ChatterBank6 mins ago
Re-Makes - Are Hollywood Ignoring The Problems?
15 Answers
I am unsure whether or not to view the new Man From UNCLE film.
My problem is with the concept that you can take a TV show that is absolutely of its time, and make a film version that will succeed.
The problem seems obvious - people old enough to remember the original series will not form the core audience the film is aimed at, and the core audience will not understand the history and references that the film may contain.
That was extremely apparent with the audience I was part of, viewing The Lone Ranger.
The TV series, which I remember as a child (I am sixty BTW) was black and white, and The Lone Ranger was the hero, and Tonto was his taciturn but loyal companion.
The Johnny Depp vanity project that was the movie switched the roles around, making a seriously weird and unrecognisable Tonto the hero, and The Lone Ranger a cypher on which to hang poor 'in' jokes.
That culminated with the end of a rather tedious poorly potted and averagely acted film, with The Lone Ranger shouting his famous 'Hi Ho Silver ... away!' line, and Tonto lugubriously advising him never to do that again.
The core audience had no idea what had gone on, I understood the reference and was past caring!
So how will The Man From Uncle work? Will it be like The Sweeney, sharing nothing but the title and two character names, and thereafter ignoring its origins completely? Or will it be true to the quirky gadget-laden original which will be laughed out of the cinema by I-Phone carrying sophisticates?
Anyone got any thoughts? Media URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33706040
Description:
My problem is with the concept that you can take a TV show that is absolutely of its time, and make a film version that will succeed.
The problem seems obvious - people old enough to remember the original series will not form the core audience the film is aimed at, and the core audience will not understand the history and references that the film may contain.
That was extremely apparent with the audience I was part of, viewing The Lone Ranger.
The TV series, which I remember as a child (I am sixty BTW) was black and white, and The Lone Ranger was the hero, and Tonto was his taciturn but loyal companion.
The Johnny Depp vanity project that was the movie switched the roles around, making a seriously weird and unrecognisable Tonto the hero, and The Lone Ranger a cypher on which to hang poor 'in' jokes.
That culminated with the end of a rather tedious poorly potted and averagely acted film, with The Lone Ranger shouting his famous 'Hi Ho Silver ... away!' line, and Tonto lugubriously advising him never to do that again.
The core audience had no idea what had gone on, I understood the reference and was past caring!
So how will The Man From Uncle work? Will it be like The Sweeney, sharing nothing but the title and two character names, and thereafter ignoring its origins completely? Or will it be true to the quirky gadget-laden original which will be laughed out of the cinema by I-Phone carrying sophisticates?
Anyone got any thoughts? Media URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33706040
Description:
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The director who has made Man from Uncle also made the two recent Sherlock Holmes films.
I am a great fan of the Sherlock Holmes books because of their wonderful evocation of Victorian England, the crimes themselves, and the lack of violence and swearing in them.
I tried to watch the first Sherlock Holmes film this guy made and had to give up after 5 minutes due to the extreme violence in the fight scene at the start, totally out of place in a Sherlock Holmes story.
Directors like this just use existing characters to "hang" a story on to give them some free publicity, they don't care about the history of the characters.
I am a great fan of the Sherlock Holmes books because of their wonderful evocation of Victorian England, the crimes themselves, and the lack of violence and swearing in them.
I tried to watch the first Sherlock Holmes film this guy made and had to give up after 5 minutes due to the extreme violence in the fight scene at the start, totally out of place in a Sherlock Holmes story.
Directors like this just use existing characters to "hang" a story on to give them some free publicity, they don't care about the history of the characters.
I remember seeing repeats of the lone ranger as a kid and funny enough watched the JD version last week. I liked it thought it was fun as was stated throughout the film though by Tonto "Wrong Brother".
Of my circa three films that flopped for me were A-team, Starsky and Hutch, and Miami Vice. so can appreciate what your saying as I didn't live through the original Lone Ranger but understand your point.
Some really do work though, Mission Impossible's... brilliant IMO.
Of my circa three films that flopped for me were A-team, Starsky and Hutch, and Miami Vice. so can appreciate what your saying as I didn't live through the original Lone Ranger but understand your point.
Some really do work though, Mission Impossible's... brilliant IMO.
Arksided - //Some really do work though, Mission Impossible's... brilliant IMO. //
I agree, they are enjoyable films, but they have nothing in common with the series, other than the title!
You could have called it Ethan Hunt Shoots At Bad Guys A Lot, and the film would have been equally successful.
I remember the jarring line from Anthony Hopkins' character - "It's not mission difficult Mr Hunt, it's mission impossible ..." - you would never hear such a crass line in the TV original - no reference to the phrase was ever made.
I agree, they are enjoyable films, but they have nothing in common with the series, other than the title!
You could have called it Ethan Hunt Shoots At Bad Guys A Lot, and the film would have been equally successful.
I remember the jarring line from Anthony Hopkins' character - "It's not mission difficult Mr Hunt, it's mission impossible ..." - you would never hear such a crass line in the TV original - no reference to the phrase was ever made.
That cynical "science" known as Marketing, Andy. I think the grounds for producing such films is for the very reason you give.
The younger market will go for anything vaguely exciting, regardless of the characters in it. Older punters would probably avoid. By featuring known "heroes", they can appeal to a much wider audience.
Whether they have any merit is another story ;o)
The younger market will go for anything vaguely exciting, regardless of the characters in it. Older punters would probably avoid. By featuring known "heroes", they can appeal to a much wider audience.
Whether they have any merit is another story ;o)
I take your point Builder, but I am intrigued as to how they think these films appeal.
They take a successful TV series from up to fifty years ago, and 're-brand' it.
Then they present it to an audience who remember the original, and have no desire to see a remake, and don't go to the cinema very often - and a contemporary audience, who know nothing and care less about an ancient TV show that mum and dad used to watch back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
So it remains a mystery why they do it for certain - but not all re-makes, Star Trek is an obvious exception.
They take a successful TV series from up to fifty years ago, and 're-brand' it.
Then they present it to an audience who remember the original, and have no desire to see a remake, and don't go to the cinema very often - and a contemporary audience, who know nothing and care less about an ancient TV show that mum and dad used to watch back when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
So it remains a mystery why they do it for certain - but not all re-makes, Star Trek is an obvious exception.
Sherlock Homes was a trained boxer and martial artist.
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So that wasn't out of character or untrue to the books.
Also a junkie, of course.
https:/
https:/
So that wasn't out of character or untrue to the books.
Also a junkie, of course.
https:/
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