Yeah, so…current movie news is not something I would normally cover on NJ, but when it’s related to older films, it falls into my territory.
Apparently, two older films that I like are going to be remade/rebooted before too long. No film can escape the Hollywood remake machine, it seems!
First up, Flight of the Navigator. Get the full scoop here.
Come on, what 80s/90s kid didn’t love that movie? My dad recorded it from the Disney Channel for me and I watched it about a million times. Hell, my dad even liked it.
Apparently it was something of a box office flop, but like many 1980s films, it got a new lease on life thanks to VHS. It’s not the greatest film ever, but it’s charming and even had some pretty cool special effects for 1986. Plus, that cute little creature guy that the main character got to keep at the end of the movie. Ooh, and don’t forget Pee-Wee Herman himself as the voice of the spaceship’s AI!
Anyway, they’re gearing up to make a new version, and I don’t know how to feel about that. I am not automatically against remakes or reboots– in fact, I enjoy them when they’re done right (i.e. the recent Star Trek, which was great), and I guess this remake could turn out okay, but I just don’t really see them capturing the spirit of the original. I mean, it’s a thoroughly 80s film: spaceships, time travel, young main character, cute alien creature, Paul Reubens. I know that makes it dated, but that’s also why I enjoy it so much. So, seeing it brought into the 21st century might be a little too much for me. Plus, it’s Disney, and we all know how their live action films are. (Except Flight of the Navigator, of course. :D)
The reboot/remake/whatever of the first Alien film is the one I’m more worried about. Read all about it here. (The same article also tells of a Predator remake.)
As far as I’m concerned, movies like this are not to be touched. It is a damn fine film and I’m convinced that no director currently working today could do it justice. You just KNOW that instead of making it suspenseful, they’ll turn it into a big fat gore fest, which was not the point. If they want to do that, why don’t they just make an entirely new film with new characters? Then they can have their gore fest and leave the classic first movie ALONE.
Also, I don’t know about anybody else but I CANNOT see any other actress in the role of Ellen Ripley.
So it’s safe to say that I am pretty adamantly opposed to an Alien remake. Seriously, what a stupid idea. Get some original ideas, Hollywood.
Edit: Upon a more careful read of the article, I see there’s also a rumor that this Alien thing is an origin story and not a remake. But that doesn’t make any damned sense either. I don’t give a shit where the aliens came from! The point is that they’re badass motherfuckers! Geez.
Edit Edit: Well, thinking about it, I guess an origin story would be better than a remake. BUT STILL.
The Revenge of Edit: Somewhat good news! The new Alien project is confirmed to be…a prequel! Yay! No shitty remake! Get the story here.
May 29, 2009
Annette
Nostalgia Junkie 
12 responses to “There Will Be Remakes and Rumors of Remakes.”
Amelyn
May 29th, 2009 at 17:26
At least, if they redo Flight of the Navigator, I hope that they will re-cast Paul Reubens as Max.
In10Words aka "Galileo"
May 29th, 2009 at 21:35
Didn’t I hear that they’re remaking Predator, too? Another pure 80’s flick which only worked in that decade.
An adaptation that I’m no longer looking forward to: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, whose trailer was shown before Up. Great children’s book, pure fantasy with a town that has its food rain from the sky, and then all of a sudden the weather only gives them water and everyone moves away. This new cartoon movie, to pad out the story to 90+ minutes, had the food rain be the idea of an inept inventor. They turned it from fantasy to Sci Fi! Heinous, probably on the level of “The Force is caused by midi-chlorians,” and even then it only refers to force awareness! ><
Also, I saw the trailer for G-Force. If you think that they're referring to Battle of The Planets…be prepared to be very, very, very disappointed.
Annette
May 30th, 2009 at 17:42
Ugh, I hate movies that are based on something short. Stretching the runtime out so far almost never works. I mean, it COULD turn out okay, but come on. This is Hollywood. It seems like all the good films that come out of there nowadays are anomalies. XD
What are these…midi-cloroxes? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
In10Words aka "Galileo"
May 31st, 2009 at 00:30
THEY are bacteria in your bloodstream that everyone has that measures awareness to The Force. It still binds the universe together, but if you have a lot of it, you can manipulate and sense it, thus becoming a Jedi.
Annette
May 31st, 2009 at 04:43
I know what they are– I just like to pretend they don’t exist. XD
Dan
June 1st, 2009 at 14:39
I gotta admit I’m looking forward to G-Force. Mostly because I own guinea pigs but even without that it still looks cute.
Cat the Vampire Slayer
May 29th, 2009 at 22:01
From what I hear they may re-cast Paul Reubens..
And they’re doing a Buffy remake. A remake of a flop cult movie that not even the creator liked… Good job guys!
Amelyn
May 29th, 2009 at 23:20
If it weren’t from Paul Reubens, I wouldn’t have ever watched the first Buffy movie. This guy made the best vampire death scene ever. “Kill him a lot!” Priceless.
Annette
May 30th, 2009 at 17:40
I heard about that. They’re trying to do a reboot of the franchise, to which I say “meh”. Like I said to someone else I know, they’re just trying to make a quick buck off the vampire craze.
Annette
May 31st, 2009 at 04:44
Also, I guess either WordPress or my current theme doesn’t allow threads longer than three comments. 😐
DJ D
June 1st, 2009 at 03:36
Dear friend of DJ D,
You have been sent an official invitation. Please dress formally and get ready to have your picture taken on the black carpet.
Good luck and congratulations on your nomination!
Best regards,
The Award Committe.
Metal Misfit
June 9th, 2009 at 15:32
Possibly Commando and probably Karate Kid now too will be getting remakes. 😦