MovieChat Forums > Alien Nation (1988) Discussion > Ripe for a re-imagining

Ripe for a re-imagining

posted 14 years ago by davebgray
10 replies | jump to latest

This is #1 on my list of films that would work in a remake/re-imagining/re-boot. It feels very much like an 80s cop movie. I don't think that it ages all that well. The presentation, music, and depiction of criminals and nightlife feel pretty dated, but the basic premise is very solid.

On top of that, it's not a series that is very widely known.

I don't think you'd have to stick to the same story and characters, but only with the simple premise that aliens come to Earth, assimilate, and then follow an unlikely cop pairing of alien/human. You could keep the drug plot or ditch it...either way. But the themes of racism would still be there.

It's such a good idea and I don't think the first film is a classic that would be sacrilege to revisit.

--Dave

http://www.WhatWouldJesusView.com

[–] corek1949 14 years ago

Not straight after District 9 it wouldn't be.

[–] suz-mal 14 years ago

Its because of people like you descent movies keep getting churned into remakes. Just leave it the fu*&^ alone. I hate it that every board has some *beep* who wants a remake. The ratio of bad remakes to good ones is like 10000 to 1.

[–] parkpunk 13 years ago

Its because of people like you descent movies keep getting churned into remakes. Just leave it the fu*&^ alone. I hate it that every board has some *beep* who wants a remake. The ratio of bad remakes to good ones is like 10000 to 1.

No offense to the OP but, AMEN!

[–] Halo572 14 years ago

I actually thought it was more like a television pilot and if James Caan hadn't been in it it would have been.

It just seemed so low budget and motion picture unlike and could have just been another series that if I had walked in in the last hour wouldn't have realised it was a feature length film.

I knew about it since it came out along with the TV series, but have never seen it until tonight. Very underwhelmed.

So yes, on this rare occasion I have to agree that potentially there is something here that could be remade and actually be better than the very bland and mediocre original if in nothing more than the way it looks.

As for the remake of Total Recall - blasphemy.

[–] suz-mal 14 years ago

I'm actually not a fan of Alien Nation, I'm just opposed to remakes in general. Remakes are mostly nothing but money making schemes from big production companies who couldn't be bothered with new ideas. Total Recall is a prime example of this (and is hands down my favourite scifi/action movie, and I'll die before I see the remake). All that being said, there have been a few remakes I've enjoyed. Most of Scorcese's for example.

Also, what pissed me off about the original post was that the poster said Alien Nation should be remade because it hasn't dated well. He said the presentation, music, and depiction of criminals and nightlife feel pretty dated. That's the one thing that truly holds the movie together. It was made in the late 80s, in an era that actually had a sense of atmosphere. Taking the concept of Alien Nation and updating it would be stupid, because then its lost most of its appeal.
...And it was made in the late 80s for christ sake. How old is the OP? 13? It's not like it was made in the silent era. I was born in the 80s and the films from that time still look pretty fresh to me, even if the fashion and attitudes of the people aren't.

[–] davebgray 14 years ago

Remakes can be good. Remakes can be bad. I don't understand the hate for them. They don't change the original films.

I really enjoyed True Grit and Star Trek and those were just in the last year. Sure, some are money grabs and I don't go see most of them, but I think that this is a good premise and could benefit from a new look.

On top of that, I don't think that Alien Nation is a classic film that was done all that incredibly well the first time. It's not like remaking 2001 or something like that. The film feels dated and corny, but the material is solid.

http://www.WhatWouldJesusView.com

[–] suz-mal 14 years ago

Thats what I was arguing against. The fact you say it feels dated so needs a remake. Why trade in the atmospheric 80s charm for the modern Hollywood look. Its that I hate modernizations, because they're far less interesting. We live in the God damned technology age, a period in time with absolutely no atmospheric qualities. I guess its modern Hollywood I'm against, not just remakes. When good directors with an artistic vision remake something, they bring a certain charm to it, but modern Hollywood just wants everything to feel just that - modern. Its all about 'updating' the film because its too old or dated, which is why you want a remake. That is the absolute worst reason to remake something, because its the fact its embedded in a period that keep people watching.

And the material for Alien Nation isnt that solid, and if it came out now it would fall in the middle of a series of other films with almost the same premise. I think your ideas are dumb.

[–] creatorof2002 13 years ago

A remake should give the aliens a look that an actor with latex makeup could not achieve kind of like the aliens in AVATAR. I am not saying they should look specifically like the Avatar aliens only that they should have a look that requires "motion capture" CGI and defies what makeup artists can achieve. Also alien ANIMALS brought with them on their ship should be shown and be a part of the story which for budgetary and special fx reasons was lacking in the original. Seeing an alien creature that is somewhat similar to a terrestrial dog playing with a dog would be really cute.

Of course such fx would be too expensive for a tv show or tv movies but would work fine for a theatre movie. It would still be less expensive than Avatar because despite the expense of making the aliens and alien creatures you would not have to create an entirely different world (except for maybe very brief "flashback" scenes).

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 11 years ago

Not straight after District 9 it wouldn't be.

Yeah, I felt for years that it was a prime candidate for a re-make, but then I saw District 9 and thought that it had stolen its thunder.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that what sets Alien Nation apart is that the more human-like Newcomers are shown being integrated into the population, whereas in D9 it's more of an Apartheid allegory. So while there are similarities, they're really exploring two very different sides of the same coin.

----
A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/

[–] Cobb05 10 years ago

I do think that a remake would be cool, cause you could do a lot with it. The movie needed to be a little more Blade Runner and a little less Lethal Weapon. Someone very talented could do a lot with Alien Nation and make a really cool, interesting movie.

That being said, a remake would probably end up as an uninspired, crapfest, like Total Recall, Robocop, Clash of the Titans and Conan.

You need someone who can elevate Alien Nation, the way they did with the new Planet of the Apes franchise, otherwise don't bother.

Although, I will say this. A new series would not be a bad idea. That could work too, with the right people.