Father of the Bride with Steve Martin is also quite good. I think better than the original. Is the sequel better than the original’s sequel?
The Fly was much better as a remake.
I prefer Charles Laughton’s Hunchback of Notre Dame to the earlier & subsequent versions.
I prefer Sorceror (1977) to Le salaire de la peur (1953). They’re both good. There’s a noticeable difference in the remake, but I don’t know if it’s because of technical advances, changing styles, or just a bigger budget. In the original, it seems we’re supposed to see the tension on the faces of the actors. In the later version we get to see more of the action and the tense situations that the characters find themselves in.
I suspect lots of people prefer the original for exactly the same reason.
I’d have to say that The Children’s Hour in 1961 was significant in its reworking of 1936’s These Three in that it included the lesbian angle which was a huge no-no in 1936. It was a better movie too. Although These Three is not without its own charms.
I couldn’t get through either one. What was especially disturbing was the image of a woman bearing twelve children and yet having a perfectly toned and trim body afterwards. I mean, talk about suspension of disbelief!
The Ring is better than Ringu, says I.
(Or to be diplomatic, maybe each film is better-tailored to the sensibilities of its country of origin. Not being Japanese, I couldn’t say.)
Yeah…I found Ringu to be better in terms of getting the story across, but The Ring actually gave me chills.
Also, my own contribution is 3:10 to Yuma. Admittedly, I have not seen the original.
The Ten Commandments - not only a successful remake, but by the same director nonetheless!
I’ve not seen the 1947 Kiss of Death with Richard Widmark, and it is supposed to be very good, but the 90’s version with David Caruso and Nicolas Cage is fantastic.
–Cliffy
Oh, BTW, anybody in this thread says Miracle on 34th Street, I’m burning your dog.
–Cliffy
This comment alone is worth burning your dog!
I just zipped him into his special asbestos suit. . .
Miracle on 34th Street
Also, the 1942 Alan Ladd version of The Glass Key is SLIGHTLY better than the 1935 with George Raft. Boy, that Ned Beaumont sure could take a punch.
When that wikipedia list said that Barbarella was remade by Rodriguez in 2009 I went off to try to get a copy. Unfortunately, it is apparently in development, with a 2010 release date.
Beat me to the punch! Though I wouldn’t go as far as you to Dismiss the Dawn of the Dead remake. The remake had a great opening sequence… Some interesting moments but better than the original? I’d rather wake from the dead and feast on friends and family before I’d agree with that.