Worst Movie Remakes of all time discussion.

[Lord_Stewie]

Hey,

Came across this article and thought to share it with you guys.

Bad remakes: Steve Martin in "Pink Panther 2," Tom Hanks in "The Ladykillers" and Mark Wahlberg in "Planet of the Apes." (PHOTOS: Sony Pictures/Walt Disney/20th Century Fox)

London, England (CNN) -- Remake "Clash of the Titans?" What was wrong with the original?

Or for that matter, "Planet of the Apes" or Hitchcock's "Psycho?" The list of perfectly decent films Hollywood has "reimagined" unsuccessfully goes on and on.

Faced with this constant recycling, it's not surprising audiences sometimes ask themselves, "What's the point?" -- especially as there seems to be no let up in sight.

Remakes scheduled in for later this year include "The Karate Kid" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street," a "reimagining" of "Predator" and an English language version of Swedish vampire flick "Let the Right One In."

Of course, not every rebooted franchise or do-over is a disaster: Peter Jackson's "King Kong" added dazzling special effects unimaginable when the original came out in 1933.

But when you factor in the money to be made -- "Clash of the Titans" hauled in $385 million worldwide in just over three weeks according to boxofficemojo.com -- studios' motives start to look a little more cynical.

Below we list some of the worst remake offenders and why. Don't agree? Think we've missed one?

"Psycho," (1998, Gus Van Sant)

"Psycho" set the bar for creating terror on screen in 1960, but groundbreaking isn't a word many would choose to describe Van Sant's shot-for-shot remake. The director's major innovation was to shoot the film in color. Besides poor casting (cuddly Vince Vaughn in Anthony Perkins' role?) this film breaks a fundamental rule of do-overs: if you don't have anything to add, don't do it at all.

"The Pink Panther," (2006, Shawn Levy), "The Pink Panther 2," (2009, Harald Zwart)

We love Steve Martin, but Peter Sellers he is not. Martin can coax some laughs as Inspector Clouseau with his slapstick gags, but the funny moments are few and far between and he looks ridiculous. Is it any surprise he was nominated for a Razzie award for worst actor in a movie for "Pink Panther 2?"

"Planet of the Apes," (2001, Tim Burton)

"Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape!" The same sentiment could be directed towards arch-Gothicist Burton for remaking the 1968 sci-fi masterpiece. Burton's fantastical flair is missing, and while the 2001 update does have more technology behind it, it lacks a story -- and especially an ending -- that makes any sense. And come on, enough with the monkey puns.

"City of Angels," (1998, Brad Silberling)

Starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan, the Hollywood version of Wim Wenders' lyrical "Wings of Desire" shares a story line with its original: Angel sees girl, angel falls in love with her. But that's where the similarities end. The German original takes a meditative look at the meaning of life, but "City of Angels" barely scratches the surface and ends up as just another sentimental romance.

"Get Carter," (2000, Stephen T. Kay)

A gangster film that doesn't carry any punch, the modern-day "Get Carter" is another to add to the pile of pointless remakes. Sly Stallone may be bigger but he's certainly not badder than Michael Caine, who played Jack Carter with a palpable fury in the 1971 version.

"Vanilla Sky," (2001 Cameron Crowe)

We could devote a whole list to foreign-language films that Hollywood has ruined by repackaging them for U.S. audiences (see "City of Angels"). "Vanilla Sky," a remake of Spanish film "Abre Los Ojos," is another offender. Tom Cruise adds Hollywood gloss, but director Cameron Crowe is out of his element. What was a deftly made metaphysical thriller in Alejandro Amenabar's hands turns into an ordinary, if unfocused, star vehicle for Cruise, Penelope Cruz and Cameron Diaz.

"The Ladykillers," (2004, Joel and Ethan Coen)

The Coen Brothers, usually masters of dark comedy, take a wrong turn with this remake of the beloved British caper comedy. While eccentric, and with plenty of absurdities as expected, this do-over, set in the rural South of the U.S has stereotypical characters and it remains a very minor Coen brothers work.

"The Wicker Man," (2006, Neil LaBute)

Another cult classic that shouldn't have been messed with, Neil LaBute didn't have much of a chance winning over loyal fans of the original British cult horror from 1973. Even so, this version is confusingly misguided and, sorry folks, just plain poor. LaBute battles with unintended humor and fails -- if you are looking for ironic laughs look no further.

The question is do you agree with the list or not?

Anything you want to add to the list as well, and why?

Enjoy.

[GreenScar]

To be fair to Predators, it's not a "re-imagining", it's a direct sequel to the first movie.

[Lord_Stewie]

^^ I don't agree with the entire list as well.

Vanilla Sky was great IMO. (Yet I haven't seen the original).

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

You forgot War of the Worlds. The original was in black and white so the acting and special effects were a bit corny. So then Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise decides to remake it and turns out to be one of the worst remakes.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

You forgot War of the Worlds. The original was in black and white so the acting and special effects were a bit corny. So then Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise decides to remake it and turns out to be one of the worst remakes.

lol,

I didn't make the list. However, I agree.

[Meeklo]

I liked "The Ladykillers".....Tom Hanks' performance is so over the top, it's hilarious.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

You forgot War of the Worlds. The original was in black and white so the acting and special effects were a bit corny.

They forgot War of the Worlds?
The original was in Technicolor, and was a George Pal special.

Personally, I'd take exception with their "King Kong wasn't a disaster" diagnosis (and certainly not for reasons of a bigger budget...), but did they forget anything?
Well, doesn't the X-Games version of "Rollerball" usually get cliche'-traditional mention at this point?
(And take it that POTA was symbolically standing in for all the Tim Burton remakes?)

[kdo]

I generally don't bother seeing remakes, but of that particular list, I must say that I actually enjoyed "The Ladykillers." I thought "City of Angels" was garbage, and "Vanilla Sky," while not awful, wasn't nearly as good as its Spanish predecessor, "Open Your Eyes"...

[walter stark]

i am not like now hollywood are making remakes for films that havnt been out long, just because their from overseas.
(e.g. Rec, Ring, The grudge adn upcoming remakes of let the right one in and girl with dragon tattoo).

the pink panther and the wicker man remakes made me feel empty inside.
but they did make me appreciate the originals

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Meeklo

I liked "The Ladykillers".....Tom Hanks' performance is so over the top, it's hilarious.

I had to screen this movie before release.

I thought it was terrible. To be on point, I thought that the remake was purely massacred.

[Jezza]

The Italian Job

How can you remake such a classic Britsih caper movie, it is just one of the best films ever made, and they actually did everything in it: caused all the Turin traffic jams, stole the gold, drove the coach half way over the cliff with the actors inside, etc. Everything in the 2003 version is fake. What I don't get is they call it The Italian Job, yet the actual chase and all that are in America. Why?

What annoys me most is the way the producers say it isn't a remake, but a homage to the original. Well if it were a homage, call it something different and don't use Minis, the original used Minis because they were British. Why didn't you use Mustangs or something?

[Rob Hunter]

loved The Ladykillers

[Blaumann]

The Pink Panther gets my vote for worst remake ever.

[Harry Caul]

The Getaway remake was horrible. The American Vanishing remake with happy ending was ridiculous. And Luc Besson`s Nikita in America as Point of no return with Bridget Fonda, I mean don't even get me started on that one! The french original had action sequences a 100 times better than the american remake which should be buried and destroyed as a crime against humanity.

[Rob Hunter]

Originally Posted by Blaumann

The Pink Panther gets my vote for worst remake ever.

never seen, didnt appeal

[PGW]

Horror movies are particularly.... well, horrible.

"House On Haunted Hill" and "The Haunting" remakes absolutely stunk. It's like they never even bothered to watch the originals.

[GORT]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

You forgot War of the Worlds. The original was in black and white so the acting and special effects were a bit corny. So then Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise decides to remake it and turns out to be one of the worst remakes.

Really? it was in black and white
alien_wotw1953.jpg

[Lacit170]

Originally Posted by PGW

Horror movies are particularly.... well, horrible.

"House On Haunted Hill" and "The Haunting" remakes absolutely stunk. It's like they never even bothered to watch the originals.

Would you have liked them if they were called something else? Thought the house on haunted hill was awesome ha

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by kdo

I generally don't bother seeing remakes, but of that particular list, I must say that I actually enjoyed "The Ladykillers." I thought "City of Angels" was garbage, and "Vanilla Sky," while not awful, wasn't nearly as good as its Spanish predecessor, "Open Your Eyes"...

Agree with everything you said. But there is on remake on that list that can't be called anything but the worst. The Wicker Man... wow, just wow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4MqT...eature=related

[lexiginger]

I have to say I was dissapointed with Friday the 13th remake and Halloween 2 remake. I loved the first Halloween that Rob zombie did, but his second one wasn't as good. And friday the 13 wasn't original at all, it was like the first three films all in one. I'm just worried about Nightmare on Elm street, it better be scary. Another remake that was terrible was my bloody valentine 3d.