Martinex1: We have had some great Tuesday conversations lately; let's keep the trend going! As we do every week at this time...let's Follow the Leader!
And at the stroke of 7:00 a.m., HB turned into . . . “The Proxy!”
Mornin’ Teammates! Prowler has a SOLID Follow The Leader post/question he’d like to offer up, and he’s gleaned that I’m often up and checking my emails & computer right at the time Red & Marti send out the new ones, SO--- I’m pleased & honored to forward this dispatch from the ProwlCave. . .(ProwlLair? Fortress of Prowlertude. . . ?):
“One question, four parts:
Remake: What classic do you think is ready for a remake?
Reboot: What classic TV series or Movie franchise is plum pickings for a reboot?
Refer: What overlooked nugget needs another viewing? Something that may have missed the mainstream it's first time around? Could be anything, film, TV series, book series, album etc etc etc...
Regret: Something you tried and just didn't like. A real swing and a miss, in your opinion. Something we should stay away from...”
I like this post a lot, as it lends itself easily to short, direct replies as well as to in-depth ruminations on folks’ personal old movie/TV (and more) favorites.! Back myself later on. . .
HB (Herald of Prowler)
Oh wait—need a song:
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip, That started from this tropic port, Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin’ man, The Skipper brave and sure. Five passengers that sailed that day For a three hour tour. . .
Apologies for being dumb but questions 1 and 2 seem to be asking the same thing...anyway,
1/2) I'd like to see a remake of Planet Of The Apes. Yes, yes, I know there was recently an excellent rebooted POTA trilogy but it was a remake of "Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes" which ended with Caesar's death. I want to see a remake of the 1968 film with the apes wearing their classic uniforms and Taylor kneeling before the Statue of Liberty shouting "You maniacs, damn you all to HELL!!!!"
3) As a life-long fan of Conan The Barbarian I want everyone to read Robert E. Howard's classic tales.
4) I tried mango chutney and regretted it. I love tinned mangos/mango juice and chutney is delicious so I should love mango chutney, right?...WRONG!!! I bought a jar of mango chutney and it was utterly horrible. I tipped the entire lot on my garden.
Remake: I'm going to preface this by referring back to that old Siskel & Ebert gem, that you shouldn't remake good movies, you should remake bad ones. And so in that spirit I offer Catwoman. Once more with feeling, Hollywood.
Reboot: The Six-million Dollar Man. No brainer. This is six seasons and a movie, if done well.
Refer: Space: Above and Beyond. Sundays with football not followed by this series have always felt a little emptier. There were solid concepts and characters that tended to get a bit mired in the conspiratorial ethos of the X-Files, but still a lot of fun.
Regret: The Lord of the Rings. Books and movies. They just keep getting more sour to me. There were two great fantasy trilogies to come out of immediate post-war Britain, one was Tolkien the other was well-written. Color me a Gormenghast fan.
Remake: I'll join the growing list of online people who are calling for a remake of Logan's Run. If nothing comes out of the current talks, then I also include Fantastic Voyage. And you can't mention Fantastic Voyage without thinking of the Fantastic Raquel Welch, so I would also throw out three of her movies Fathom, Hannie Caulder and Mother Jugs and Speed. I would suggest Sophia Vergara for all three remakes but that's just me...
Reboot: The early 00s series Mutant X. If you remember it at all, the basic plot was a rogue geneticist and his creations. You could really play up the High Evolutionary theme and take it from there. Either The Pretender or Quantum Leap. I loved both shows and I would really like to see them rebooted, either as a series or series of movies. Same thing with Stargate SG-1. Is it too early to look back at them and wish for a movies series reboot?
Refer: If you have never seen either Red Dwarf or the UK Being Human, stop what you're doing and find them. NOW!!! Go on, I'll keep typing till you get back. Red Dwarf is something I don't even in clips on the internet and it is hilarious!!! HILL-AERIE-USSS!!! I kid you not. And the UK version of Being Human was just so solid an effort. Just the scene were Annie and George go to rescue Mitchell is worth watching the whole series...
Regret: Stay away from the CW's Riverdale. Please, avoid this like the plague. Every premise that they tried to establish in the first three episodes is totally forgotten in every episode since. You will never, NEVER, get your time back...
One last thing, and this is personal to me, The Prowler, I really don't like the rebooted Star Trek. The first movie was good. Solid but then it's just petered out. (Sorry Peter, didn't mean to single you out).
(I know a girl she was a waitress Had a big spirit till she let her boyfriend break it He always talked her down Took her pride and kicked it around Took it as long as she could take it She left a note on the dresser and hung up her apron
Cry cry till the sun shines baby Cry cry till the sun shines It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright baby Ooh
I know a man who tried to ease his mind Chased his regrets with any bottle he could find Life cut him down so low Took his pride and broke his soul Till he forgave himself and let it go
Cry cry till the sun shines baby Cry cry till the sun shines It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright baby Ooh ooh
We're all here just trying to live our lives Pay our electric bills and spending up our time There ain't a friend to be found Who can't break through the concrete clouds When the rain when the rain comes crashing down Ooh yeah
Cry cry till the sun shines baby Cry cry till the sun shines It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright oh yeah
Cry cry till the sun shines baby Cry cry till the sun shines It's gonna be alright It's gonna be alright baby Ooh).
When I post on my computer, there is an option under my screen name to "Email follow-up comments to your email". When I go to this site on my phone, under each posting is a "reply" option. I just noticed when I'm on my desktop computer, that option isn't there...
The first six seasons of Red Dwarf (1988-93) were indeed hilarious. After a four-year break the series returned in 1997 but sadly the hilarity had gone AWOL. What happened??
Remake: Bataan or any other such WW II pacific movie. The pacific theatre and Korean War need an equivalent of Saving Private Ryan where the conditions and fighting were far more primitive.
Reboot: Banana Spllits Club. The relationship between our 4 heroes and The Sour Grapes is woefully, pitifully under explored!
Refer: Steranko History of Comics Volume 1 and 2. I have a sense few of us have read these 2 gems from this legend. And the full page spreads from Steranko, Kirby, Everett, Beck... Yoza? Yowza, yowza. Also music from Basia and Patricia Kaas!
Regrets: Professional baseball. I feel like a traitor to the red, white, and blue but the sport bores the crapola out of me anymore.
Well, under the umbrella of remakes/reboots, I'd love to see some classic characters like Tarzan, Conan, or John Carter redone just right (by which I mean the way I'd like them done :)) They keep trying, but never quite seem to get it perfect, which makes it harder the next time around, since mainstream audiences are still thinking of the last (failed) attempt.
I'd like to see a Jon Sable TV series. It was tried in the 80s (with Rene Russo, I think) but the general public isn't familiar with the character, so I think it could bring the comic into the public consciousness if done properly. Ditto for American Flagg or Transmetropolitan.
Regrets ... I've had a few. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) There are plenty of things I've watched/read because the consensus said they were brilliant, but for me they turned out to be duds. One that comes to mind is the Big Lebowski; I just can't see what the appeal of that movie is. I guess the Coen Brothers are too post-modern for me ... or maybe I'm just too stupid to see the point.
This worked out well, it did! (And Red, thanks for the connection assist--)
My own 22 cents (because. . . inflation. . . ):
Remake: I am also firmly in the camp that true Classics are best left as they are. More often than not, they are completely of their time (I'm thinking movies for the most part), so if a choice is made to update them and make them more "now", to me it makes the effort more pedestrian, and kills the appeal of the film immediately. There are exceptions of course. Every one of the three "Classic" versions of A STAR IS BORN hold up in their respective eras, and are bolstered by some very strong performances. I hear there's a new one in the works. Heck, you couldn't even remake NETWORK right now because the current reality has far outstripped the impossible-seeming extremes of the film. I wonder. . . if we're at a place in our current state of multiple political and societal crises where revisiting some of Frank Capra's populist films might be called for? MR DEEDS, MR SMITH, JOHN DOE--- so idealistic and naive, perhaps-- but still an appeal to our all-too-entirely absent better-angels at the moment.
Reboot: I'm gonna say it: WITHOUT starting with yet another drawn out origin tale, I think a live-action, Netflix or CW-style FANTASTIC FOUR television series would be what saves that poor, orphaned franchise. The continuity of a LONGER STORY ARC is what makes family-based series work, yes? THAT'S what should be happening with the FF, not a cascade of snowballing box office disasters. . . A TV series could honestly be the perfect fit.
Refer: The brief HEC RAMSEY old west detective series from the NBC Mystery Movie rotation (correct?). Only about 8 episodes, maybe. Starring a greatly scraggly Richard Boone. I really liked it during its brief run--- unfortunately, it has NEVER BEEN RELEASED ON DVD! At least not in this country. I'm not a big believer in traditional westerns as a genre anymore, as I think that fictitious Frontier Justice mentality is now a resurgent plague in a segment of our population, but there are several that I've always enjoyed. Heck, maybe this one needs a reboot, in fact? I would normally include FIREFLY in this category, but I feel like EVERYONE who ever saw it loved it beyond measure. . . so the only folks that didn't "get" it were the programming chiefs at Fox at the time. Oh Geeze! And PUSHING DAISIES! Man, very high on the list, that one. Also DEAD LIKE ME. . .
Regrets: Man-- the original TWIN PEAKS. Got it from the library, watched four episodes and just turned it off about 10 minutes into the fifth. I absolutely hated it. Did not resonate with me one bit. Dull, smirkingly-moody, no sympathetic protagonist, a dead girl who could not POSSIBLY have juggled the 12 dozen dark subterfuges she seemed to be running. Ugh. In films, HBWife and I left the theater at the end of FERRIS BUELLER desperately wanting him to be caught and to have to own up to some shred of responsibility. Did not like that character or message at all. Also, FRIENDS-- never been able to sit through an episode.
Don't get me going on what my opinion on I LOVE LUCY evolved into as I've gotten older. . .
Remake: Blacula. William Marshall was great, but I'd love to see Michael B Jordan as a modern take on the concept. Get Jordan (Get Out) Peele directing, and we could have the first great vampire movie in ages.
Reboot: the Flintstones, but in the style of the recent Mark Russell & Steve Pugh comics. Darkly funny, moving, and heavy on social satire, it could be the next great prime time animated series.
Refer: Reaper: a comedy about the son of the devil in the modern world, it lasted one or two seasons in the early '00s. As the devil, Ray Wise stole every scene he was in.
Regret: Since other mentioned Friends & The Big Leboeski, I'll say The Greatful Dead. The songs aren't good enough to stick in my head, and I found Jerry Garcia's voice annoying.
Remake: Cotton Comes to Harlem, but set in the late 1950s like the original novel.
Reboot: the Green Hornet TV series, starring Jon Hamm (as Britt Reid), John Cho (as Kato) and Kristen Wiig (as Casey) - in my ideal iteration, Casey would have a much bigger role, maybe even being the brains of the whole group; set in either the modern day or in some past era, like the 1960s or even late 1940s.
Refer: something I discovered recently - the Detectorists, a comedy series starring Mackenzie Crook (best known for his roles in the UK version of The Office and as one of the comic relief characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies) and Toby Jones (an almost ubiquitous English supporting actor who's appeared in tons of British and American movies and TV shows since the early 1990s - you may not recognize the name, but you'll recognize him as soon as you see him). It's very low-key, but absolutely brilliant, can't recommend it enough.
Regret: any number of books/series written by Grant Morrison, which came warmly recommended and on which I spent hard-earned cash, only to be underwhelmed or outright disappointed, mainly Flex Mentallo, Kill Your Boyfriend, Seven Soldiers and Sea Guy.
Welp, my own fault for not getting around to finishing the first season of REAPER (which was getting better as it went along--)--
Once a series is 15+ years old, I guess it falls plumb off the spoiler-alert watch list. . . ha! (Mike, I had NO IDEA that Sam was the Devil's son-! Which means. . . I left off with him becoming romantically entangled with. . . his own sister???) (And yeah, Ray Wise is just perfect in that role-!)
Also, back when I was rattling on about Remake-- I somehow COMPLETELY forgot to offer my primary suggestion: METROPOLIS. Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS. I feel like there might be some gold to be mined there if it sticks to (and possibly deepens) the human stories that are in play.
REMAKE: I’d like to see a Hitchcock film remade - but don’t groan as I’m not talking about the classics. I think “Frenzy” and “Family Plot” his last two films had some promising ideas but really were not executed well. Plus they were mired in bad 70s styles and mood. I think they can be remade with some decent twists and suspense.
REBOOT: HB mentioned “Hec Ramsey” and I agree but I’d like to see the whole “Sunday Night Mystery Movie” wheel of programs return. It doesn’t have to be the same characters - I’d actually hate to see a new “Columbo” but just the rotating concept would intrigue me. Made for TV mysteries have really paled since those days. In fact, I’d like to see an anthology series of any style - a good short story suspense tale each week with different stars and styles could be fun.
REFER: And speaking of anthologies, I recommend the series “Black Mirror,” a British anthology modern suspense series. I think you can find it on Netflix. I like the series but it’s not for everyone as it can be dark. But I particularly recommend one episode from Season 4. It is called “USS Callister” and it follows a pseudo Star Trek adventure (I won’t reveal too much) that is both parody and a great homage at the same time. I think many here would enjoy it.
REGRET: So so many that I had trouble thinking of just one! I regretted starting to watch the new Westworld series. I really wanted to like it and despite being slightly curious about what would happen, I only made it through a few episodes and just never went back. It just never hooked me.
Fine subject today; kudos to Prowl and HB for their 'Marvel Team-Up'!
Remake: I too lean towards remaking something flawed, rather than attempting to exceed something already perfect. So, how about "Fahrenheit 451"? It was adapted in film from Ray Bradbury's classic, but I think it would be ideal for today's creative technology (and for today's socio-political milieu).
Reboot: "Car 54, Where are You". We haven't had a cop show comedy for awhile, and Barney Miller was too good to surpass. "54" was a classic too,but seems largely forgotten today. So it might be ripe for a funny buddy show...
Refer: Neil the Horse. An indie treasure from the 80's, courtesy of Arn Saba (now Katherine Collins). A truly charming, imaginitive, unique series that has been criminally overlooked. Just recently a collected edition was released; I bought a copy on Amazon and was enraptured all over again. The original comics can be found for a pittance, but the collection has excellent reproduction, heavy stock and some nice extras. Plus it might help persuade Ms. Collins to release some new Neil material...
Regrets: Any of the Mike Myers Austin Powers films. I found them excruciatingly bad, stupid, sophomoric, and a sorry loss of the time spent watching them.
Remake: Even though I love love love the original, I'd be interested to see an updated version of "Enter The Dragon". It's a perfect movie plot to redo with some cool modern martial arts stunts (ala, Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa, etc.).
Reboot: This is borderline sacrilege but I'd love to see a reboot of "Columbo". It's one of (if not my all-time) favorite shows, and I'd love to see it continue. The problem is that Peter Falk was so much that character that I doubt anyone else could even come close to pulling it off. However, I think it would be interesting to see it attempted. But only if they stuck with the original formula of showing the murder up front (with a guest celebrity killer) and then having Columbo solve it in one episode with no annoying, dangling, soap opera style sub-plots to try to force the viewer to keep tuning in week after week.
Refer: I've referred this before, but I'll do it again. I really like the French cartoonist Guy DeLisle. He mostly does illustrated travelogues, but he has also done a graphic novel or two. My favorite book of his is called "Pyongyang: A Journey In North Korea". It's fascinating, and easy reading. I highly recommend it.
Regret: The recent DC Animated movie "Batman: Ninja". I usually like most of the DC Animated movies (and I love me some Batman), so I thought this would be a safe bet…I was wrong (so very wrong). It's a Batman movie done Anime style by some big name Japanese animators, so I figured it would at least be good on some level. However, I got about 20 minutes in and realized I'd made a terrible mistake. It's just too stupid to even be bad-good. It seems that the Japanese just don't "get" Batman. Must be a cultural thing or something. I haven't even been able to finish watching it because I keep falling asleep every time I try. That's $12.99 I'm never getting back. What makes it even worse is that my local library now has both the DVD and Blu-Ray that I could have checked out for free.
@ Colin-- To my mind, "Remake" is primarily when a single, stand-alone work (specifically with movies, really) gets. . . made again. Usually updating the material to keep it contemporary, while keeping characters, story, etc more or less recognizably intact-- like the STAR IS BORN remakes I mentioned, or all of the KING KONG remake attempts, or CAPE FEAR. I think this also includes when films from one language are re-made in another, like SEVEN SAMURAI/MAGNIFICENT SEVEN or the French and then American versions of THREE MEN AND A BABY.
"Reboot" suggests to me that a more serialized work (TV series; comic book series; movie franchise, etc) is tossing out its established continuity completely, and starting to tell its "story" again from the very beginning. Like the three versions of SPIDER-MAN movie franchises in the last 20 years, or how both the DC and Marvel comics universes keep starting over when the writers can't handle (or respect) complex continuity, or the recent HAWAII 5-0 TV series.
Sorry for the Reaper spoiler, HB. My recollections aren't always spot-on, & I forgot that it wasn't revealed that the devil was the main character's father at the beginning. Come to think of it, that might have been a plot line contested by the characters (but it seemed obvious to me).
Redartz, have you watched Brooklyn Nine Nine? It's a cop comedy that I find very funny. It's less broad (usually) and Andy Samberg can be an acquired taste, but Andre Braugher's unflappable chief is one of my favorite characters on any current show.
22 comments:
And at the stroke of 7:00 a.m., HB turned into . . . “The Proxy!”
Mornin’ Teammates!
Prowler has a SOLID Follow The Leader post/question he’d like to offer up, and he’s gleaned that I’m often up and checking my emails & computer right at the time Red & Marti send out the new ones, SO--- I’m pleased & honored to forward this dispatch from the ProwlCave. . .(ProwlLair? Fortress of Prowlertude. . . ?):
“One question, four parts:
Remake: What classic do you think is ready for a remake?
Reboot: What classic TV series or Movie franchise is plum pickings for a reboot?
Refer: What overlooked nugget needs another viewing? Something that may have missed the mainstream it's first time around? Could be anything, film, TV series, book series, album etc etc etc...
Regret: Something you tried and just didn't like. A real swing and a miss, in your opinion. Something we should stay away from...”
I like this post a lot, as it lends itself easily to short, direct replies as well as to in-depth ruminations on folks’ personal old movie/TV (and more) favorites.! Back myself later on. . .
HB (Herald of Prowler)
Oh wait—need a song:
Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip,
That started from this tropic port,
Aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin’ man,
The Skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers that sailed that day
For a three hour tour. . .
A threeee hour toooour. . .
(etc, etc, etc)
Addendum/Post title suggestion:
"The 4 RRRR's"
(If that's lame, it is TOTALLY on me---)
HB
Apologies for being dumb but questions 1 and 2 seem to be asking the same thing...anyway,
1/2) I'd like to see a remake of Planet Of The Apes. Yes, yes, I know there was recently an excellent rebooted POTA trilogy but it was a remake of "Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes" which ended with Caesar's death. I want to see a remake of the 1968 film with the apes wearing their classic uniforms and Taylor kneeling before the Statue of Liberty shouting "You maniacs, damn you all to HELL!!!!"
3) As a life-long fan of Conan The Barbarian I want everyone to read Robert E. Howard's classic tales.
4) I tried mango chutney and regretted it. I love tinned mangos/mango juice and chutney is delicious so I should love mango chutney, right?...WRONG!!! I bought a jar of mango chutney and it was utterly horrible. I tipped the entire lot on my garden.
This is actually kind of tough.
Remake: I'm going to preface this by referring back to that old Siskel & Ebert gem, that you shouldn't remake good movies, you should remake bad ones. And so in that spirit I offer Catwoman. Once more with feeling, Hollywood.
Reboot: The Six-million Dollar Man. No brainer. This is six seasons and a movie, if done well.
Refer: Space: Above and Beyond. Sundays with football not followed by this series have always felt a little emptier. There were solid concepts and characters that tended to get a bit mired in the conspiratorial ethos of the X-Files, but still a lot of fun.
Regret: The Lord of the Rings. Books and movies. They just keep getting more sour to me. There were two great fantasy trilogies to come out of immediate post-war Britain, one was Tolkien the other was well-written. Color me a Gormenghast fan.
Thanks for a RRRRipping good topic!
Big thanks to my main man, HB!!! You rock...
Remake: I'll join the growing list of online people who are calling for a remake of Logan's Run. If nothing comes out of the current talks, then I also include Fantastic Voyage. And you can't mention Fantastic Voyage without thinking of the Fantastic Raquel Welch, so I would also throw out three of her movies Fathom, Hannie Caulder and Mother Jugs and Speed. I would suggest Sophia Vergara for all three remakes but that's just me...
Reboot: The early 00s series Mutant X. If you remember it at all, the basic plot was a rogue geneticist and his creations. You could really play up the High Evolutionary theme and take it from there. Either The Pretender or Quantum Leap. I loved both shows and I would really like to see them rebooted, either as a series or series of movies. Same thing with Stargate SG-1. Is it too early to look back at them and wish for a movies series reboot?
Refer: If you have never seen either Red Dwarf or the UK Being Human, stop what you're doing and find them. NOW!!! Go on, I'll keep typing till you get back. Red Dwarf is something I don't even in clips on the internet and it is hilarious!!! HILL-AERIE-USSS!!! I kid you not. And the UK version of Being Human was just so solid an effort. Just the scene were Annie and George go to rescue Mitchell is worth watching the whole series...
Regret: Stay away from the CW's Riverdale. Please, avoid this like the plague. Every premise that they tried to establish in the first three episodes is totally forgotten in every episode since. You will never, NEVER, get your time back...
One last thing, and this is personal to me, The Prowler, I really don't like the rebooted Star Trek. The first movie was good. Solid but then it's just petered out. (Sorry Peter, didn't mean to single you out).
(I know a girl she was a waitress
Had a big spirit till she let her boyfriend break it
He always talked her down
Took her pride and kicked it around
Took it as long as she could take it
She left a note on the dresser and hung up her apron
Cry cry till the sun shines baby
Cry cry till the sun shines
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright baby
Ooh
I know a man who tried to ease his mind
Chased his regrets with any bottle he could find
Life cut him down so low
Took his pride and broke his soul
Till he forgave himself and let it go
Cry cry till the sun shines baby
Cry cry till the sun shines
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright baby
Ooh ooh
We're all here just trying to live our lives
Pay our electric bills and spending up our time
There ain't a friend to be found
Who can't break through the concrete clouds
When the rain when the rain comes crashing down
Ooh yeah
Cry cry till the sun shines baby
Cry cry till the sun shines
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright oh yeah
Cry cry till the sun shines baby
Cry cry till the sun shines
It's gonna be alright
It's gonna be alright baby
Ooh).
PS: Thanks HB, it was perfect.
Quick addendum:
When I post on my computer, there is an option under my screen name to "Email follow-up comments to your email". When I go to this site on my phone, under each posting is a "reply" option. I just noticed when I'm on my desktop computer, that option isn't there...
I think that's what caused the confusion HB.
The first six seasons of Red Dwarf (1988-93) were indeed hilarious. After a four-year break the series returned in 1997 but sadly the hilarity had gone AWOL. What happened??
Remake: Bataan or any other such WW II pacific movie. The pacific theatre and Korean War need an equivalent of Saving Private Ryan where the conditions and fighting were far more primitive.
Reboot: Banana Spllits Club. The relationship between our 4 heroes and The Sour Grapes is woefully, pitifully under explored!
Refer: Steranko History of Comics Volume 1 and 2. I have a sense few of us have read these 2 gems from this legend. And the full page spreads from Steranko, Kirby, Everett, Beck... Yoza? Yowza, yowza. Also music from Basia and Patricia Kaas!
Regrets: Professional baseball. I feel like a traitor to the red, white, and blue but the sport bores the crapola out of me anymore.
Well, under the umbrella of remakes/reboots, I'd love to see some classic characters like Tarzan, Conan, or John Carter redone just right (by which I mean the way I'd like them done :)) They keep trying, but never quite seem to get it perfect, which makes it harder the next time around, since mainstream audiences are still thinking of the last (failed) attempt.
I'd like to see a Jon Sable TV series. It was tried in the 80s (with Rene Russo, I think) but the general public isn't familiar with the character, so I think it could bring the comic into the public consciousness if done properly. Ditto for American Flagg or Transmetropolitan.
Regrets ... I've had a few. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) There are plenty of things I've watched/read because the consensus said they were brilliant, but for me they turned out to be duds. One that comes to mind is the Big Lebowski; I just can't see what the appeal of that movie is. I guess the Coen Brothers are too post-modern for me ... or maybe I'm just too stupid to see the point.
This worked out well, it did!
(And Red, thanks for the connection assist--)
My own 22 cents (because. . . inflation. . . ):
Remake: I am also firmly in the camp that true Classics are best left as they are. More often than not, they are completely of their time (I'm thinking movies for the most part), so if a choice is made to update them and make them more "now", to me it makes the effort more pedestrian, and kills the appeal of the film immediately. There are exceptions of course. Every one of the three "Classic" versions of A STAR IS BORN hold up in their respective eras, and are bolstered by some very strong performances. I hear there's a new one in the works. Heck, you couldn't even remake NETWORK right now because the current reality has far outstripped the impossible-seeming extremes of the film. I wonder. . . if we're at a place in our current state of multiple political and societal crises where revisiting some of Frank Capra's populist films might be called for? MR DEEDS, MR SMITH, JOHN DOE--- so idealistic and naive, perhaps-- but still an appeal to our all-too-entirely absent better-angels at the moment.
Reboot: I'm gonna say it: WITHOUT starting with yet another drawn out origin tale, I think a live-action, Netflix or CW-style FANTASTIC FOUR television series would be what saves that poor, orphaned franchise. The continuity of a LONGER STORY ARC is what makes family-based series work, yes? THAT'S what should be happening with the FF, not a cascade of snowballing box office disasters. . . A TV series could honestly be the perfect fit.
Refer: The brief HEC RAMSEY old west detective series from the NBC Mystery Movie rotation (correct?). Only about 8 episodes, maybe. Starring a greatly scraggly Richard Boone. I really liked it during its brief run--- unfortunately, it has NEVER BEEN RELEASED ON DVD! At least not in this country. I'm not a big believer in traditional westerns as a genre anymore, as I think that fictitious Frontier Justice mentality is now a resurgent plague in a segment of our population, but there are several that I've always enjoyed. Heck, maybe this one needs a reboot, in fact?
I would normally include FIREFLY in this category, but I feel like EVERYONE who ever saw it loved it beyond measure. . . so the only folks that didn't "get" it were the programming chiefs at Fox at the time.
Oh Geeze! And PUSHING DAISIES! Man, very high on the list, that one. Also DEAD LIKE ME. . .
Regrets: Man-- the original TWIN PEAKS. Got it from the library, watched four episodes and just turned it off about 10 minutes into the fifth. I absolutely hated it. Did not resonate with me one bit. Dull, smirkingly-moody, no sympathetic protagonist, a dead girl who could not POSSIBLY have juggled the 12 dozen dark subterfuges she seemed to be running. Ugh. In films, HBWife and I left the theater at the end of FERRIS BUELLER desperately wanting him to be caught and to have to own up to some shred of responsibility. Did not like that character or message at all. Also, FRIENDS-- never been able to sit through an episode.
Don't get me going on what my opinion on I LOVE LUCY evolved into as I've gotten older. . .
HB
Remake: Blacula. William Marshall was great, but I'd love to see Michael B Jordan as a modern take on the concept. Get Jordan (Get Out) Peele directing, and we could have the first great vampire movie in ages.
Reboot: the Flintstones, but in the style of the recent Mark Russell & Steve Pugh comics. Darkly funny, moving, and heavy on social satire, it could be the next great prime time animated series.
Refer: Reaper: a comedy about the son of the devil in the modern world, it lasted one or two seasons in the early '00s. As the devil, Ray Wise stole every scene he was in.
Regret: Since other mentioned Friends & The Big Leboeski, I'll say The Greatful Dead. The songs aren't good enough to stick in my head, and I found Jerry Garcia's voice annoying.
Great topic, Prowler!
- Mike Loughlin
Remake: Cotton Comes to Harlem, but set in the late 1950s like the original novel.
Reboot: the Green Hornet TV series, starring Jon Hamm (as Britt Reid), John Cho (as Kato) and Kristen Wiig (as Casey) - in my ideal iteration, Casey would have a much bigger role, maybe even being the brains of the whole group; set in either the modern day or in some past era, like the 1960s or even late 1940s.
Refer: something I discovered recently - the Detectorists, a comedy series starring Mackenzie Crook (best known for his roles in the UK version of The Office and as one of the comic relief characters in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies) and Toby Jones (an almost ubiquitous English supporting actor who's appeared in tons of British and American movies and TV shows since the early 1990s - you may not recognize the name, but you'll recognize him as soon as you see him). It's very low-key, but absolutely brilliant, can't recommend it enough.
Regret: any number of books/series written by Grant Morrison, which came warmly recommended and on which I spent hard-earned cash, only to be underwhelmed or outright disappointed, mainly Flex Mentallo, Kill Your Boyfriend, Seven Soldiers and Sea Guy.
Oof!
Welp, my own fault for not getting around to finishing the first season of REAPER (which was getting better as it went along--)--
Once a series is 15+ years old, I guess it falls plumb off the spoiler-alert watch list. . . ha! (Mike, I had NO IDEA that Sam was the Devil's son-! Which means. . . I left off with him becoming romantically entangled with. . . his own sister???) (And yeah, Ray Wise is just perfect in that role-!)
Also, back when I was rattling on about Remake-- I somehow COMPLETELY forgot to offer my primary suggestion: METROPOLIS. Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS. I feel like there might be some gold to be mined there if it sticks to (and possibly deepens) the human stories that are in play.
HB
Great topic! Fun for all!
REMAKE: I’d like to see a Hitchcock film remade - but don’t groan as I’m not talking about the classics. I think “Frenzy” and “Family Plot” his last two films had some promising ideas but really were not executed well. Plus they were mired in bad 70s styles and mood. I think they can be remade with some decent twists and suspense.
REBOOT: HB mentioned “Hec Ramsey” and I agree but I’d like to see the whole “Sunday Night Mystery Movie” wheel of programs return. It doesn’t have to be the same characters - I’d actually hate to see a new “Columbo” but just the rotating concept would intrigue me. Made for TV mysteries have really paled since those days. In fact, I’d like to see an anthology series of any style - a good short story suspense tale each week with different stars and styles could be fun.
REFER: And speaking of anthologies, I recommend the series “Black Mirror,” a British anthology modern suspense series. I think you can find it on Netflix. I like the series but it’s not for everyone as it can be dark. But I particularly recommend one episode from Season 4. It is called “USS Callister” and it follows a pseudo Star Trek adventure (I won’t reveal too much) that is both parody and a great homage at the same time. I think many here would enjoy it.
REGRET: So so many that I had trouble thinking of just one! I regretted starting to watch the new Westworld series. I really wanted to like it and despite being slightly curious about what would happen, I only made it through a few episodes and just never went back. It just never hooked me.
Cheers!
Fine subject today; kudos to Prowl and HB for their 'Marvel Team-Up'!
Remake: I too lean towards remaking something flawed, rather than attempting to exceed something already perfect. So, how about "Fahrenheit 451"? It was adapted in film from Ray Bradbury's classic, but I think it would be ideal for today's creative technology (and for today's socio-political milieu).
Reboot: "Car 54, Where are You". We haven't had a cop show comedy for awhile, and Barney Miller was too good to surpass. "54" was a classic too,but seems largely forgotten today. So it might be ripe for a funny buddy show...
Refer: Neil the Horse. An indie treasure from the 80's, courtesy of Arn Saba (now Katherine Collins). A truly charming, imaginitive, unique series that has been criminally overlooked. Just recently a collected edition was released; I bought a copy on Amazon and was enraptured all over again. The original comics can be found for a pittance, but the collection has excellent reproduction, heavy stock and some nice extras. Plus it might help persuade Ms. Collins to release some new Neil material...
Regrets: Any of the Mike Myers Austin Powers films. I found them excruciatingly bad, stupid, sophomoric, and a sorry loss of the time spent watching them.
Remake: Even though I love love love the original, I'd be interested to see an updated version of "Enter The Dragon". It's a perfect movie plot to redo with some cool modern martial arts stunts (ala, Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa, etc.).
Reboot: This is borderline sacrilege but I'd love to see a reboot of "Columbo". It's one of (if not my all-time) favorite shows, and I'd love to see it continue. The problem is that Peter Falk was so much that character that I doubt anyone else could even come close to pulling it off. However, I think it would be interesting to see it attempted. But only if they stuck with the original formula of showing the murder up front (with a guest celebrity killer) and then having Columbo solve it in one episode with no annoying, dangling, soap opera style sub-plots to try to force the viewer to keep tuning in week after week.
Refer: I've referred this before, but I'll do it again. I really like the French cartoonist Guy DeLisle. He mostly does illustrated travelogues, but he has also done a graphic novel or two. My favorite book of his is called "Pyongyang: A Journey In North Korea". It's fascinating, and easy reading. I highly recommend it.
Regret: The recent DC Animated movie "Batman: Ninja". I usually like most of the DC Animated movies (and I love me some Batman), so I thought this would be a safe bet…I was wrong (so very wrong). It's a Batman movie done Anime style by some big name Japanese animators, so I figured it would at least be good on some level. However, I got about 20 minutes in and realized I'd made a terrible mistake. It's just too stupid to even be bad-good. It seems that the Japanese just don't "get" Batman. Must be a cultural thing or something. I haven't even been able to finish watching it because I keep falling asleep every time I try. That's $12.99 I'm never getting back. What makes it even worse is that my local library now has both the DVD and Blu-Ray that I could have checked out for free.
I still don't understand the difference between a remake and a reboot...sorry, Prowler :)
@ Colin-- To my mind, "Remake" is primarily when a single, stand-alone work (specifically with movies, really) gets. . . made again. Usually updating the material to keep it contemporary, while keeping characters, story, etc more or less recognizably intact-- like the STAR IS BORN remakes I mentioned, or all of the KING KONG remake attempts, or CAPE FEAR. I think this also includes when films from one language are re-made in another, like SEVEN SAMURAI/MAGNIFICENT SEVEN or the French and then American versions of THREE MEN AND A BABY.
"Reboot" suggests to me that a more serialized work (TV series; comic book series; movie franchise, etc) is tossing out its established continuity completely, and starting to tell its "story" again from the very beginning. Like the three versions of SPIDER-MAN movie franchises in the last 20 years, or how both the DC and Marvel comics universes keep starting over when the writers can't handle (or respect) complex continuity, or the recent HAWAII 5-0 TV series.
HB
Sorry for the Reaper spoiler, HB. My recollections aren't always spot-on, & I forgot that it wasn't revealed that the devil was the main character's father at the beginning. Come to think of it, that might have been a plot line contested by the characters (but it seemed obvious to me).
Redartz, have you watched Brooklyn Nine Nine? It's a cop comedy that I find very funny. It's less broad (usually) and Andy Samberg can be an acquired taste, but Andre Braugher's unflappable chief is one of my favorite characters on any current show.
- Mike Loughlin
Mike L- No, actually I haven't seen Brooklyn Nine Nine. But based upon your recommendation, I'll certainly give it a look. Thanks for the heads up!
Although I've only seen a few episodes, I can warmly second Mike L's recommendation of Brooklyn Nine Nine. Very funny show.
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