MovieChat Forums > Suspiria (2018) Discussion > Why? Oh, why?

Why? Oh, why?

posted 15 years ago by CharlieWinslow
6 replies | jump to latest

I've said it before, but I need to say it again: Why, oh why do they keep remaking movies that were perfect in the first place? I know, sometimes they make okay remakes, I know it can sometimes be interesting to see the same story set in the 2000's, with today's actors and everything, but I dunno... I mean, some classic books haven't been made into movies yet, I think there are enough great directors and writers who could do that instead. And people hate me because I always say this, but why not make sequels instead? I know it's just as risky as remaking, but it can be very original and interesting!

Two things people will say about remakes are:

(From the people who love their classics) I guess it's good, but the first one was BETTER!

(From newbies) What a great, original, NEW movie this is!

The first reaction isn't good for the people who worked on the movie, but I guess you see it coming when you take on a classic. The second reaction is just there to make true movie buffs mad!

Anyways, sorry, but I don't want to see my favorite movies butchered! Suspiria, Phantom of the Paradise, Nightmare on Elm Street, and that's just to name a few!

°¤¬~+*-Charlie Winslow-*+~¬¤°

[–] Ravey_Davey_Gravy 15 years ago

I hate to see remakes of perfect films too, spend your energy on something new. I cant remember a book being re-written with contemporary language and settings. The problem with sequels rather than remakes is that a remake can benefit from positive buzz. A sequel of a classic oldie like Suspiria would only bring in the buffs and horror hounds. They need the teen crowd to turn a profit. Dont forget that the same teen crowd have no idea there is an original, and would not watch anything from 5 years ago, so a 70's flik is just like watching a silent to them.

It used to wind me up, but I have to think of it in more positive terms. A remake almost always makes the original look better. For example, in 20 years time the original Texas Chainsaw will still be the classic and the remake will have been forgotten. I suspect that a Suspiria remake will be the same

[–] troylac 15 years ago

Don`t be so quick to judge all teens so harshly.
I myself and a good number of my friends detest the onslaught of unoriginality pouring out of our cinema screens, and instead look to older, obscure, foreign or independant films.
We`re not all idiots waiting intently for the next disrespectful remake.

[–] set-29 15 years ago

Well said. My friend has a fourteen year old son who loves Argento, and when I mentioned the Suspiria remake he rolled his eyes and declared the whole idea stupid.

My taste in movies was minted in my teens. It's an impoprtant time, so much of what you are is forged there.

[–] torpedoboy4 15 years ago

why? i mean, WHY?! "Susperia" shouldn't have been touched.

[–] The_Great_Silence 15 years ago

I think remaking a movie all depends on how the movie is done. I'm OK with the retelling of a story, or a good director taking in in a different direction. There can be good remakes, but there are rules.

1. Re-tell the story to a point that it is a different film.

Examples: Star Wars based on Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress. Lucas admits to owing a lot of the story to Kurosawa's film but he completely changes the setting. Two of the samurai's names? Obi Wan and Han Solo. Both are great films.

Fistful Of Dollars again remade Kurosawa again both films are great.

2. Adapt an outdated story to fit modern times.

Examples: The Thing. John Carpenter's remake is just bad ass. The original was good for its time, but really doesn't hold its own today.

Scarface. Over ratted, but still a bad ass remake.

3. Completely change the way the story is told.

Casino Royale, first one comedy, second one action/thriller.

Alice In Wonderland was originally a short in 1903! Then a full length feature in 1933, then turned into the popular and good Disney cartoon, then remade into the stop motion bad ass movie Alice, then butchered (not that I have seen it) by Tim Burton and Johnny Depp, until then it had a great remake streak.

4. Just be a bad ass that makes amazing movies.

Nosferatu was a hugely influential film and the first Dracula movie. It was remade by Werner Herzog and got even better because Herzog is tight. He also "remade" Bad Lieutenant, that was also great.

True Grit is being remade by the Coen brothers and It's going to be sick as *beep* because if they make it a-la No Country it cant be bad.

However there are also rule to when you can not remake a film.

1. It is never OK to remake a foreign film just to put it in English unless you are the director of the original.

The Ring, The Vanishing, Diabolique, Insomnia, Quarantine, The Uninvited.

and soon to be Oldboy, Let The Right One In.

2. You can't remake a film with out loving the original and put out a *beep* fest just to make some bucks.

The Step Father, Friday The 13th, Rollerball, Phycho, Texas Chainsaw. The list goes on for ever.

My point is, I'm OK with remakes. Hey, sometimes they inspire people to watch the original they never knew about. I just want people to be classy about it. If you cant bring anything new to the table let it RIP.

sorry i ranted.

[–] DrHerbertWest 15 years ago

^^ Nice post!