Comments on: For Your Consideration … http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/ Movies, TV and Popular Culture with Rich Heldenfels Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:45:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Rich Heldenfels http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/#comment-744 Rich Heldenfels Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:35:18 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/?p=888#comment-744 Hmm, interesting thoughts. Would have to agree on ''Battlestar Galactica'' based on my colleagues' reactions (I haven't seen it much) and the awfulness of the original. I liked the original ''Ocean's Eleven,'' especially the downbeat ending, so I might make that a tie. Not sure about ''The Office'' -- although the U.S. version has managed to be good for far more episodes than the original had to come up with. I prefer the original ''The Thing.'' Not sure about ''Maltese Falcon,'' since you start with Hammett's book; does a second movie version of a book qualify as a remake, or as something different done with the source material? That's a particular issue with mysteries, since they get done and redone, but not just mysteries. What about other shifts in media? Is TV's ''Peyton Place'' a remake of the movie or, again, just a reuse of the book? Still, I have to concede that there are indeed remakes better than the original, and I should have thought about it more before posting. Still interested in other ideas from you folks. May get a column out of this. Hmm, interesting thoughts. Would have to agree on "Battlestar Galactica" based on my colleagues' reactions (I haven't seen it much) and the awfulness of the original. I liked the original "Ocean's Eleven," especially the downbeat ending, so I might make that a tie. Not sure about "The Office" — although the U.S. version has managed to be good for far more episodes than the original had to come up with. I prefer the original "The Thing."

Not sure about "Maltese Falcon," since you start with Hammett's book; does a second movie version of a book qualify as a remake, or as something different done with the source material? That's a particular issue with mysteries, since they get done and redone, but not just mysteries. What about other shifts in media? Is TV's "Peyton Place" a remake of the movie or, again, just a reuse of the book?

Still, I have to concede that there are indeed remakes better than the original, and I should have thought about it more before posting.

Still interested in other ideas from you folks. May get a column out of this.

]]> By: Roger http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/#comment-743 Roger Sat, 23 Dec 2006 22:07:49 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/?p=888#comment-743 How about Ocean's Eleven? While it wasn't spectacular, it was a good sight better than the Rat Pack version which simply thought they could get by on charisma alone, IMO. How about Ocean's Eleven? While it wasn't spectacular, it was a good sight better than the Rat Pack version which simply thought they could get by on charisma alone, IMO.

]]> By: larry d. http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/#comment-742 larry d. Sat, 23 Dec 2006 16:43:05 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/?p=888#comment-742 I'd disagree but I'm sure there are lots of Star Trek fans who think the new ones are superior to the original. Or is that too obvious? I'd disagree but I'm sure there are lots of Star Trek fans who think the new ones are superior to the original. Or is that too obvious?

]]> By: dan. http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/#comment-741 dan. Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:21:23 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/?p=888#comment-741 Here are my five favorite: The Thing Cape Fear Dawn of the Dead Scarface Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Here are my five favorite:

The Thing

Cape Fear

Dawn of the Dead

Scarface

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

]]> By: Anon. http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/#comment-740 Anon. Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:21:33 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/?p=888#comment-740 "The Maltese Falcon" (1931) remade into the "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) with Bogart, Mary Astor, & Peter Lorre. It's a bit of a stretch, "Coupling" (UK) was remake better than the original "Friends" (US) "The Maltese Falcon" (1931) remade into the "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) with Bogart, Mary Astor, & Peter Lorre.

It's a bit of a stretch, "Coupling" (UK) was remake better than the original "Friends" (US)

]]> By: Gus http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/2006/12/19/for-your-consideration/#comment-739 Gus Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:46:36 +0000 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/heldenfiles/?p=888#comment-739 Battlestar Gallactica--I'm not much of a fan of the current show (simply because I didn't start watching until mid-way through last season and I'm still a little lost), but it is certainly better than what I've seen of the original. I guess one could make the argument for Doctor Who as well, but I consider the new version more of a continuation than a "remake." And I won't go so far as to say that it is always better than the original, but the American version of The Office generally equals the British version (and does surpass it at times), which is surprising considering how awful the American version of Coupling was. Battlestar Gallactica–I'm not much of a fan of the current show (simply because I didn't start watching until mid-way through last season and I'm still a little lost), but it is certainly better than what I've seen of the original.

I guess one could make the argument for Doctor Who as well, but I consider the new version more of a continuation than a "remake."

And I won't go so far as to say that it is always better than the original, but the American version of The Office generally equals the British version (and does surpass it at times), which is surprising considering how awful the American version of Coupling was.

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