Robocop — The Eternal Argument about Remakes

26th September, 2014.

You know, remakes can be … 

Controversial … 

Yes.

Controversial’s the word.

Those of us who watch films — and especially certain genres of film —are usually a passionate bunch.

I’m no exception, there.

We are, as a group, tend to be very protective of the things we feel strongly about.

I think individual movies are one of those things.

Just to give you an example, here?

I, for one, won’t go near the 2003 remake of The Italian Job.   I don’t know if the thing’s good, bad or indifferent.

I think the fact it got made at all was insulting to the original.

~≈É≈~

Total Recall: A Debatable Remake.

9th January, 2013

Hmmm …

You know, the magic of Hollywood is a wonderful thing.

Or, at least, the magic of the film industry.

Seriously.

Let’s be honest, anything that get’s people passionately arguing about a film — without actually thumping each other — is a sort of magic.

No, really.

And I think I’ve got a very good example for you, actually.

The film I managed to catch, last night: the 2012 remake that is Total Recall.

There’s possibly a bit of explaining to do, there … !

~~~~~

The 2012 version of Total Recall follows Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell): a factory worker whose job building synthetic — robot — policemen and marriage to Lori (Kate Beckinsale) has left him deeply unsatisfied.  Until one day he decides he visit Rekal to have some memories implanted of life as a super spy.

The memory implantation gets interrupted.

By a squad of heavily armed policemen.

Which is where the fun only starts … !

~~~~~

Now … 

I mentioned passionately arguing.

Yes, I did, didn’t I?

You say, I did manage to have a natter, by text, with Kevin D: and had to admit that — while I don’t think the remake is perfect —I’d thoroughly enjoyed it.

Whilst it’s not a completely original take on the material — in the same sense that Prometheus is — Total Recall bounces along at a nice rate of knots, the cast do their job well, and the design work, although obviously copying Bladerunner in the look and feel of the background universe, is beautifully designed.

Kevin on the other hand … ?

Kevin didn’t exactly take to it: and said so rather eloquently.

Personally … ?

Personally I’m giving Total Recall a 2.   I’ll let you make your mind up about it being a stinker or not.

Total Recall

★★☆☆

*        Itself based on the Phillip K. Dick short story, We Can Remember It for You Wholesale.

The Thing 2011: Sometimes, we should leave well enough alone …

15th February, 2012.

Hmmm …

I’ll be honest, it’s not THAT often I mix me posts up, it really isn’t.

But I thought I’d quietly let you know I’ve just a friend, Karen Chilvers, on Brentwood’s local radio station, speaking about the local council and how local councillors REALLY don’t seem to be a working as hard as they could be.

And putting in what I thought was a rather good showing.

Hopefully, that SHOULD serve her well: considering she’s standing for re-election as a Brentwood West Councillor, on May 3rd of this year.

‹‹•››

The Crazies: There’s something in the water …

Hmmm …

You know, I think that Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D and I are possibly going to have a …

Disagreement …

Possibly …

Because last night’s movie … ?

Had a mixed bunch of reactions, it really did …

|»»•««|

The film in question was the 2010 remake of a George A Romero original, called The Crazies.

Which is where I’d thought Kevin wasn’t too stunned: he’s generally ambivalent about remakes, and fond of George A. Romero.

At any rate, let me sum up, briefly, for you …

The Crazies sees Tim Olyphant as David Dutten, the sheriff of the small Iowa town of Ogden Marsh.

Who, whilst at the town’s spring fair and baseball game, has to kill a fellow townsman wondering around — on the pitch, itself — with a loaded shotgun.

It’s not long before other residents start acting in similar, slightly stoned, ways: Middle America, before you say anything, not the types who’d usually go for Moroccan tomato plants …

What’s more …

What’s more, as the film progresses, Dutten finds that many of Ogden Marsh’s residents are getting crazy enough to kill.

And that the US Army, for reason’s of its own, is doing some serious, environment-suited investigating …

||»•«||

At any rate, I do know I enjoyed it.

The Crazies makes no claims to be high art, but then I don’t think it’s aiming to be this year’s Palme D’or-winning, art-house flick*.

It’s a horror/sci-fi/conspiracy/action flick that expects you too eat your popcorn and maybe jump when something goes off, explodes or gets shot!

But I’ll leave you with a few ratings — Adrian and Kevin have just texted their’s over — and maybe the trailer.

The Crazies.

Cast	Role
Timothy Olyphant	David Dutten
Radha Mitchell	Judy Dutten
Joe Anderson	Russell Clank
Danielle Panabaker	Becca Darling

Paul: Not sure if I’d keep it, but I’m watching it again. ★★(½)☆☆

Movie Night Adrian: “Low-brow fodder.” ★☆☆☆

Kevin D: “The execution could’ve been better: and the scares were obviously signposted, a problem that afflicts most horror flicks, now.” ★★☆☆

* You know the ones I mean: they’re usually somewhere foreign, in French/Russian/Iraqi Arabic/Parsi, and about people having angst-ridden moments of dread and uncertainty, against the backdrop of a world beset by war and lunacy. And don’t have enough tentacles.

V: A Remake …

Hmmm …

Hmmmmm …

Or, maybe, just possibly even, Hmmmmmmmm … …

Possibly …

You know, I’ve got to confess, I’ve just done something that’s a bit of a novelty, for me: I’ve sat through a couple of hours of TV.

Usually, of a Monday night … ?

I’d be …

Oh, I don’t know, writing a couple of Teaser’s for the next few day’s, catching a film, what have you.

Tonight, though … ?

Tonight I’ve actually managed to catch a couple of things on the box whose trailers had caught my eye.

9 0’clock, tonight … ?

Saw me glued to the Mark Gatiss A History of Horror on BBC 4: fascinating stuff that got me thinking that me, Movie Night Adrian and Kevin D — along with whoever else wants to sit in — should catch the 1931 Universal version of Frankenstein. I’m thinking it could pay dividends …

|»»•««|

At any rate, the other thing I caught … ?

Was the 2009 remake of the 1980s series, V.

Like you’d not guessed from the picture …

Now, while I’ve got to admit that the 2009 remake of The Prisoner was something I felt to be a complete waste of space, I’m also happy to admit that that was largely as a result of my own emotional attachment to the Patrick McGoohan original.

The 2009 Prisoner remake was something approaching desecration, as far as I’m concerned.

But on the other hand … ?

The original version of V … ?

Wasn’t something I’d watched.

So seeing the opening episode, tonight was quite interesting.

It’s nicely put together, nicely acted and has definitely got some nice iCandy.

Whether it develops into something worth watching … ?

I don’t know.

But going on this opening episode, I think I’m going to keep watching: just to see how it develops …

The Wolfman: Barking at the Moon, but in a Fun way … !

You know, I’ve got to admit, as I write, the weather has taken a very muggy, cloudy, turn.

Which is a shame, in a way …

Because, considering the movie that Movie Night Adrian, Squeaky, and I were watching, tonight, I’d’ve liked to be able to tell you whether or not there’s a full moon …

Because, obviously, if you’re watching a werewolf movie, like the 2010 version of The Wolfman … ?

You want a full moon.

Or one of Ozzy Osbourne’s more poppier tunes, as an option on iTunes …

Seriously …

‹‹‹~›››

And, BOY, I think I’ve got to admit, I know I enjoyed meself, watching this.

The Wolfman sees Benicio Del Toro — as Lawrence Talbot — returning to his family estate on Broadmoor, after the death of his older brother, Ben.

Who — seemingly — has been killed, after being attack by some sort creature, whilst he’s been visiting a local Gypsy* camp.

And, while Lawrence is investigating his brother’s death, he helps fend off an attack — by the same unidentified creature — on the nearby Gypsy camp.

As a result … ?

Lawrence is bitten …

By the creature …

And it’s tempting to add the phrase “With Hilarious Results”, but however ironic I’d like to be at this time of night, ‘Hilarious Results’ aren’t what happens.

Because it sees Lawrence suffer.

From childhood, we discover: he had, after all seen his mother die, seemingly as a suicide.

And see him — during the course of The Wolfman — suffering all the best in Victoria psycho-therapy.

And towards the end of the film … ?

Having something of a major fight with his father, Sir John Talbot. Played by Sir Anthony Hopkinsº.

‹‹‹~›››

Now, there comes the question, though …

Is the 2010 version of The Wolfman worth watching … ?

After all, it is a remake.

And remakes, re-imaginings, re-workings — whatever one chooses to call them — do have an unfortunate reputation, for being not as good as the original on which they’re based.

I’ll be honest, here, having not seen the 1941, Lon Chaney Jnr original, I couldn’t tell you.

What I CAN tell you is fairly simple.

The Wolfman is not an arty, intellectual film, with high ideals, or a message of betterment for humanity.

What it is … ?

Is an atmospheric little horror film.

Very atmospheric!

And one with enough blood, guts, gore, romance, tension and drama, to be very riveting watching.

And a film I’d’ve not minded catching at the cinema.

‹‹‹~›››

* Right, just in case I’ve any offended Romani readers, I’m using the term Gypsy, as that’s the one used in the film: I’ll stick with it — for this post — as I’m using it to indicate the fictional take on Roma culture presented in The Wolfman. However, if it’s a problem, please feel free to leave me a comment: I’ll go with whatever I’m told is the preferred term.

º Who’s used to playing monsters, after all …

Oh Dear LORD< why did I start watching … ?

Oh, Dear Lord … !

You know, I’ve got to admit, I think I owe the movie night gang something of an apology, for missing the past two weeks.

Or putting them off …

Because I’ve just sat through episode 2 of the AMC/ITV remake of The Prisoner.

Or the first half of it, at any rate.

Can I ask you a questions, here, if you’ve seen it?

Am I the only person who thinks ITV have shot themselves in the foot, by having anything to do with it?

The word ‘Dud’ is waving its hands at me, and saying “Here, am I a good choice of word for the remake? Am I? Go on, use me, tell everyone the remake’s a ‘great, big dud’ Go on, you know you want to!!”

Actually, that’s not quite true, I should be putting the word ‘complete’ in front of ‘dud’, because that’s what I’m thinking I’ve been watching.

And I think I know why …

For starters, it’s not the actual look of the remake: the production team have gone to great lengths to at least make their new village look as strange out of place as the original.

It’s safe to say the cast haven’t grabbed me.

Well, that’s not quite true.

Sir Ian McKellan is superb, as only a former RSC and Royal National Theatre regular could be.

In fact, he’s the best thing in it: I’m thinking that the rest of the cast — with no disrespect intended, here — are rather bland and forgettable.

As is the script …

Tonight’s episode — which sees Ian McKellan’s No. 2 trying to convince Caviezel’s No. 6 that No. 16 is who he claims to be — wasn’t the attention grabber that Episode 1 was.

Those who read my post about that will be able to give you a rather less vernacular summary of what I though of that … !

This is something that should not have been done.

Without doing what it has.

Ruined and urinated on the purity of the original.

•••••

Adrian, Dr Kevin, I think we’re going to have to take Kevin D up on his invite to head over his place for the next movie night.

At least it means I can record episode 3, and get really worked up, afterwards …

And at least have something pleasant to write about … !

TV Dog’s Dinner

Hmmmm …

Can I make a confession, here … ?

Right now, Allison’s sitting at the dining room table, happily doing a bit of embroidery.

And I think I might just see if she’s got spare bit’s of kit.

Because I’ve just seen Arrival, the first episode of the remake of The Prisoner.

And I think I’d rather be stabbing my fingers to bits with an embroidery needle!

Rather than possibly watch another five hours of it!

Maybe I’m being a little too hard on it.

I should at least watch the next episode, in the hope that it improves.

But tonight’s episode?

You know, I’m none to sure if I can be (excuse the language, Karen) arsed to talk to you about the plot, but need’s must.

It sees Jim Caviezal* as No. 6 waking up in a patch of unidentified desert, and being told by a dying man — named only as No. 93 — that he need’s to talk to No. 545, about getting away from The Village.

And it all goes down hill from there …

Hmmmm …

Now, I’ll be honest and tell you that the cult 1960s original series was — and still is — something of a favourite of mine.

Patrick McGoohan, the original’s co-creator and star, brought a lot of passion, charm, anger, intellect — what have you — to the role of No. Six: and had a hand in what had to be a series that was both ahead of its time, got people seriously thinking, and generated as much talk in Britain’s pubs as a controversial FA Cup final.

Or Superbowl, Aussie Rules Final, what have you.

Just as a point, that original series is still being talked, argued and debated, today, some 40 years after its original airing on ITV.

Going on the first episode of the remake, though?

Bar the appearance of Sir Ian McKellan, as No. 2, the remake could well be an utter, utter disaster.

And unless things markedly improve by the next episode, I}m going to have to add that I’m glad Patrick McGoohan is dead.

Because I think he’d’ve hated what’s been done to his series.

I really do.

* Jim Caviezal is, I should add, a fine actor. But I don’t think that he has any of McGoohan’s anger, that made McGoohan so riveting in the role. Thing’s had better improve!

Unbelievable … !

Well, finally!

Allison managed to track down the form she needed, to track that blessed Postal Order she’d sent to Rampdale, down!

Oy!

Believe it or not, she’d scootered off to a friend’s farm, near Blackmore, and stopped at the post office, there, and took a chance.

And found out they had one, there!

When the sub-post-office, here in Warley, and the one in Brentwood High Street, didn’t!

Go bloody figure!!

So, by now, she’s got it filled in, and sent off; although saying that, I noticed that she could also hand it in at any branch post-office.

Whether that means the blessed thing will get to where it’s supposed to go, I don’t know. I’m hoping so.

I’m also hoping the Post Office customer service people are reading this. I’m not going to mention “Brazil”, 1st Edition “Paranoia” or anything by Franz Kafka, but …

£70 is not small potatoes, when you’re on me and Allison’s sort of money … !

•••••

But, enough, already!

He says!

I do know that something I’ve meant to mention for a while is the much heralded — and seemingly troubled — remake of “Hellraiser”.

From what I’ve been able to pick up, Clive Barker — writer of the original short story, and director of the original film — is fully behind the idea of a remake.

But it’s been stuck in production hell, for at least a year, now.

Saying that Gary J. Tunicliffe, the effects artist who’d worked on the “Hellraiser” franchise from 1993 onwards, got inspired by the various bits of gossip going around, to have a go at a re-design.

Of a certain, rather iconic, villain.

Now, I’m hard to impress by iCandy, these days, but Tunnicliffe’s slant on Pinhead is … well …

Blimey!

The original Pinhead — played by Doug Bradley and designed by Geoff Portass — was truly nastily, evil; and had that vindictive look and feel to him, laced on top of the feel that the character would inflict pain for pain’s sake.

And thoroughly enjoy it.

And be all the more frightening for that; after all, we recognise evil and are frightened and despairing of it because we know we’re ALL capable of it.

But an old friend, Sean — owner of Georgia’s finest Games Store! — summed up the Tunnicliffe slant very well for me, as being ‘beautifully soulless’ …

And I think he’s right.

It looks, not ‘inhuman’ but soulless, and UN-human.

And all the more damned for that.