>...
>>>>>>I mean, c'mon. Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt as Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy?????
>>>>>
>>>>>Why the hell have they done a remake of the cult classic "The Wicker Man", with a US island instead of a remote Hebridean, Nick Cage for Edward Woodward? I mean, what can you better in this film (even the Brit Ekland writhing dance song that was repro'd beautifully by the Sneaker Pimps)?
>>>>>
>>>>>I agree. I can think of several good novels that deserve being made into a film, but they just keep remaking old classics. OTOH, IMHO the newer "Cape Fear" (talking of Robert Mitchum) was better than the old, but, say, "The Four Feathers" was, what, 7 times made into a major film (so I'm told, though I've only seen 2 of them) and the book is dull as dishwater, I think I've seen 3 versions of "The Alamo". It's as if the movie moguls think there's no more storied to convert.
>>>>
>>>>I agree wholeheartedly about 'Wicker Man'. When I heard it was being remade with Nicholas Cage (who I don't hate or anything), my heart dropped.
>>>
>>>And you've seen the original? I seem to remember seeing a US comedy film where the grab-him-and-burn-him scene was lampooned. Can't think what it was (or was it a UK TV series where they definitely did that I'm thinking of?)
>>>>
>>>>As for Cape Fear, that's only because nobody is as coldly evil as Robert DeNiro. Although, when Mitchum played Powell in 'Night of the Hunter', that is about as evilly sinister as it gets.
>>>>
>>>>And I'm still waiting for a remake of Citizen Kane starring Steve Martin as Kane. Or 'Maltese Falcon' starring Gary Coleman (as Sam, not as the falcon).
>>>
>>>People flip over Citizen Kane, some even saying it's the best film ever. I've never watched it. I couldn't get through the first 10 mins without dying of boredom. Rather stare at breezeblock and floss my teeth. But why Steve Martin as Kane? That was a joke, right?
>>
>>You didn't think Gary Coleman in 'Falcon' was a joke?
>
>Well I'm not sure of the character's name but I was thinking of Surface Agent X2-0 (I mean Peter Lorre). Well he AND Oldman are both comically sinister.

Gary Coleman was the tiny little black kid in that old TV series 'Different Strokes'. I tout him for the lead in everything. Think what a great Bond he would have made after Pierce Brosnan. Or think how much better the Bourne movies would have been with him instead of Matt Damon.

>>Steve Martin seems to be trying to remake everything with himself taking over for the icons. 'Father of the Bride' - Spencer Tracy, 'Cheaper by the Dozen' - Clifton Webb, 'Roxanne' (Cyrano) - José Ferrar, 'Pink Panther' - Peter Sellers, The Out of Towners - Jack Lemon. Granted a couple are only loosely remakes, but as far as I'm concerned re Steve Martin, enough is too much already.
>
>And don't forget his attempt at the impossible - to do Bilko in the film (Bilko without bald head and black glasses even!)

Yeah. I didn't bother to see it.

>>>Of the top of my head, the remake of "The Thing from Outer Space" - "The Thing" from way back in the 80's was exceptionally better than the orig. (gob-smacking SFX for the time, without CGI), as was "The Body Snatchers"
>>
>>With something like 'The Thing', well, what can I say. I liked the original 'Body Snatchers', better, but as you say, the remake had better technology.
>
>And a much better story line. The first was just boring - a tall humanoid figure in a block of ice for the 1st half of the film.

I was talking about 'Body Snatchers'. Richard Benjamin just doesn't do scary.

>>I'm not much for the idea that technology makes a movie good. The original Star Wars had excellent technology, but frankly, I didn't care. Cowboys and Indians in outer space did nothing for me, SFX or no.
>
>Well who were the cowbys and who the indians?

Should I have said, "Roy Rogers in Outer Space"?

>>I loved Citizen Kane. I'm one of those who thinks it's one of the alltime great movies. It's a movie with something to say. It's also a very visual/atmospheric movie without much in the way of SFX.
>
>Atmospheric-schmeric - lots of close-ups of people's brooding faces, wide eyes, glances, sweat on the brow. What was the story? (as I said - it bores me - maybe one day I'll have someone lash me to a seat and keep my eyes open with matchsticks and get to see what all the fuss is about).

I think it would be a good idea, but don't forget the vise to keep your head facing front.