MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Would Be King (1975) Discussion > Another movie that couldn't be made toda...

Another movie that couldn't be made today


We live in a time where even movies like Death Wish remake are being burried by critics for (nonsensical) political reasons.
Can you even imagine the outcry if this was made today?
Colonisation isn't condemned, some cultures potrayed as superior to others, Englishmen being openly proud of who they are, and many other "problematic" elements, guranteed to give your sociology professor a few panic attacks.

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It is simply spectacular in every single way.

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But isn't that the whole point of the story? That colonization is a bad idea and greed makes you into a terrible person and that wowing the natives with superior technology gets you nowhere in the end, and pulling a stunt like that is definitely asking for the sort of the terrible fate that comes to those who suffer from hubris?

Of course that may not be the intent of the original Kipling story, since Kipling was all for colonization and imperialism, but that's how the seventies film went. Come to think of it, maybe it's time for a new remake.

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No, this motion picture should not be remade. It's perfect.

"Their" biggest failure was failing to get the populace to stop slaughtering their progeny.

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That never stopped them from remakes before!

Which is the wrong way to do things. The movies that ought to be remade are the ones that could be done better, but for some reason they aren't letting me make these decisions.

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Problem with modern remakes is that they are solely motivated by money. So let's say director Otter walks into office of mr Weinstein Jr with a great idea for remake:
-"well that's a brilliant idea you got there boy", Mr W Jr noticed.
-"but you see, we don't have time to waste on some 70s movie remake that most casual movie goers don't even remember -We're already working on new Alien!"

-"oh.. that's a shame... I know I would make a real masterpiece out of Breakfast at Tiffany's remake... :-(" -Otter responded.
-"Can I at least direct a new Alien? That guy you hired is literal nobody and his only film sucks."

-"That's the point mr Otter, we need a yes-man who will listen to orders. Visionaries like you just don't listen to our algorithms that say you must insert a 5 minute car-chase scene in x-minute part of a certain type of movie to keep the average viewers attention. No, I know guys like you! You're probably the type of director who would put a 15 minute scene of rotating space stations while Strauss plays in the background. I mean Strauss!? In 2018!? What planet is this guy from?

Now get this otter out of my office!"

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Oh please, ALL filmmaking is motivated by the desire to make money!

I accept that, I just don't accept the modern business practice of deliberately making crappy films, because they're just as profitable as the good ones.

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But no good art of any form is motivated EXCLUSIVELY by the desire to make money.
Almost all great movies are made by people who genuinely care about what they do. People with ideas, visions.
Of course, this maybe doesn't go for production company managers and so on, who in fact do care only about money. But the problem is, when it comes to big movies such as famous sequels and remakes, that director doesn't have any creative freedom nor much input for that matter. It's all about what the higher-ups think public will like, not about one, two or three people realising their creative potential.

This is why remakes are so often so bad, they lack soul. It's like hamburger made from home made bread and home grown cattle by grand-grandma's secret recipe remade by McDonald's.

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No, it is never implied that colonisation is a bad idea in this movie. Greed, yes, but film's attitude towards the concept of colonisation is indifferent.

Come to think of it, maybe it's time for a new remake.


Oh, hell no. For all the reasons I mentioned in OP, it would really have to be butchered to accomodate the modern western politicised view of history. Either that or cause riots from leftists who successfully replaced fundamentalist christians in their role of organising protests over things they find offensive.

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Good. We won't get a crap remake then.

We'd have a CGI enhanced landscape with two actors with nowhere near the same amount of screen presence, charisma or natural chemistry as Connery and Caine, and probably some love interest thrown in for good measure.

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The remake will star Brad Pitt as Peachy and George Clooney as Danny. It will be set in the future and will concern two roguish veterans of the Interplanetary Federation Army. Peachy and Dan land on a planet populated by strong, noble and wise persons of color and proceed to attempt to destroy their culture and exploit and enslave them. Eventually, they are defeated and tamed by a beautiful empowered Queen played by Beyonce and they are enlightened to the ways of Progressive Liberalism. The movie has a modern "feel good" ending with Peachy and Danny entering a same-sex marriage together.

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Humanity is based on the powerful crushing the less powerful, whether it be the English doing it to their colonies, or Israel doing it to the Palestinians.

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you are probably right

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