palma loaded it with blood, gore, prostitutes and a swaggering iconic Al Pacino in one of his best roles yet (where sounding like a stroke victim actually worked).
So maybe remakes aren’t all that bad. If you dig deep enough into your favourite movie, you’ll find inspiration, basis and more remakes than you care to know. But that’s how art works, people inspire others or work on movies to make them bigger and better. Obviously, our classic movies and the ones we hold dear will never be remade because they stand alone as amazing cinema. I mean, no one wants to see a Carrie remake...
So maybe remakes aren’t all that bad. If you dig deep enough into your favourite movie, you’ll find inspiration, basis and more remakes than you care to know. But that’s how art works, people inspire others or work on movies to make them bigger and better. Obviously, our classic movies and the ones we hold dear will never be remade because they stand alone as amazing cinema. I mean, no one wants to see a Carrie remake...
OH COME ON!
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