Thursday, May 16, 2013

Best And Worst Movie Remake Blogfest and The Weekend Follies!!!

Thanks everyone for stopping by and participating in the Best and Worst Movie remakes Blog Hop , the brain child of Captain Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh and sponsored by the co-hosts Livia Peterson, Al Diaz, and myself. 

Okay, let's get started with three movies that qualify as both the best and the worst movie remakes: 

Batman: The original movie was Batman the Movie released in 1966 with, who else, but Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin. I remember as a kid this was good entertainment, as corny as it was (shark repellent bat spray, anyone?).  


Original Batman Movie
The Batman remakes of the 1980s with Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, and George Clooney were awful. I mean, they were really incredibly undescribably bad.  
These are classic example that you cannot make good movies with terrible scripts simply by hiring big names to play the characters. 

Worst Batman Remakes
The supporting cast of Danny Devito as the Penguin, Arnold as Iceman, Jim Carey as the Riddler? Ugh! So bad I could not watch any of these movies. And don't get me started on Chris O'Donnell as Robin. His role was disturbing on so many levels. Who signed off on this one?  


Jack Nicholson, Tommy Lee Jones, Burgess Meredith, Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Kim Bassinger, Nicole Kidman, and Alicia Silverman (four more Hollywood starlets with restraining orders on me) couldn't help make these movies work and overcome everything awful about these original Batman remakes. 


Best Batman Remakes
I'm amazed the cast from Mystery Science 3000 hasn't spoofed these stinkers. 


But the new Batman remakes with Christian Bale work! Love these movies. Too bad Heath Ledger left us too soon as he is far and away the best Joker. 

Clash Of The Titans (1981): Perseus is the favored son of the god Zeus, but he has unwittingly ticked off the sea goddess Thetis. Just to make things worse, Perseus falls in love with the lovely Princess Andromeda, who used to be engaged to Thetis's son. Soon Perseus is off on one quest after another, with Zeus helping, Thetis hindering, and lots of innocent bystanders getting stabbed, drowned, and squished. 


I love the original movie. Sure, the special effects are cheesy even by 1981s standards. The acting is poor. But somehow this movie clicked on all cylinders. Its an all-time classic for me. 
I love it!

However, the remake Clash Of The Titans (2010) had every opportunity to be a blockbuster, including amazing special effects. The hype was just that: Hype. I tried to choke my way through this stinker of a movie. Twice. But couldn't do it.  
Ugh!

More Mystery Science 3000 fodder. 


Star Trek: Most of the original Star Trek movies with the original cast were not good. They were campy. Sure, there were some good scenes but overall they just were not very good. The special effects looked like they were made in a garage and the acting was just bad. 

I'm seeing mixed reviews for the new Star Trek Into Darkness. Personally, I’m looking for special effects to carry this latest and greatest remake. If the script, acting, and action add to it, then I’ll consider it an added bonus as my expectations are not too high. But I'm looking forward to a pretty darn good movie this weekend.


Honorable Mention for best remakes in alphabetical order: Cape Fear (1991) Casino Royale (2006) Freaky Friday (2003) Homeward Bound King Kong (2005) (1993) Ocean’s Eleven (2001) Scarface (1983) The Parent Trap (1998) The Thing (1982) 3:10 To Yuma (2007) True Grit (2010) War of the Worlds (2005) 

Honorable Mention for worst remakes in alphabetical order: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) Footloose (2011) Planet of the Apes (2001) Psycho (1998) Taking of Pelham (2009) and The Wicker Man (2006). 


So there it is. My Best and Worse Movie Remakes. Agree? Disagree?  


Let's hope they don't do a remake of Sharktopus. The horror! The horror!






Weekend Follies: Okay, back to Batman and the Shark Repellent Bat Spray. Gotta love the sound effects of Batman thumping away at the shark, then the shark exploding as it hits the water. they just don't make movies like this anymore. Thankfully.



60 comments:

  1. Hi I agree about Batman, it was good, very good I saw the remake on TV and to me it wasn't the same.

    As for the others I didn't see, my husband would have seen Star Trek with the children but not the second one.

    Good luck with the blogfest have already done mine.
    Yvonne.

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  2. I agree with most of your picks, both winners and losers. Sometimes, I wonder what prompts filmmakers to remake movies. Can't they just find something new? All except for "The Thing." The 1982 version was incredible!

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  3. I bought the Heath Ledger Batman from iTunes by mistake. I enjoyed it. Never having seen any of the others I had nothing to compare it with. I was a Trekkie fan for years and I enjoyed the movies, sorry.

    JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

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  4. One Sharktopus was enough!
    Clash of the Titans - damn, I forgot that one. I almost want to go change my post for tomorrow. Oh well, I'll let it ride.
    MST3K could do the fourth Batman, that's for sure.
    And one of your honorable mentions was my favorite remake.
    Thanks for helping to co-host!

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  5. Yvonne,

    I stopped by your blog earlier.

    Lexa, The Thing is one of my favorite shoes!

    Jo, no worries as a lot of people enjoyed the series.

    Alex, can't wait to see your list!

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  6. I agree with your choices Stephen. Though I have not seen quite a few of the movies you picked, I heard enough about them from people.

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  7. I am not a super hero fan, so I actually haven't seen any of the batman movies, and only one version of the other two. However my choices are both on your honorable mention lists.

    Rhonda from Laugh Quotes

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  8. Hi Stephen .. I just don't do these sorts of movies - the first Star Trek I did ... as my younger brother wanted to see it - it was in London and we had to travel down .. I fell asleep - but he enjoyed it .. so I'm glad you said wasn't very good!!!

    Cheers Hilary

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  9. I liked what they did with the new Star Trek movie. It doesn't hold the same emotional impact as the original star trek movies (not counting the first one), but it sure looked better! ;)

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  10. Totally agree and the Batman business :)

    Shah

    shahwharton.com

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  11. The original Clash of the Titans is on my list of movies to see, but you're not the only one I've seen claim how bad the remake is, so I'll make sure to avoid that version!

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  12. I love the new Star Trek. I actually never liked the original so they must be doing something right there.

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  13. Liked your choices - don't mess with the Batman, fools!

    (Or the Pink Panther... I had that one, too :)

    Cheers for the co-hosting :)

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  14. I just watched The Dark Knight Rises, last night for the second time, and found it good, maybe a little slow at the start. I a so glad you included Heath in the good category, Steve, or would have to disown you as a friend! Being from Oz, he is dearly missed!

    The old star trek movies carried the nostalgia of the series and I enjoyed them, their corny bits and all!

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  15. I agree with you on the Clash of the Titans. Couldn't see the remake complete because I thought it was aberrant. The first Batman movies were also very bad. Prize for bad was George Clooney's one. Haven't seen the Christian Bale's Batman but everybody say they're great.
    I didn't know there was a movie called Sharktopus but you certainly made me laugh.

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  16. They ruined Clash of the Titans with that remake.

    I was never crazy about the four Batman movies and thought the next batch of three did a better job.

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  17. The parent trap is one of those movies where I liked the original and the remake, seriously rare. But yes, the 80's were not a good time for Batman :)

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  18. Wow! You certainly know your movies! I haven't seen most of them.
    Why not have a remake of Sharktopus? ;) Could it get any worse...not that I've seen it but I hear so much about it.

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  19. Great job Stephen! I so agree I wanted to love Batman and I didn't. I did love Jack until Heath lived and breathed the role. It was a franchise they really couldn't bring together. Bale bailed them out!

    It seemed they just wanted to long to do a Star Trek movie-I too felt disappointed. I loved the recent one and hope the second one premiering this weekend-brings it!

    Well done...
    Sharks and Batman, lol

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  20. Totally forgot about The Parent Trap! Love the remake, but the original is still a good one for me.

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  21. I totally agree with the Batman movies, lol. Those old ones are horrendous and who doesn't love the new trilogy!

    So many people hate Clash of the Titans. I thought it was okay, ha-ha.

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  22. Holy do-over, Batman. We made the BEST and the WORST list.

    I thought of Freaky Friday for a Best - loved Jamie Lee Curtis, Linsay Lohan, not so much.

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  23. Looks like there is a consensus on the remake of Clash of the Titans. So much potential. Amazing they got it wrong on so many levels.

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  24. The funny thing is my kids actually liked the new Clash of the Titans, but they remember the old one . . . it's like the new one isn't even memorable.

    Great list!

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  25. I'm not familiar with the Batmans of the 60s and 80s (even though I grew up in the 80s -- missed those, I guess), but I did like the newest Batman movies...a lot. The grim, dark storyline leaves me feeling haunted, even at the end, but they certainly were very well done.

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  26. Couldn't agree more on the Batman movies. MICHAEL KEATON???? Some casting director was asleep at the wheel. The Christian Bale ones are amazing.
    I happen to like campy, so I enjoyed the Star Trek movies on that level, with my favorite being go back in time and save the whales. I mean, what kind of plot is that? But the movie was hysterical in that train wreck sort of way that I watch some sci-fi. Love JJ Abrams and his new Star Trek, so I have high hopes for the new one and can't wait!
    Tina @ Life is Good

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  27. I agree Michael Keaton as Batman was terrible!

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  28. Lots of great picks! I was in the stage version of Footloose and the girl who played Ariel is obsessed with all things Footloose! Both versions are great. )
    Thanks so much for hosting!

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  29. Another worst for Clash?! I'm gonna scroll through and see if it's a boy thing. ;)

    I forgot about Batman! I LOVE Adam West, and I haven't seen that movie since I was a kid, but I truly hated all but Batman Forever of the 90s movies. They were so cheesy. I blame the overrated Tim Burton.

    Honorables: Scarface almost made my list, but I chose Beauty & The Beast (lol), and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory made my wort remake.

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  30. I forgot about the Disney classics that are remakes. There are some really good ones there to choose from.

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  31. MST3K would certainly have a lot of material with Batman and Robin. Yikes! Watching that movie felt like torture.

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  32. YOu and Alex seem to be on the same wavelength with Clash of the Titans! :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  33. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was great! It stayed true to Dahl's creepy novel. The Wilder version was such soft, campy, light-hearted version that was cute, but had nothing to do with the book.

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  34. Someone else mentioned Depp's version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I actually really liked his quirky take on the character. Absolutely Wilder is the classic, but I thought Depp was fun and the movie was a hilarious.

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  35. A great list although I have to give it up to Keaton. I heard they tried to make a Sharktopus sequel, but the studio loses money on the sequels. Oddly enough that's they're best seller.

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  36. I think a generation between movies can make a difference if people like a sequel or not. I'm seeing a lot of people like the Depp version of the Chocolate Factory. Maybe I just need to sit down and watch it with the fam again.

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  37. I love the original Batman as well- "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!" They don't make'em like that anymore.

    While I have a special place in my heart for Michael Keaton's portrayal of the caped crusader I agree that he's sort-of embarrassing when put up next to Christian Bale's Dark Knight- particularly the second one. You're right in saying that Heath Ledger was a force of nature in that and the overall story was just spectacular.

    I never saw the remake of Clash of the Titans because everyone I know who saw said it was just painful.

    And I LOVED the original Star Trek movies. Love Shatner, don’t care what anyone says about him, he is a genius. But I also loved the new one and my expectations for Into Darkness are pretty high because of that- hope I’m not disappointed.

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  38. Stephen-

    Not sure I agree with your assessment of the 1989 Batman film with Keaton and Nicholson-I thought this was pretty good (although Heath Ledger's Joker is the ultimate portrayal.

    I always thought the Adam West batman was just too campy.

    And did you really think all the old Star Trek films were bad? I loved "Wrath Of Khan," and "Voyage Home" was a good one as well. I guess having grown up on the 60's show I have a loyalty to that cast.

    That said, the reboot was the best thing to happen to the Trek universe since "Wrath Of Khan" in my opinion, and I saw the sequel yesterday and it delivers!

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  39. I agree with you about those Batman films. They couldn't seem to get it right. I'm a big fan of the original Clash of the Titans too. Badly as it was done, it had magic. The new one fell flat. Heh, a remake of Sharktopus. In 3D. I'd watch it! ;) Have a good weekend.

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  40. BIG fan of the Nolan Batman trilogy, but I never liked the Keaton pair -- though they were better than the two that followed with Robin and two different lead actors (and the nipples).

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  41. You've got some interesting choices in both categories. I do agree that there are some movies that should have never bene remade. I have to say that I like both the the Wilder version and the Depp version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

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  42. Wow.
    Yes, all the Batman movies stink on ice.
    But, I do love Michael Keaton. He had just the right amount of snark.
    As for Heath. Hate him. In any movie. Don't know why.
    I enjoyed the first new Star Trek, hopefully I will enjoy the second one.
    Great fest!
    Heather

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  43. I havent thought about Star Trek. I guess because their are so many of them from original to next generation to the latest, but I have enjoyed them all. Clash of the Titans, i agree.

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  44. I must be the only one who hates the new Batman movies. I did love the scene with the prisoners on the ferry sacrificing themselves--that was moving--but it just highlighted how lackluster everything else was. Gotham had no soul.

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  45. I thought of Clash of the Titans, too. I love that movie. Was sorely disappointed in the remake. :)

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  46. Poor Clash of the Titans. Not getting much love out there today....

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  47. While I love the latest Batman trilogy I also enjoyed the earlier movie versions and Jim Carey as The Riddler sold me, I think he did a great job. Heath left us way too soon.

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  48. I thought the Keaton Batman was a pretty good version and I think it's generally highly rated. It went downhill from there until they got to the far superior Dark Knight series of films. Good picks on your lists.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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  49. This was a fun read :) I haven't seen most of these movies, except some of the 90s Batmans... but I love the Bale BBs! I totally agree that it's such a pity Heath isn't around anymore. He was a legend in the making. And from my hometown too :)

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  50. Thanks everyone for stopping by! I know a lot of people like the 80s Star Trek movies. I'm going to watch Wrath of Khan tonight as that seems to be the most popular on of the early series.

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  51. I loved the remake of True Grit, but it amazed me that someone would even attempt to remake Psycho.

    Hope your weekend has been great!

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  52. Hey Stephen!
    I'm pretty much with you on your choices. Especially so when it comes to Batman. I'll even go a little further on Heath Ledger. Not only did he do the best Joker, it was one of my favorite acting performances ever.

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  53. I agree one hundred percent with you about the Batman remake with Clooney. Just freaking awful. I love your line, "four more Hollywood starlets with restraining orders on me." I actually liked the remake of True Grit. I completely blanked out and forgot about this blogfest, but if I had remembered (even though I marked it on my damn calendar), Footloose would have been at the very top of my worst remake list.

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  54. I think I watched parts of a couple of Batman movies. I just didn't like them. I do remember the original and the campy Robin was hilarious.

    I love Star Trek's Voyage Home (watched several times). Wrath of Khan was alright. I liked the latest Star Trek movie and haven't seen the second one yet.

    One of the original movies I did love was the Pink Panther with Peter Sellers. I've been reluctant to watch the remake--I really should. Steve Martin is a good actor.

    Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

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  55. ooo, I LOVE movies! And I'm right there w/you Stephen! I think the worst Batman movie was that one w/the Penguin. Gross! :P But those Dark Knight movies were fantastic. And I can't WAIT to see Into Darkness. Yaay! :o) <3

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  56. A remake of Sharktopous couldn't be any worse. Right? Great examples up there and I agree Heath Ledger was the best Joker.

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  58. The original Parent Trap was one of my favorite movies, but I loved the remake too. And Ocean's Eleven, both versions were good. Startrek, I loved the Patrick Stewart versions more than the originals or the current batch. They had a completely different feel to them. And Batman is definitely more fabulous than the originals!

    Thanks for sharing this trip down memory lane. :)

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  59. The new Star Trek movie was awesome!

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  60. I'm always a little disappointed in remakes, but I liked the new Star Trek. Maybe it was because there had been so much time between the original and this one.

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