Observations from Missy’s Window

Archive for the ‘Movie Remakes’ Category

Peter Dinklage in Death at a Funeral

If you follow this blog, you probably know I have mixed emotions about movie remakes. For the record, remakes are acceptable only when technology can make them better visually and/or it can be updated for modern times. It is also preferable for a decent amount of time to pass before anyone tries to do a better job than the original. Not one of these factors are present when it comes to the fabulous movie, Death at a Funeral. The 2007 British film is already being re-imagined by Chris Rock. Give me a break!

How will it be re-imagined? How will they duplicate the humor inappropriately found at a funeral. Will the same situation be as funny in a different context? I don’t think so. Sure, screenwriters can produce a similar script and characters, but part of Death at a Funeral’s charm was the locale. The “urban American setting” will handicap the new film.

The cast of the original will be impossible to duplicate, even though there were two American actors among them (Peter Dinklage and Alan Tudyk). Actors and characters meshed seamlessly to create a realistic family and their friends. That brings us back to the setting. You would expect these people to be in the British countryside. I’m not saying the circumstances couldn’t occur anywhere but there. On the contrary, I can imagine it happening in any number of American cities. Thus the problem. The circumstances in the original were unimaginable and subsequently hilarious.

Alan Tudyk in Death at a Funeral

The humor Chris Rock has contributed to the entertainment industry has its place, but it will not work in this particular instance. Even if he and his writing partner, Aeysha Carr, write a great script it will never measure up. The original was just too good. I give them credit; they chose a great film to replicate. I think, however, they are reaching beyond their abilities and the results will be disappointing.

Source: Rock to Star and Co-Write Death at a Funeral

Hollywood really needs to come up with some original ideas. Seriously. MGM’s latest affront to society is to remake the 1983 classic Valley Girl into a musical. ComingSoon.net reveals, “The musical will utilize the “Romeo and Juliet” story of the original Valley Girl and sport classic ’80s songs.” Sheesh! The original was a musical (the soundtrack basically told the story) and combined elements they will never be able to reproduce. I foresee this venture as a BIG mistake.

The original wasn’t a magnificent cinematic work by any means, but it embodied eighties’ teens as few movies did. I should know, I was a teenager when it was released. Deborah Foreman and Nicolas Cage are starcrossed lovers Julie and Randy (not exactly Romeo and Juliet but…), Cameron Dye plays Randy’s punker friend Fred while Michelle Meyrink and Elizabeth Daily star as Suzi and Loryn, Julie’s gag me with a spoon friends. It had sex, drugs and rock and roll – what more could you ask from a teenage hijinks movie?

I’m not completely against remakes. Some films have been successfully revised. Others have been dismal failures. In this instance, I think the execs should leave well enough alone. They’ll never duplicate the vibe of that movie for many reasons. I dread the day they want to remake Porky’s. Egads!  

All I can say is, “why?”

Sienna Miller Heads for Nottingham
Source: BBC News June 18, 2008

Sienna Miller (upcoming G.I. Joe) has confirmed to BBC News that she will play Maid Marian in director Ridley Scott’s Nottingham, which Universal Pictures is targeting for a November 6, 2009 release.

The 26-year-old is set to appear opposite Russell Crowe, who is playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the film, written by Brian Helgeland.

She said: “It’s happening. I just found out. It’s the most exciting news in the world. It’s ridiculous. But there’s this looming actor’s strike, so it’s not 100% sure that it’s going to be made, but it’s looking pretty certain.”

In Nottingham, a love triangle forms between the legendary do-gooder Robin Hood, his Maid Marian and the archer’s arch nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff is expected to be a more noble lawman who will face off with a more shadier Robin Hood in the Sherwood Forest.

Source: ComingSoon.net