# In which a remake, or new version, is better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115 "2019-08-23T16:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/21 "2019-08-23T18:43:08Z")
Pit me if you must, but the film _Battlefield Earth_ was an improvement on the book of the same name. I’m not saying it was good, mind you, just gooder. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/22 "2019-08-23T18:46:00Z")
**Song:** \*Hurt \*by Johnny Cash. Not even a contest. Even Trent Reznor admits it. **Movie** : _Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory_ (the original with Gene Wilder. We do not speak of the second one). The book by Roald Dahl was amazing, don’t get me wrong, but the movie was nearly perfect. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/23 "2019-08-23T18:51:49Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I’ve seen the (a ?) silent version. It was awwwwwful. There are several silent “Wizard of Oz” flicks, notably a collection shorts made by L. Frank Baum’s own company, and the Larry Semon version that features Oliver Hardy (of _Laurel and Hardy_) as The Tin Woodsman. > **[Adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptations_of_The_Wizard_of_Oz)** > > The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1900 children's novel written by American author L. Frank Baum. Since its first publication in 1900, it has been adapted many times by L. Frank Baum and others: for film, television, theatre, books, comics, games, and other media. > Baum was responsible for many early adaptations, including the 1902 musical The Wizard of Oz, which was an enormous success on Broadway. The casting of comedians Fred Stone as the Scarecrow and David C. Montgomery as the Tin Woodman w... ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/24 "2019-08-23T18:52:35Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > **Song:** \*Hurt \*by Johnny Cash. Not even a contest. Even Trent Reznor admits it. Good one. And while we’re at it, _In My Life_ by JC as well. j ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/25 "2019-08-23T19:06:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Peter Jackson’s **Lord of the Rings** trilogy is much better than Ralph Bakshi’s carton version (and the Rankin-Bass _Return of the King_) It’s better than the books, too. (d&r) ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/26 "2019-08-23T19:14:53Z")
As someone who almost always prefers the Asian original over the American remake ( **Infernal Affairs** \>\> **The Departed** ; any number of comedies, horrors, etc.), I will readily admit that the American remake of \*\*The Ring \*\*is better than the original Japanese **Ringu**. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/27 "2019-08-23T19:22:55Z")
Does **Star Wars** count as a remake of **The Hidden Fortress**? ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/28 "2019-08-23T19:30:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Does **Star Wars** count as a remake of **The Hidden Fortress**? I’d go with “inspired by.” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/29 "2019-08-23T19:48:15Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > **Ocean’s 11** is significantly better. > > And I’d argue that Brendan Fraser’s **The Mummy** is the superior version. I’ll agree about **Ocean’s 11**. The Stephen Sommers/Brendan Fraser version of **The Mummy** is a lot more fun to watch, I’ll grant you. and you can even say it’s “inspired by” the 1932 Boris Karloff film, but I hesitate to say it’s “better”. I’ll still watch the old Universal classic. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/30 "2019-08-23T20:11:01Z")
I’m rather fond of the Hammer version of _The Mummy_, with the caveat that it is not a remake of the Boris Karloff film, but rather the Tom Tyler/Lon Chaney Jr. series. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/31 "2019-08-23T21:49:00Z")
_Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, the television series, was far better than _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_, the movie. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/32 "2019-08-23T22:19:24Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Happens more with music. also happens with Books to Movies like your example of Jaws. > > \*\*Books to movies: \*\* > Jaws > Jurassic Park > The Godfather to The Godfather & The Godfather part II > Gump About the ones making the Godfather movies: Mario Puzo was already a writer of novels, but he had no experience on screenwriting, however he was given the task to make the screenplays of his books: > **[A Look Back At 'The Godfather,' With Mario Puzo And Francis Ford Coppola](https://www.npr.org/2019/03/08/701492922/a-look-back-at-the-godfather-with-mario-puzo-and-francis-ford-coppola)** > > Fresh Air marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Puzo's novel by listening back to our '96 interview with Puzo, and our '16 interview with Coppola, who adapted the novel into the film. > [@](#): > > PUZO: Yeah, I mean, it was a cinch because it was the first time I’d ever written a screenplay, so I didn’t know what I was doing. You know, it’s - and it came out right. And the story I tell is that after I had won two Academy Awards, you know, for the first two “Godfathers,” I went out and bought a book on screenwriting because I figured I’d better learn… > > GROSS: (Laughter). > > PUZO: …You know, what it’s about because it was sort of off the top of my head. And then the first chapter - the book said, “study “Godfather I.” It’s the model of a screenplay”. So I was stuck with the book. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/33 "2019-08-24T01:23:08Z")
The Mr. Belvedere TV show was much better than the Mr. Belvedere movies. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/34 "2019-08-24T01:38:29Z")
> [@mcgato](#): > > Late 70s/early 80s did some good remakes of 1950s movies. I think ‘The Thing’ and ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ greatly improved on the 1950s versions. Yes. And no. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/35 "2019-08-24T03:35:29Z")
I’d say the David Cronenberg directed 1986 version of _The Fly_ with Jeff Goldblum is better than 1958 version with Vincent Price. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/36 "2019-08-24T03:41:52Z")
I’d think \*Captain America: The First Avenger \*was better than the 1991 movie _Captain America_. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/37 "2019-08-24T03:47:57Z")
Song (in a reversal from above): _The Sound of Silence_ - Disturbed’s version is better than the Simon & Garfunkel original. And another vote for _Ocean’s Eleven_. “They say taupe is very soothing.” is an oft-heard phrase in the Zakalwe household. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/38 "2019-08-24T04:18:18Z")
I agree on **Ocean’s Eleven**. I also prefer William Friedkin’s **Sorcerer** (1977) to the French original \* Le Salaire de la peur\* (1953). The story is about four men who are down on their luck (really, _really_ down on their luck) and living in a small, Central America village. 200 miles away an oil well has caught on fire, and the only way to put it out is with dynamite. Unfortunately, the dynamite has been improperly stored and the nitroglycerin has seeped out and become very unstable. The four men are hired to drive the explosives in two trucks through the jungle to the burning well. They will be well paid, if they survive. The difference between the two films is a good study in when, and where, they were made. The original is rather existential. I don’t remember any backstory to explain how the men came to such desperate circumstances. The suspense sequences are shown more on the faces of the drivers than on what’s happening with the trucks and cargo. And when the end comes, it’s just a cruel trick of fate. Action/suspense movies had changed a lot by the '70s. We see how the characters got to the point where a suicide mission was an attractive alternative. We see the trucks on crumbling mountain roads and rope bridges. And the end isn’t a surprise. Oh, and there’s a kickass soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/39 "2019-08-24T04:45:27Z")
Twelve covers better than the original (to my taste of course): Carpenters - This masquerade (Leon Russell) Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) kd lang - After the goldrush (Neil Young) Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Blinded by the light (Bruce Springsteen) Matthews Southern Comfort - Woodstock (Joni Mitchell) Natalie Imbruglia - Torn (Ednaswap) Peter Gabriel - Suzanne (Leonard Cohen) Roxy Music - Jealous guy (John Lennon) Steven Wilson - The guitar lesson (Momus) Sinead O’Connor - Nothing compares 2U (The Family) This Mortal Coil - Song to the siren (Tim Buckley) Tori Amos - Time (Tom Waits) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2019, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115/40 "2019-08-24T07:23:45Z")
“A Scandal in Bohemia” has been adapted to the screen several times. The Jeremy Brett version in 1984 beat all its predecessors, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s freewheeling **Sherlock** adaptation beat even that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-a-remake-or-new-version-is-better-than-the-original/839115.md?page=3)