My Soap-box Rant for the Week

Where has the originality in Hollywood gone?

I recently compiled a list of 92 (yes, count them below…92) films that are either currently being remade or are under consideration for a remake. When I saw the final tally, I almost fell out of my chair. All I could keep thinking was “Why, why, WHY?” Add to this list the remakes that are being released this year (i.e. Clash of the Titans, The Crazies, Robin Hood, etc.) and the total number is truly staggering.

What is going on in Hollywood? I know the production companies are concerned about their bank accounts, but this is getting ridiculous. Who decided that all remakes are a great idea and are guaranteed cash-cows? I wish I could meet him or her. I can think of several lackluster remakes that tanked and should have never been done in the first place.

Don’t get me wrong. I do like the prospect of certain iconic films being updated for modern times. But does EVERYTHING need a reboot? I mean, seriously. Take for example Spider-Man. Sam Raimi knocked the ball out of the park when he released the first of his trilogy. And the second movie (in my opinion) trumped the first. But those movies were just released, not more than a decade ago! SO WHY REMAKE THEM? Why reboot the franchise?

I don’t get it.

Can someone explain the common sense behind all of this? Feel free to chime in. (The list of 92 remakes is below, if you are interested).

MSB

Movie Remakes Either in Production or Under Consideration
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13 Tzameti
Alien
An American Werewolf in London
And Soon the Darkness
Angel Heart
Anguish
Art of the Devil
Arthur
At the End of the Spectra
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
Barbarella
Battle Royale
Bride of Frankenstein
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Children of the Corn
Child’s Play
Cliffhanger
Conan
Creature From The Black Lagoon
Daredevil
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Don’t Look in the Basement
Drop Dead Fred
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Voyage
Fletch
Flight Of The Navigator
Footloose
Fright Night
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Guys And Dolls
Hellraiser
Highlander
I Saw What You Did
I Spit on Your Grave
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
It
Judge Dredd
Lady Vengeance
Let the Right One In
Little Shop of Horrors
Martyrs
Masters Of The Universe
Mona Lisa
Motel Hell
Mother’s Day
Near
Night of the Demons
Nightmare on Elm Street
Pet Sematary
Piranha 3-D
Poltergeist
Predator
Re-Animator
Red Dawn
Romancing The Stone
Room 205
Rosemary’s Baby
Scanners
Short Circuit
Silent Night, Deadly Night
Slap Shot
Straw Dogs
Suspiria
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tell No One
The Birds
The Blob
The Brood
The Creature from the Black Lagoon
The Crow
The Fly
The Fury
The Gate
The Host
The Howling
The Mechanic
The Orphanage
The Party
The Phantom
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Shadow
The Substitute
The Thing
They Live
Timecrimes
Tomb Raider
Total Recall
True Grit
Videodrome
Who Can Kill a Child
X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes

2 Responses to “My Soap-box Rant for the Week”

  1. Justin says:

    Who knows… By the way, I am remaking your blogpost in a few months. It is not going to have the same substance, just a lot of explosions and some T&A. I will call it Scott’s Soap Box Rant of the Week though, just to draw in those that loved the original. I will dissappoint them all and laugh a maniac’s laugh… (still working on the laugh)

  2. LOL I like that, Justin…nice! Just be sure you cast only the highest quality B-grade actor to play me. Oh, and make sure you add more explosions and gore, no matter if it adds to the plot or not.

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