MovieChat Forums > The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016) Discussion > They made too many changes, too "diverse...

They made too many changes, too "diverse", too forced

posted 8 years ago by Merrida
14 replies | jump to latest

You can call this a remake, an homage, a sequel, whatever you want. But it was so poorly cast, and while I like the idea of diversity, one place they went wrong was going overboard. As a comparison I think of how the SJW causes are backfiring pushing people into the other camp, losing potential understanding.

I was looking forward to this production because I'm such a fan of the movie, and I liked the production with David Bedella, because it was done with respect to the source material, and yet was still creative in its own way.

Here, they're keeping nothing original. To even call it Rocky Horror doesn't feel right. Change a thing, or two, maybe three. But they altered too much. If it was just a little, it would have added a new spice to a classic. Maybe. But this is a bastardization of O'Brien's work.

I tried. I really, really wanted to give this a chance. But they changed very important aspects of so many characters, and how they present themselves, and their roles, that this doesn't work. I wanted this to work. And I'll admit, as a fan of Adam Lambert I wanted to see him.

This feels too forced

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Sic vis pacem para bellum.

[–] Sir_Hugo_Rune 8 years ago

the way i see it, every time this is performed on stage it is different from the original 70s stage show. different cast, sets, stage direction and musical arrangements. i've been going to see the stage show for 20 years and i've seen many different versions. if you're a fan of the rocky horror show the changes and differences don't matter. the rocky horror picture show should not be treated any differently.

His anus is soaking wet- Walter Bishop - Fringe

[–] Merrida 8 years ago

Yep, I've seen some stage productions as well, but they still have managed to keep the basic "tone" of the original. And yes, there are variables and variants. However, nope. I still think that what they did in this rendition or "tribute" was just so far off the mark.

But hey, at least some people enjoyed it. Not too many. But some.

______________________________________
Sic vis pacem para bellum.

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

because it was done with respect to the source material

You're talking about the 1973 London cast version right?

[–] Merrida 8 years ago

Nope, I've seen a few including one dreadful performance which was done at Disney of all places. And the more recent one with David Bedella which was spot on and magnificent. I haven't seen any of the older theatre versions that were done closer to the original production with Tim Curry (movie, not theatre, as he did both).

I know he preferred the theatrical versions compared to the experience of having to sit and wait on set. But it was the movie that was my first taste of Rocky. I had nothing else to base it on. I've only seen theatrical productions well after the fact.

Have you seen many?

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Sic vis pacem para bellum.

[–] mel_arewar 8 years ago

Have you seen the movie with the stage show, the props and responses?

[–] Merrida 8 years ago

I saw the televised version with David Bedella and totally flipped for it. I think it was brilliant and wonderful. He is so perfect for this role. And the stage production with audience participation and props was brilliant. I can definitely see that being a lot more accurate to the theatrical performances that Tim Curry used to do before the movie.

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Sic vis pacem para bellum.

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

But the stage production came out before any of the films, though. Anyway, I like the stage predictions and film differently. The one with David Bedella was a lot more accurate to the original stage productions, with some minor changes. Like Time Warp would come out after Sweet Transvestite and Frank-N-Furter had blonde hair. But yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if the David Bedella one and pretty much any other stage productions are all using the same script from 1973. The film version cut a lot of stuff of from the stage productions, which you can see in the David Bedella one. But still, it has Tim Curry. Nothing can beat that.

[–] mel_arewar 8 years ago

True, nothing can beat Tim Curry. We have a stage production in our area, that goes along with the movie and has been running every Saturday since 1978. I first went with a group of friends in 1991, and I had an absolute blast. IMO that's the best way to see the movie. And it has the distinction of being the longest continually running movie.

[–] WaterNai 8 years ago

How was it "too 'diverse'"? And how did having people of color wreck the production? What does ethnicity have to do with that?

[–] Merrida 8 years ago

If they changed one or two or even three characters, fine. I'm fine with artistic expression. But I think you are reading too much into my comment, or you're reading the wrong thing.

To be fair, I think the newest Ghostbusters was too "diverse" because they diverged so far from the original that instead of making an interesting "take" on an established classic, they tried to force this rendition on the audience.

Along the same lines, I feel like in Time Warp, regarding the "diversity," they pushed way too hard to get in their cultural diversity agenda, to the point where it didn't feel like an all inclusive ball of fun and expressionism, and instead just like Ghostbusters, it went too far to push what I perceive as a PC agenda, and that it backfired.

Do you understand what I'm explaining?

______________________________________
Sic vis pacem para bellum.

[–] illbeoneasystreet 8 years ago

People of color didn't wreck the production. Fox on the other hand weakened the movie by not using their brains. Dr. Scott was a high point in the film for me, the actor did a great job. The creators on the other hand threw a black man into the role of a Nazi without thinking of how that would play out. This was one of the easiest fixes imaginable get rid of the "Dr. Von Scott!" line entirely or in the spirit of Rocky play it tongue in cheek. Magenta was another issue. Her and Riff Raff are brother and sister and the incest storyline loses it's impact when astetically they don't look like sibilings. Neither actor was that great if they had their heart set on Christina Milian, why couldn't we have a black Riff Raff? I'm sure there were plenty of black actors that could have done as well if not better then the Riff Raff we were given. The issues with Laverne Cox have nothing to do with her race. Race has no impact on Frank he can be played by any race.

Its something you'll get used to a mental mind *beep* can be nice!

[–] WaterNai 8 years ago

I am not trying to be obtuse or argumentative or make you repeat yourself. ? I'm truly not sure I understand what you are saying.

When you say "diverse", are you meaning that it diverges too much from the plot or production of the original? You didn't like the makeup or costuming of The Time Warp? You had a problem with the casting of the main characters? You didn't like the company dancers?

You mention the changes in Ghostbusters as having similar issues for you. But that was quite a different storyline from the original. Is that what you're thinking? Or was having an all female cast was problematic for you in the same way as having a female Dr. F in Rocky?

[–] joisepeterson 8 years ago

I am not against any people of different races in RHPS. In the movie there were a few people of different race who were part of the unconventional conventionests. Young and old, able and disabled.

I just thought it was weird they cast Riff Raff and Magenta as different races considering they are brother and sister. Eddie and Dr Von Scott were nephew and uncle and again played by actors of two different races.

Very strange.

[–] khowefl 8 years ago

You are completely correct about SJWs pushing people into the other camp. I used to be one of them a while back but it just got so over the top that it ended up backfiring. Now I can't stand them. They contradict themselves. I'm all for being against racism but they started to support racism. Like in this movie, Christina Milan was hired to be Magenta, just because she was black, to promote diversity. Thats racist. I'd rather they hire the best person for the part. Not just the tannest.