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Monsters Ink

REMAKES: Good, Bad and WTF???

about 1 year ago Crockpot 529 posts	Okay, so Peter J. Hodgson wrote a journal entry that has inspired me to start a thread here. Horror remakes. We’ve all seen them. Everything from ‘updated’ versions of classics, ‘updated’ versions of movies that should have never been released in the first place, Americanized versions of Asian horror, rip-offs that don’t even classify as remakes, and occasionally the remake that actually leaves you feeling satisfied on some level. I’m gonna throw a few titles out there that have piqued my interest in a good way or in a devastating way… Toolbox Murders I loved this remake. The first one was clumsy, choppy and incoherent. The remake was cohesive, well-done and featured Angela Bettis – one of my fave horror gals. The Hills Have Eyes I loved the original – and I really liked the remake too…. for totally different reasons. They’re both great flicks. Rob Zombie’s Halloween A lot of people hated this movie, and I was not one of them. I love all Rob’s movies (and most of his music) – he’s a fucking genius. Admittedly my favorite part of the movie was the first half – I would have liked to have seen the second half be a bit more different than the original. STILL… we own this DVD and I will always defend its honor. Nosferatu WHY??????????? The Ring I think most people already agree with me on this one – the Americanized version is a joke. There’s NOTHING better about this movie in any way. The Eye I did NOT see the American version and I won’t. The original Asian flick was extremely well done and I wouldn’t change a thing. The Kingdom This was originally done as a tv series by Lars von Trier and was never finished because so much of the original cast died; however, the episodes that ARE available (on two DVD’s) are amazing. The grittiness and discoloration of the film, the array of actors, the complete mindfuck that IS Lars von Trier… it’s all perfect. When Stephen King got the rights to ‘finish’ or ‘redo’ the series – or whatever you want to call it – I couldn’t help but wonder WHY. King’s version is nothing more than a really long Twilight Zone movie. AND it’s completely different!!! Yes, he utilizes some of the same concepts but WTF about the giant anteater?? I just don’t even know what else to say… except that I’m reminded of The Simpson’s episode where King says his next movie will be about a lamp. I think that sums it up nicely. Okay horrorphiles – discuss! >:) And feel free to add all your hates/faves to the list.
about 1 year ago pedroville 20 posts	Interesting I dont know why I didnt include the remakes of Asian horror. Premonition A great and sambre movie that isnt strictly horror though some bits are a little creepsom. The americanized remake wasnt so great it stars Sandra Bollocks! and changes the story in a few key ways. It wont top the original. Ring Ring, Ring 2 and Ring 0: Birthday are just awesome horror movies, there is no dodgy flashy FX here and the film is very gritty and dark. There is a Korean remake of Ring entitled The Ring Virus which is ok but again isnt great. Lets not forget THE Ring (yes for some reason the remakers felt it was a good idea to put a THE before Ring!!!) These were tiresome to sit through. The Grudge (Juon) Scarier than the one with Buffy in it. This is a truly great movie. If memory serves I think that Stephen King remade The Kingdom as Kingdom Hospital because he was such a big fan of the original as he saw this when he had his little accident. Still no reason to remake a classic.
about 1 year ago Crockpot 529 posts	I agree about Juon but have to admit I’m sick to death of seeing pale chicks with long dark hair moping about, trying to scare people. I’m a goth girl at heart and always will be – but get over it already! LOL! I mean, by that notion I should be rich from all the skulking I do… >:)
about 1 year ago bchrisdesigns 360 posts	Movie re-makes (forgive me, I went a little crazy): Rob Zombie’s Halloween I HATED, absolutely hated, Rob Zombie’s Halloween! He practically ruined an icon for me. I grew up idolizing Michael Meyers, and in that single film I felt betrayed. I was so stoked for that movie and I believed Rob Zombie when he did interviews claiming that he would do the series justice. It was horrible – more horrible than when Halloween: Resurrection came out – and I was pretty pissed then too!!I shutter just thinking about it. It is the one movie in the entire series that I will refuse to own. I will even buy the third movie before I buy that slop!!!!! The Fog Ditto the above. What was John Carpenter thinking when he did an interview claiming that the re-make was what the original should have been? Did he not see the re-make? Was he paid big bucks to say that? Carpenter was always an idol of mine, and he lost so much credibility as I watched him condone the film in the DVD’s special features. The EYE Loved both. Loved ‘em! I cannot say enough good things! Equally creepy and equally disturbing! The re-make has deleted scenes that rock too! The Grudge I liked the original better, but the re-make was not bad either. It is one of those things where I like them both, but for different reasons! The Ring If I am being honest…I am not a fan of either. Sorry. Neither ever crept me out enough. Nosferatu I have mixed feelings about this but for reasons that could possibly be college term paper length. So let’s just move on… Texas Chainsaw Massacre Okay, so the re-make did not disturb and creep me out like the original. So, in goosebump terms, the original is way better. However, the re-make did entertain me and so I ended up liking it for what it was – a designer impostor posing as the real thing. The Hills Have Eyes Loved both. The re-make actually disturbed me a little more than the original and I cannot figure out why. I watch both and both always make me think “this movie is so kick ass!” The Blob Again, I like them both because they were both so cheesy! The Thing I like the 80’s re-make way better. I dunno, it was just creepier to me. When A Stranger Calls Some could argue that SCREAM was the first re-make of this movie, but I actually liked SCREAM. But, then they had to re-make the actual movie and destroy it!!! So do not see the re-make of this movie…watch the original because it is so much scarier!!!!! King Kong Okay, so I actually liked the Jack Black starring re-make. It was not as good as the original and was mostly about the CGI, but I had fun watching it. So, it measures up. The Mummy Okay, so there have been two re-makes of this franchise – one starring Brenden Frasier and the other starring that guy from Home Improvement (and, no, I do not mean Tim Allen). The first was more action-adventure epic as opposed to horror masterpiece and the latter re-make should have never even made it onto DVD. I happen to like the Brenden Frasier franchise a whole lot but do not really consider it a horror movie at all. An American Werewolf in… I know, I know…the two films in this series could hardly be called re-makes – one happened in London and the other in Paris. But, the second movie did not continue the plot of the original but rather borrowed from it and set it in a different place but with similar circumstances -sort of like all those Asian-horror re-makes. The first one is a classic that no one can top and the second…well, it isn’t. Psycho So, can we please cut the masturbating Vince Vaughn a break? No? Well, then at least give Anne Heche some credit? No? Well, it was worth a try. When I first watched this re-make, I was so pissed off because I am a HUGE fan of the original and nobody, not even Heche, can replace Janet Leigh. But, the more I watch it, the more it grows on me. It is a total Monet. I mean, I cannot fully say that I like it. And, I still think it was a horrible idea. But, you know…it is a lot like Rye Krisps – you start off disgusted but after you munch on your tenth one you are like sort of diggin’ it. The Haunting The original is so much better. See the original first!!!! And Then There Were None They re-made this mystery/slasher flick back in the eighties and took it off of the island and set in a desert safari. See the original. It is better. Way better! The Amityville Horror What can I say? I like them both. The original is way more creepy, but the re-make did a good job with the psychological horror part of it. The Fly I was never a fan of either. Dawn of the Dead The first was scarier but the second was more fun to watch. Flip a coin! The Stepford Wives The original was a psychological thriller, while the re-make was more romantic sci-fi comedy. I like them both but would never consider the re-make to be a thriller. The Omen I loved the original and have yet to see the re-make. Just can’t bring myself to see it. I will, eventually, though. Prom Night Ditto the above. The House on Haunted Hill I am a huge Famke Jansen and Geoffrey Rush fan, but I could just not get into this re-make. The original is more haunting. Although, in the re-make Chris Kattan gets whacked and that is always a plus! Thirteen Ghosts Truth be told, I have never seen the original although I would love to see the contrast between the two. A lot of people did not like the re-make, but I dug it because the ghosts were so kick ass! House of Wax Paris Hilton gets a pole through the head. The re-make wins. Big time. The Wicker Man The re-make was more murder-mystery while the original was more twisted psychological thriller a la Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”. I am a fan of both but cannot really compare them because I see them as being done in different genres almost. Black Christmas I am not going to lie…I watched the re-make and had fun watching it. It was a bad re-make but remains a guilty pleasure. I did not think the original was that good either, but it has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. They are both so bad that they are almost good! Village of the Damned Both disturbed me. But that is easy to do when you got psycho albino children marching around everywhere and killing people with their thoughts. The Phantom of the Opera One could argue that each of the movies in this lot is so different than the others that it does not even count as re-makes. However, I had to mention it. Because whether it is Lon Chaney’s wide-eyed monster, Robert Englund’s scorned ghost out for revenge, or Gerard Butler’s sexy heroic villain with a song in his heart, they all are Phantom Gold! Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Watch both, please watch both! They are both so…I mean, they…just watch both. I just cannot even put into words my fandom for these two movies. All I can say is to watch them…both. They are both awesome.
about 1 year ago bchrisdesigns 360 posts	I’m sick to death of seeing pale chicks with long dark hair moping about, trying to scare people. I’m a goth girl at heart and always will be – but get over it already! LOL! Amen to that!!!!!! :o)
about 1 year ago pedroville 20 posts	I second that someone get these chicks a salon voucher!
about 1 year ago Crockpot 529 posts	LOL!! Better yet, sick Freddy or Pinhead on them and let us watch them DIE! Now THAT is a horror flick I’d pay to see!
about 1 year ago Damian 573 posts	I mean, by that notion I should be rich from all the skulking I do… >:) LOL, either that or start paying Lorie some royalties :)
about 1 year ago Damian 573 posts	This lists above are pretty damn cool. The Grudge I thought they were just trying to cash in on The Ring, and I sat there feeling annoyed while watching. The Ring The original was brilliant. The Hollywood version really sucked. Nothing to add to the Japanese version, but instead they trimmed off all of the other minor storylines that added to the experience. King Kong I liked the remake, LOL! The effects were cool, and they put a lot of time into the ecology of the island (although they threw away most real biological principles). An American Werewolf in… The original damaged me as a kid, so rather than love it for that, I despise it. The Paris sequel had a lot going for it (like the casting, LOL!), so I thought it was great. Some great lines, LOL! “I love Americans…” Psycho I was so very disappointed by the remake, as I’d thought it would be done really well. The Haunting I still enjoyed the remake :) Dawn of the Dead The remake was brilliant. Movies that exist just to throw fake blood etc don’t appeal to me, so this one was welcome as they’d said their aim was to make it feel like an ER ward with the injuries, and gradually decay the bodies towards the end of the movie. The way they did the beginning of the film and opening credits was fantastic, but gradually I lost interest towards the end when it degenerated into shredding fake bodies. The Omen The remake didn’t do much for me. I thought they’d lift it from the original, but they didn’t do anything new. The House on Haunted Hill Geoffrey Rush was great, and the effects were cool in the remake, so that kept me going! Famke annoys me. Thirteen Ghosts I haven’t seen the original either, but the remake was very cool. A great concept and some cool effects.