Better the second time around?
May 31, 2010 8:21 AM Subscribe
Can you think of any re-makes that were superior to the original (or even just as good?) The originals of The Browning Version, The Winslow Boy, ...just as examples, were superior to their re-makes. The first Sabrina was wildly better than the later version. Any suggestions for films whose remakes are well worth watching--or actually better than the original?
I would say that any remake of Pride and Prejudice since the 1940 one has been an improvement, although they're not remakes of the old movie. The later ones stuck to the book much more.
posted by artychoke at 8:38 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by artychoke at 8:38 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I would agree about Ocean's Eleven. I've never actually seen the remake, but the original was so incredibly bad that there is no way the remake could have been worse.
posted by Afroblanco at 8:43 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by Afroblanco at 8:43 AM on May 31, 2010
The remake of "The Maltese Falcon" is better than either of the earlier versions: 1 and 2.
posted by grumblebee at 8:46 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by grumblebee at 8:46 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
I prefer "The Thief of Bagdad" to "The Thief of Bagdad."
Frankenstein is SO much better than Frankenstein but I'm not a fan of Frankenstein.
posted by grumblebee at 8:50 AM on May 31, 2010
Frankenstein is SO much better than Frankenstein but I'm not a fan of Frankenstein.
posted by grumblebee at 8:50 AM on May 31, 2010
Cronenberg's The Fly is the obvious answer.
Hitchcock improved on his own The Man Who Knew Too Much the second time around.
Also: 3:10 to Yuma, Dark Water, and -- I may lose you on this one -- King Kong.
I disagree re the Winslow Boy. The David Mamet version is outstanding.
posted by eugenen at 8:51 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hitchcock improved on his own The Man Who Knew Too Much the second time around.
Also: 3:10 to Yuma, Dark Water, and -- I may lose you on this one -- King Kong.
I disagree re the Winslow Boy. The David Mamet version is outstanding.
posted by eugenen at 8:51 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Both films are worth seeing (and some people disagree with my opinion), but I think Scorsese's "Cape Fear" is better than the original.
posted by grumblebee at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by grumblebee at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
This is blasphemy, but the remake of Dawn of the Dead is better than the original. I love the original, but even with the satirical intent, there is too make slapstick in the original and the ending is way too Hollywood. (I know that George Romero had a different ending in mind, but it never made it to film)
posted by chrisulonic at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by chrisulonic at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
Invasion of the Body snatchers - the 1978 film (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_the_Body_Snatchers_(1978_film)) with Donald Sutherland was a remake of the 1965 film, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_the_Body_Snatchers) which was probably a 're-interpretation' of the 1953 film iNvaders from mars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invaders_from_Mars_(1953_film)
:)
posted by Faintdreams at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
:)
posted by Faintdreams at 8:53 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
I thought The Ring was much better than Ringu.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:54 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:54 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
1931's "The Front Page" with Adolph Menjou and Pat O'Brien is a delight.
1940's "His Girl Friday" is one of the greatest films ever made.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:57 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
1940's "His Girl Friday" is one of the greatest films ever made.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:57 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
Carpenter's The Thing is in every way superior to the 1951 film.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:01 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:01 AM on May 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Oh, and let's not forget Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings verses Ralph Bakshi's Lord of the Rings.
posted by chrisulonic at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by chrisulonic at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
I think the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair is better than the original. I imagine some may disagree.
And yes, the remake of Ocean's 11 is much better. The best thing about the original is seeing Las Vegas circa 1960.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
And yes, the remake of Ocean's 11 is much better. The best thing about the original is seeing Las Vegas circa 1960.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
As with The Maltese Falcon (mentioned above), the definitive version of The Wizard of Oz only arrived on the third try after versions in 1925 and 1910.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:02 AM on May 31, 2010
Battlestar Galactica. Yes, primarily a TV series, but if you want to look at just the first couple of episodes and consider them as movies/mini-series, the remake is far, far, far, far better than the original.
posted by chengjih at 9:03 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by chengjih at 9:03 AM on May 31, 2010 [3 favorites]
Frankenstein is SO much better than Frankenstein but I'm not a fan of Frankenstein.
Frankenstein: The True Story - definitely the best version.
Per its title, Jack Smight's Frankenstein: The True Story, strives for greater faithfulness to Mary Shelley's novel than prior versions. Thus, as in the book, Dr. Frankenstein's (Leonard Whiting) creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence (Michael Sarrazin). In fact, the doctor and his creature are the best of friends until the latter's body begins to deteriorate. This sends the creature over the bend into insanity, prompting Frankenstein -- with the help of his evil mentor, Dr. Polidori (James Mason), a character not in the Shelley novel -- to try, try again to create a viable synthetic human.
posted by philip-random at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2010
Frankenstein: The True Story - definitely the best version.
Per its title, Jack Smight's Frankenstein: The True Story, strives for greater faithfulness to Mary Shelley's novel than prior versions. Thus, as in the book, Dr. Frankenstein's (Leonard Whiting) creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence (Michael Sarrazin). In fact, the doctor and his creature are the best of friends until the latter's body begins to deteriorate. This sends the creature over the bend into insanity, prompting Frankenstein -- with the help of his evil mentor, Dr. Polidori (James Mason), a character not in the Shelley novel -- to try, try again to create a viable synthetic human.
posted by philip-random at 9:11 AM on May 31, 2010
chengjih: the pilot to the original series was also released as a theatrical film.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:13 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:13 AM on May 31, 2010
If you want to have a really fun night, show a double feature of "Ninotchka" and "Silk Stockings."
I don't have a strong preference for one over the other, though the former is a bit tighter (on the other hand, it doesn't have Fred Astaire dances in it! On the other other hand, the later doesn't have Greta Garbo in it. On the other other other hand: Cid Charisse! And songs by Cole Porter!)
posted by grumblebee at 9:15 AM on May 31, 2010
I don't have a strong preference for one over the other, though the former is a bit tighter (on the other hand, it doesn't have Fred Astaire dances in it! On the other other hand, the later doesn't have Greta Garbo in it. On the other other other hand: Cid Charisse! And songs by Cole Porter!)
posted by grumblebee at 9:15 AM on May 31, 2010
I immediately thought of His Girl Friday, Thomas Crown Affair, the Maltese Falcon and Oceans 11 (All mentioned above). I would add Ben Hur and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which was a remake of a David Niven/Marlon Brando film that wasn't horrrible. They're actually remaking Dirty Rotten Scoundrels right now.
As for film remake blasphemy, I prefer the newer The Producers to the older The Producers.
posted by julen at 9:19 AM on May 31, 2010
As for film remake blasphemy, I prefer the newer The Producers to the older The Producers.
posted by julen at 9:19 AM on May 31, 2010
The Awful Truth is better than the two versions that preceeded it.
posted by CarlRossi at 9:24 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by CarlRossi at 9:24 AM on May 31, 2010
I personally prefer Werner Herzog's Nosferatu to the original.
I haven't seen either, but apparently The Incredible Hulk (2008) is better than Hulk (2003).
posted by oulipian at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2010
I haven't seen either, but apparently The Incredible Hulk (2008) is better than Hulk (2003).
posted by oulipian at 9:28 AM on May 31, 2010
The 2002 Quiet American beats the 1958 version.
Am I the only person who thinks the original Ocean's 11 was better than the tepid remake. The original had a glimpse at a Vegas that's long gone, a couple good songs, and rat pack-ery at its apogee. It's sprawling shagginess was the point. The remake was a by-the-numbers heist caper.
posted by .kobayashi. at 9:39 AM on May 31, 2010
Am I the only person who thinks the original Ocean's 11 was better than the tepid remake. The original had a glimpse at a Vegas that's long gone, a couple good songs, and rat pack-ery at its apogee. It's sprawling shagginess was the point. The remake was a by-the-numbers heist caper.
posted by .kobayashi. at 9:39 AM on May 31, 2010
There are a couple classic melodramas that are better the second time around:
Stella Dallas (the one directed by King Vidor and starring Barbara Stanwyck, not the one from 1925)
Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk's 1959 masterpiece, although the 1934 version does star Claudette Colbert)
I've seen Sirk's Magnificent Obsession, not the original, but...I don't know. Despite the Sirk version's Criterion treatment, I'm not sure that I'd actually recommend this movie to anyone. (It's easy on the eyes, but I find the story slightly daffy.)
posted by 2or3things at 10:10 AM on May 31, 2010
Stella Dallas (the one directed by King Vidor and starring Barbara Stanwyck, not the one from 1925)
Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk's 1959 masterpiece, although the 1934 version does star Claudette Colbert)
I've seen Sirk's Magnificent Obsession, not the original, but...I don't know. Despite the Sirk version's Criterion treatment, I'm not sure that I'd actually recommend this movie to anyone. (It's easy on the eyes, but I find the story slightly daffy.)
posted by 2or3things at 10:10 AM on May 31, 2010
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) > Little Shop of Horrors (1960)
posted by ErikaB at 10:28 AM on May 31, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by ErikaB at 10:28 AM on May 31, 2010 [5 favorites]
Seconding or thirding His Girl Friday, since it's such an incredible film.
I don't think I'd call High Society better, but I'd say it's on par with A Philadelphia Story. I mean, even if the original has Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, you can't go wrong Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and a little Louis Armstrong.
As for remake blasphemy, I kinda dig Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. It's ridiculous and over the top, but it's definitely got its own sense of style.
Oh, and Airplane! is infinitely better than Zero Hour!, but it's not really what you'd call a remake.
posted by Diagonalize at 10:33 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't think I'd call High Society better, but I'd say it's on par with A Philadelphia Story. I mean, even if the original has Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, you can't go wrong Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and a little Louis Armstrong.
As for remake blasphemy, I kinda dig Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. It's ridiculous and over the top, but it's definitely got its own sense of style.
Oh, and Airplane! is infinitely better than Zero Hour!, but it's not really what you'd call a remake.
posted by Diagonalize at 10:33 AM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seconding The Ring.
posted by cmgonzalez at 10:42 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by cmgonzalez at 10:42 AM on May 31, 2010
I couldn't get through the 1935 version of Enchanted April. The 1992 version is exquisite and far more like the wonderful book.
posted by JanetLand at 11:14 AM on May 31, 2010
posted by JanetLand at 11:14 AM on May 31, 2010
The original had a glimpse at a Vegas that's long gone, a couple good songs, and rat pack-ery at its apogee.
I dunno. The whole thing just put me to sleep -- and Akim Tamiroff's performance as the "silly foreign guy" was so bad it made me squirm.
posted by Afroblanco at 11:33 AM on May 31, 2010
I dunno. The whole thing just put me to sleep -- and Akim Tamiroff's performance as the "silly foreign guy" was so bad it made me squirm.
posted by Afroblanco at 11:33 AM on May 31, 2010
Response by poster: These are great. I'm also thinking along the lines of The Truth about Charlie vs. Charade--the first being, to my mind, more of an update than a remake--but of course, it is a remake.
posted by uans at 1:28 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by uans at 1:28 PM on May 31, 2010
Leo McCary remade his own Love Affair as An Affair to Remember. AFI ranked the latter as America's 5th best love story movie. Plus Nora Ephron's Sleepless in Seattle is one big love letter to it.
The film version of Chicago was dazzling. The Ginger Rogers flick, Roxie Hart, wasn't at that level.
My Fair Lady kicks ass, and won 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. I haven't actually seen Pgymalion, but its Oscar count is a paltry 1 (Best Screenplay). So apparently the Academy thought the remake was better.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:19 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
The film version of Chicago was dazzling. The Ginger Rogers flick, Roxie Hart, wasn't at that level.
My Fair Lady kicks ass, and won 8 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director. I haven't actually seen Pgymalion, but its Oscar count is a paltry 1 (Best Screenplay). So apparently the Academy thought the remake was better.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 2:19 PM on May 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Ring is better, I think, than Ringu because the sfx in Ringu are so horribly, horribly dated. When the scary moment is conveyed by the film switching to negative, you're talking about high school student level film making. In that sense, The Ring just holds up better.
I'd say, in a way, The Grudge is scarier than Juon. Juon has a more complex, even meandering story that makes the evil a bit more widespread/intellectualy scary, but The Grudge is a tighter, better made film (same director though, and same freaky kid).
posted by Ghidorah at 2:22 PM on May 31, 2010
I'd say, in a way, The Grudge is scarier than Juon. Juon has a more complex, even meandering story that makes the evil a bit more widespread/intellectualy scary, but The Grudge is a tighter, better made film (same director though, and same freaky kid).
posted by Ghidorah at 2:22 PM on May 31, 2010
ROU_Xenophobe: "I thought The Ring was much better than Ringu"
"Carpenter's The Thing is in every way superior to the 1951 film."
Seconding both of these. A Japanese friend of mine assures me that Ringu is a hell of a lot scarier within a Japanese cultural context, since there are a bunch of things that don't really translate, but I personally never found it very interesting to watch. The Ring, on the other hand, is one of the better horror movies of the last 10 years.
And The Thing, well, I don't think anyone would argue with you there. Except maybe Howard Hawks fanatics.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 3:56 PM on May 31, 2010
"Carpenter's The Thing is in every way superior to the 1951 film."
Seconding both of these. A Japanese friend of mine assures me that Ringu is a hell of a lot scarier within a Japanese cultural context, since there are a bunch of things that don't really translate, but I personally never found it very interesting to watch. The Ring, on the other hand, is one of the better horror movies of the last 10 years.
And The Thing, well, I don't think anyone would argue with you there. Except maybe Howard Hawks fanatics.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 3:56 PM on May 31, 2010
Ghidorah: "I'd say, in a way, The Grudge is scarier than Juon. Juon has a more complex, even meandering story that makes the evil a bit more widespread/intellectualy scary, but The Grudge is a tighter, better made film (same director though, and same freaky kid)."
I haven't actually seen Ju-on, but The Grudge is a hackjob, and the director's been making and remaking that same movie what, five or six times now? The Grudge has a couple of good scary ideas, held together (or not) by a totally braindead plot and awkward acting.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 3:58 PM on May 31, 2010
I haven't actually seen Ju-on, but The Grudge is a hackjob, and the director's been making and remaking that same movie what, five or six times now? The Grudge has a couple of good scary ideas, held together (or not) by a totally braindead plot and awkward acting.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 3:58 PM on May 31, 2010
Seconding that the second Hulk was better than the first.
Rule of thumb: if it is directed by Michael Bay, skip the remake. Also if Keanu Reeves is in it.
posted by misha at 4:41 PM on May 31, 2010
Rule of thumb: if it is directed by Michael Bay, skip the remake. Also if Keanu Reeves is in it.
posted by misha at 4:41 PM on May 31, 2010
Best answer: I think the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair is better than the original. I imagine some may disagree.
I agree, Mrs. Jones does not.
I like Ken Branagh's Henvy V better than Olivier's. And George Scott's Christmas Carol better than Alistair Sims.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, of course. Scent of a Woman
Casino Royale One was a Bond flick in name only, so it's hard to consider the second one a remake at all.
Ripley's Game is not a remake, but John Malkovich as Tom Ripley makes Matt Damon's performance just embarrassing.
More fodder for discussion here and here
posted by IndigoJones at 5:32 PM on May 31, 2010
I agree, Mrs. Jones does not.
I like Ken Branagh's Henvy V better than Olivier's. And George Scott's Christmas Carol better than Alistair Sims.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers, of course. Scent of a Woman
Casino Royale One was a Bond flick in name only, so it's hard to consider the second one a remake at all.
Ripley's Game is not a remake, but John Malkovich as Tom Ripley makes Matt Damon's performance just embarrassing.
More fodder for discussion here and here
posted by IndigoJones at 5:32 PM on May 31, 2010
Also giving ups to the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake with Donald Sutherland. One of the only horror movies I've seen that actually kept me up at night.
posted by holterbarbour at 5:47 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by holterbarbour at 5:47 PM on May 31, 2010
The Manchurian Candidate.
posted by evilmomlady at 6:43 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by evilmomlady at 6:43 PM on May 31, 2010
The Departed. I know it's totally uncool and everything to think that an American remake of an Asian action movie could be better than the original, but I just couldn't sit through the Infernal Affairs.
posted by fso at 7:28 PM on May 31, 2010
posted by fso at 7:28 PM on May 31, 2010
The Departed. I know it's totally uncool and everything to think that an American remake of an Asian action movie could be better than the original, but I just couldn't sit through the Infernal Affairs.
Points. Screams. You can't honestly think Leonardo DiCaprio and (although I like him a lot) Matt Damon can hold a candle to Andy Lau and Tony Leung, can you? Nicholson was good, but he was essentially playing himself (as usual), and aside from that, what good points were there?
I liked The Departed, but I enjoy Infernal Affairs a lot more, even without subtitles.
posted by Ghidorah at 10:37 PM on May 31, 2010
Points. Screams. You can't honestly think Leonardo DiCaprio and (although I like him a lot) Matt Damon can hold a candle to Andy Lau and Tony Leung, can you? Nicholson was good, but he was essentially playing himself (as usual), and aside from that, what good points were there?
I liked The Departed, but I enjoy Infernal Affairs a lot more, even without subtitles.
posted by Ghidorah at 10:37 PM on May 31, 2010
Ha. Father of the Bride. Not a great movie by any means but the original is just wretched.
posted by zanni at 4:54 AM on June 1, 2010
posted by zanni at 4:54 AM on June 1, 2010
IndigoJones: "And George Scott's Christmas Carol better than Alistair Sims."
Ditto. I seem to remember someone saying that every generation has its favorite Christmas Carol, but Scott is definitively Scrooge to me.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:30 PM on June 1, 2010
Ditto. I seem to remember someone saying that every generation has its favorite Christmas Carol, but Scott is definitively Scrooge to me.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:30 PM on June 1, 2010
No doubt Oceans11 and 3:10 to Yuma are better movies in their newer versions when watched side to side, but I certainly enjoyed watching the originals more when I saw them back their day; I kept them for years on my All Time Favs list, while I can barely recall the new ones. Seems they were well-crafted by then-current standards for at least one intended audience (young teen-aged boys).
posted by dpcoffin at 12:39 PM on June 1, 2010
posted by dpcoffin at 12:39 PM on June 1, 2010
Scott is definitively Scrooge to me
Indeed! Though Rowan Atkinson plays a pretty mean Ebenezer.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:54 PM on June 1, 2010
Indeed! Though Rowan Atkinson plays a pretty mean Ebenezer.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:54 PM on June 1, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mkb at 8:32 AM on May 31, 2010 [4 favorites]