MovieChat Forums > Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) Discussion > Are people today even aware...?

Are people today even aware...?

posted 16 years ago by themole-3
25 replies | jump to latest

I get tired of trashing remakes, because I think a whole lot of interesting new twists COULD be given to some classics.
Compare the 50s and 70s versions of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, and you will find a lot of food for thought and insight into the social mindscape of those eras.
And both films are at the same time very enjoyable as exciting cinema.

Now we live in a really important and fast-changing time, and I would welcome remakes that use classic movies to make a fresh statement about our lives and times.

PLANET OF THE APES
ROLLERBALL
DAWN OF THE DEAD
HALLOWEEN
ASSAULT
...

The list of recent remakes is long - but NONE OF THEM has created any comment.
It's all just surface and entertainment.
No matter if you enjoy the remakes as films or not - they completely lack any depth and weight the originals had in their time.

And I wonder if the younger viewers are even aware of that...

As for ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, Carpenter made a nihilistic comment on urban paranoia.
The remake is just another action thing for kids.

It's like remaking TWELVE ANGRY MEN and having those guys solve the crime and chase the killer.
It's like remaking TAXI DRIVER and turning Travis into an undercover-cop who chases pimps with his talking car.

Are today's movie-goers really stupid and shallow?
Or do film producers just suppose they are...?

[–] Two-HeadedBoy 16 years ago

I'd say it's the producers. It'd be unfair to blame the movie-goers, it's not like they have a choice in what gets done in a remake.

[–] Milky_Joe 16 years ago

They do have a choice in what they pay money to go and see though.

[–] TheBlueReptile 14 years ago

"They do have a choice in what they pay money to go and see though."

I don't know about you, but I'm not psychic. I don't know what's going to happen in a film before I see. Therefore, I pay to see it. Whether it's bad or good is a matter of chance, not choice

[–] seifer999 13 years ago

If you read reviews and are informed, then there's very little chance involved.

Check out my film: http://vimeo.com/23181301

[–] TheBlueReptile 13 years ago

I've read reviews on plenty of films in the past and found I've completely disagreed with them. Even here on IMDB where most users are so in the know and incredible at film rating [/sarcasm].

My film taste doesn't rely on conformism, so generally I can't be sure what to expect in a film.

[–] stownley2013 13 years ago

Milky Joe dude the younger generation are unware of remakes of older movies you must remember that I remember seeing Assault on Precinct 13 back in 1976 I was only 8 at the time it was one of Carpenter's best movies up there with Halloween which I saw at 10. However at the time Assault on Precinct(1976) was not known by the younger generation (such as I at the time) to be a remake.

[–] Dirty-Barry 16 years ago

A remake of Red Dawn is imminent as well as Poltergeist and Robocop, Wait and see goodfellas and raging Bull will be next, Cheers.

[–] stownley2013 13 years ago

Why remake RoboCop goddammit they're gonna *beep* it up with CG *beep* and Poltergeist are they really stupid enough to remake a cursed movie where 99% of the cast died after it? I'd get it if they remade a really old movie but now there remaking RoboCop, Total Recall, The Butterfly Effect, Poltergeist, and supposedly the Exorcist aswell. Why remake a movie that's not even a decade old (The Butterfly Effect). Why remake a movie that's only 20 yrs. old (Poltergeist, Robocop, and Total Recall. Why remake a movie that had a *beep* warning to parents because of what was in it what it was about and why(Exorcist).

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Madstownd 16 years ago

Speaking of "Cheers" I only wonder when producers will think of trying to revive and modernize that show too.

[–] vlady666 16 years ago

hahahahahaha

"It's like remaking TAXI DRIVER and turning Travis into an undercover-cop who chases pimps with his talking car. "

the funniest thing i have read in weeks.

[–] more-13 16 years ago

"It's like remaking TAXI DRIVER and turning Travis into an undercover-cop who chases pimps with his talking car."

I would actually like to see such a remake !!!!

but I'm 100 with you. remakes almost always suck and they show the lack of inspiration of writers.

[–] liamtoh55 15 years ago

themole-3

I don't know how old you are, but I find that a lot of people seem to add gravitas and depth to the older, original films in their minds only. Many things seem deeper and more meaningful this way when looking back.

Younger people tend to go and scout out the originals of these movies (which is a good thing) and see them as deeper reflections of the society at the time. I think this is because they are seeing elements that were not noticeable at the time of the film's release, because the viewing audience were 'inside-the-box' in the sense that any social or cultural reflections were of their own society.

[–] themole-3 15 years ago

Agreed, liamtoh55.
People certainly tend to appreciate a film more after having watched it many times over many years.

Anyway a film needs to have certain qualities in order to have any value on rewatching. Therefore many films I loved as a teenager seem pretty blank to me today, while others which were made long before my own time have revealed themselves to me over time.

I suppose if we only talk about avid cineasts or movie buffs we don't have to worry, becaus they do exactly what you describe.
I am more concerned about the casual viewer, because it is not very likely that they will scout out any original film, the remake of which was just another "okay experience" for them.

In fact... I don't even worry about too high or too low evaluation of cinematic art. I fear for a sort of general disneyfication of the mediaum as a whole, so that the casual viewer will totally loose the ability to accept variety, understand different filmic approaches and "endure old things".

[–] liamtoh55 15 years ago

mole dude, tell me about it. I know so many people who don't even see through the face-story of a film to how the story was told through the medium (or even the cinematography and how it was put togther).

I agree with what you're saying, I think that most people don't really look for the originals. I find that I here this a lot: "What? The original? You mean... It's a remake?".

I think the simple fact is: Where these kinda of more interesting movies with more depth and story used to be commonly 'in the mix' with all the simple action films, there is now more of a divide between studio blockbusters along with half hearted remakes with all guns and no character development and what has now become the indie movie.

[–] mnienkerk 15 years ago

you cant get mad at a john carpenter remake, because one of his most famous movies WAS a remake, the thing.

i love a good remake.

but Dawn of the Dead? seriously? that was a horrible remake... fast zombies is a cheap thrill and takes away from the main point of the movie: humans all want different things out of life and can not agree. the zombies are more of a natural disaster, like a huge earthquake, not to jump out for cheap thrills. a real zombie movie is about human vs. human conflict with the zombies just acting as the catalyst.

[–] themole-3 15 years ago

Why shouldn't I get mad at a Carpenter remake? I don't get that part.

Anyway I totally agree with you insofar as GOOD remakes are concerned.
Carpenter's THE THING for example was a brilliant movie, while the 50s version was a pretty uninspired monster flick. Certainly fun to watch and scary to a point - but nothing of lasting value.

You are definitely right about the Romero remake - which I use to call YAWN OF THE DEAD.
On the other hand I wouldn't go so far as to prescribe what a proper zombie movie ought to be. I am gladly willing to accept any attempt to squeeze some fresh juice out of old genres. But the films this thread is about simply do the opposite.

[–] the_last_dodo 15 years ago

you cant get mad at a john carpenter remake, because one of his most famous movies WAS a remake, the thing.

Matter of fact, Carpenters "Assault on Precinct 13" is a remake of Howard Hawks "Rio Bravo". He even wanted to do it as a period piece but didn't have anywhere near the required budget so he just put the story in contemporary times. But Carpenter took several names and one-liners 1:1 from Rio Bravo - to empathize it's a hommage.

So talking about daring and innovative remakes, Carpenters Assault on precinct 13 constitutes the very reason to get mad at every pointless remake Hollywood sh.ts out nowadays.

[–] Cessquill 14 years ago

...with the exception that Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 was good. The 2005 remake I am ashamed to have watched.

There are several good remakes, and homages I guess. If you're into it, High Society is a good reworking of The Philadelphia Story (well, I thought it was, I don't know what the consensus is). Ocean's 11 was much better than the swirling mess that Sinatra starred in (and I really wanted to like that). Heck, even Bad News Bears was good.

However. The Italian Job, Get Carter, this, The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, etc..., swing-and-a-miss lazy money machines. Hell, why not make One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest with Robin Williams and Mike Tyson.

If future generations are going to discover these and discover social commentaries of our time, then heaven help us. We're a bunch of idiots.

[–] ajukoor 13 years ago

Actually this remake made me aware of John Carpenter's original. I watched it on TV about five years ago and thought it was quite entertaining film and enjoyed it then. Few weeks after that I saw a DVD of Assault on Precinct 13 in store. And the cover said it was John Carpenter's. I didn't know much about Carpenter at that time. I had only seen The Thing and They Livem whitch both I love, so I had to buy the Assault too. And I liked the Carpenter's version more.

All I want to say is, that sometimes remakes help to open people's eyes and introduce old films to younger audience. Maybe it's just me but I really hope that other remakes have done this to other people too.

"I've got an astral goat named Herbie, she's faster than most but she's getting old."

[–] themole-3 13 years ago

What a wonderful glimpse of hope for the end of the year.
Let's both hope you are right.

[–] ajukoor 13 years ago

Hope is a postponed disappointment, but it's all we got left.

"I've got an astral goat named Herbie, she's faster than most but she's getting old."