I mentioned the remake of "Pelham 123" in a recent post. In fact this movie was remade in 1998 as well as 2009.
I mentioned the awful remake of "Spider-man" in a previous post.
My question is this: why does Hollywood feel it necessary to remake good movies?
Another movie which I associate in my mind with Pelham (perhaps because they were made around the same time) is "Assault on Precinct 13". The original was directed by John Carpenter in 1976 (IMDB rating 7.6). The remake was done in 2005 (IMDB rating 6.5).
What will they remake next?
"The Shawshank Redemption" was made in 1994. Is it due for a remake?!
"The Godfather" is even older, dating from 1972. Surely that could be improved?!
And "12 Angry Men" was made in 1952. And it's in black and white. Surely that needs to me remade?!
I should say that I don't really have a problem with movies that are transported from a different language/culture/context. If this didn't happen then we would have no "Magnificent Seven" and no "Fistful of Dollars". No issue there.
My problem is the ones that are simply remade because people think they can do a better job, or perhaps because they think they can make easy money with a proven formula.
Friday 12 October 2012
Mistaken by Neil Jordan
I finished the book "Mistaken" by Neil Jordan the other day.
I really enjoyed it.
It's the story of a Northside boy called Kevin Thunder growing up in 1960s Dublin who discovers that there is a Southside boy called Gerald who bears him an uncanny resemblance (more-so in smell than looks apparently).
The story deals with how their paths cross repeatedly over their live and the impact this has on their own lives and the lives around them.
It's not a happy book (I don't think there are any humorous passages) but it is a compelling read. I guess it's a book that looks at actions and their consequences. And it also tackles the theme of loss, as Jordan himself says in this interview.
Some people have criticised the level of detail Jordan uses in relation to Dublin but I enjoyed recognising the various locations and liked that aspect of the novel.
I recommend it.
I really enjoyed it.
It's the story of a Northside boy called Kevin Thunder growing up in 1960s Dublin who discovers that there is a Southside boy called Gerald who bears him an uncanny resemblance (more-so in smell than looks apparently).
The story deals with how their paths cross repeatedly over their live and the impact this has on their own lives and the lives around them.
It's not a happy book (I don't think there are any humorous passages) but it is a compelling read. I guess it's a book that looks at actions and their consequences. And it also tackles the theme of loss, as Jordan himself says in this interview.
Some people have criticised the level of detail Jordan uses in relation to Dublin but I enjoyed recognising the various locations and liked that aspect of the novel.
I recommend it.
Thursday 11 October 2012
Supernatural "jumps the shark"
I mentioned in a previous post that I like the TV show "Supernatural".
In season 4 there is an episode entitled "Jump the Shark". But that was a good episode and season 4 was a good one. So the producers did not need to worry about using the phrase.
I am now watching season 7 and I'm afraid the show has lost some of its lustre. I fear that it has really jumped the shark.
The phrase was first coined in relation to an episode of the show Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumped a shark on water-skis. It is used to refer to the point in a TV show where the quality or audience is declining and the producers look for a gimmick to restore things.
In season 7 I haven't spotted a gimmick per se, but I do see that the show is losing its focus, and the Leviathans are not providing the same sense of menace as previous enemies did.
I know that they have started to broadcast season 8 so maybe that will show some improvement.
But I guess the whole significance of the "jump the shark" phrase is that TV shows tend not to recover once things start to decline.
In season 4 there is an episode entitled "Jump the Shark". But that was a good episode and season 4 was a good one. So the producers did not need to worry about using the phrase.
I am now watching season 7 and I'm afraid the show has lost some of its lustre. I fear that it has really jumped the shark.
The phrase was first coined in relation to an episode of the show Happy Days where Fonzie literally jumped a shark on water-skis. It is used to refer to the point in a TV show where the quality or audience is declining and the producers look for a gimmick to restore things.
In season 7 I haven't spotted a gimmick per se, but I do see that the show is losing its focus, and the Leviathans are not providing the same sense of menace as previous enemies did.
I know that they have started to broadcast season 8 so maybe that will show some improvement.
But I guess the whole significance of the "jump the shark" phrase is that TV shows tend not to recover once things start to decline.
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