# The Most Appalling Remake **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460 "2002-04-25T00:04:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MachV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@MachV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachV)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/21 "2002-04-25T13:58:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Little Nemo \* > \*\*I’m going to cheat and name two recent remakes I haven’t even watched; the live action version of _The Grinch_ and Stallone’s version of _Get Carter_. In the case of _The Grinch_, I can’t imagine how they could have improved on the animated Chuck Jones original. But if I had to imagine trying to make an improvement, it wouldn’t have involved Jim Carey. I found this movie to be a lot of fun. I would easily put this in my list of favorite remakes. (A very short list, indeed) No, if you want a bad remake, look no further than the live action 101 Dalmations. ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/22 "2002-04-25T14:11:37Z")
The remake of Diobolique. My revulsion of it had nothing to do with what it should have. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/23 "2002-04-25T14:23:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andygirl \* > The remake of Diobolique. > > My revulsion of it had nothing to do with what it should have. Also starring Sharon Stone. Hmmm…She seems to have a penchant for these things. Anybody mention _The Vanishing_ yet? Ugh. Talk about a crappy Americanization of a fine, very creepy film. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/24 "2002-04-25T14:48:03Z")
A second vote for \*\*the Grinch \*\*as a well-executed remake. I was very, very surprised, too. Carey did a great job, and obviously had a lot of fun doing the film. There’s one scene involving a dog and a sleeping bad guy which had the whole family rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/25 "2002-04-25T15:28:42Z")
What about _The Haunting_? A wonderfully spooky, beautifully filmed 1963 adaption of Shirley Jackson’s _The Haunting of Hill House_, with barely a special effect (I can only think of one). It was redone a couple of years ago and made into… oh, dear. Oh, dear. I only rented the video recently to see how awful it actually was, and it was worse than expected. A whole lot of special effects wrapped around nothing. Not only not scary, but not funny in that campy way bad horror films can be. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/26 "2002-04-25T16:31:58Z")
_Sabrina_. The cast of Bogart-Holden-Hepburn was fabulous. The movie was fabulous and there was no reason to attempt a remake. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/27 "2002-04-25T16:38:31Z")
Stepping away from films for a moment, I’d be in favor of a constitutional amendment repealing the Right of Free Speech as it applies to David Lee Roth’s ability to remake classic rock songs. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/28 "2002-04-25T17:00:35Z")
staying with music: “Torn” by the little austrialian twat is a truly miserable remake. the original is SO much better… ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/29 "2002-04-25T17:38:06Z")
I would agree with all the above nominations. Another that I haven’t seen mentiond yet is the TV Movie remake of _Night of the Hunter_. It had Richard Chamberlain in the Robert Mitchum role and they changed the ending. The horror! The horror! ---
**Author:** ![archmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/30 "2002-04-25T21:18:48Z")
There are quite a few stinkers. - The Big Sleep. They made a remake with Robert Mitchum. I came across it 15 minutes into it, and I thought the DIRECTV system made a mistake but there was no mistake. - Lost in Space. Akiva Goldman, huh? - Planet of the Apes. Jeez, what a piece of crap! ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/31 "2002-04-25T22:37:56Z")
OTOH, Hitchcock’s own remake of _The Man Who Knew Too Much_, the one with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day, is much better than the original with Peter Lorre. The remake of _Psycho_, I found appalling… But the reason for the lack of tension is not as mysterious as Roger Ebert suggests. Two quick examples: \*Black and white vs bad, bad, bad use of color, for a start. The Marion Crane character in the remake is dressed in bright colors, cheap clothes, and looks like a streetwalker; Janet Leigh is far more respectable, and thus garnishes more sympathy. Black and white is far more ominous than color, as well. Color distracts, black and white allows the director to focus attention. - Choice of actors and acting ability. Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates is skinny, comparable size to Janet Leigh, and comes across as sympathetic. Wossname towers over the Marion Crane character, and comes across as threatening and ominous from the very first scene. ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/32 "2002-04-25T22:43:49Z")
Martin Scorsese will be pleased to know that his version of _Cape Fear_ hasn’t been mentioned until now. And I’m only mentioning it to point out that it’s very far from people’s minds. Since it wasn’t exceptionally good, that must mean it was terribly mediocre. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/33 "2002-04-25T23:04:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > \*\*OTOH, Hitchcock’s own remake of _The Man Who Knew Too Much_, the one with Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day, is much better than the original with Peter Lorre. > > The remake of _Psycho_, I found appalling… But the reason for the lack of tension is not as mysterious as Roger Ebert suggests. Two quick examples: > > \*Black and white vs bad, bad, bad use of color, for a start. The Marion Crane character in the remake is dressed in bright colors, cheap clothes, and looks like a streetwalker; Janet Leigh is far more respectable, and thus garnishes more sympathy. Black and white is far more ominous than color, as well. Color distracts, black and white allows the director to focus attention. > > - Choice of actors and acting ability. Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates is skinny, comparable size to Janet Leigh, and comes across as sympathetic. Wossname towers over the Marion Crane character, and comes across as threatening and ominous from the very first scene. \*\* Plus, personally, could _really_ have done without the sound effect of Vincent Vaughn “beating it” while watching Anne Heche undress through the peephole. **Yetch**. :o ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/34 "2002-04-26T02:42:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > > Or the 1976 remake of **King Kong**? > \*\* The one with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lang? Unfortunately yes. Whos the black private dick in the remake that was not a hit…SHAFT How about that made for TV remake of The Shinning I haven’t hear good things about Oceans 11 either ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/35 "2002-04-26T13:29:32Z")
I’ll vote again and again for The Grinch. Plus Cape Fear. But did you know that Barb Wire was a remake of Casablanca? Sabrina ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/36 "2002-04-26T16:44:25Z")
Hey I kinda liked the Remake of the Blob. Now I cringe at these terrible horror remakes, 13 ghosts, House on haunted hill etc. and now word has it they are going to remake Texas Chainsaw Massacre (EEP!) What the hell are they thinking?!?! I don’t mind a re imagining of a concept (The FLY) or a slight update based on differnet political ideas (Invasion of the Body Snatchers )(ok I’ll be slammed on that one I guess) if it is done well. But what the hell can they do with Texas Chainsaw Massacre that would be worth seeing!! Make the family a group of Democrats?!?!? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/37 "2002-04-26T21:52:50Z")
“Cape Fear”? That was awesome!! Robert DeNiro was so hot…and menacing. I haven’t seen the original, but the clips I’ve seen of the other Max Cady make him look so wimpy compared to DeNiro. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/38 "2002-04-26T22:44:11Z")
Wait a second, **Jabba**. They did a made-for-TV remake of _Night of the Hunter_? Why, God, why…?!? ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/39 "2002-04-26T22:49:43Z")
The worst part about the remake of _Mr. Deeds_ is the soundtrack that goes with it, which includes what is guaranteed to be the worst musical remake of all time: [David Bowie remakes “Space Oddity” with Adam Sandler.](http://www.vh1.com/news/stories/1453590.jhtml) A moment of silence is in order. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460/40 "2002-04-27T01:09:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\* > As for the remake of “Lost in Space” . . . They just DIDN’T GET IT. The TV show was charming because it was cheesy and goofy and essentially a parody of the po-faced “Star Trek.” \*\* Eve, Lost in Space wasn’t a Trek parody. It premiered in 1965, well BEFORE Star Trek. Remember, the first eps were black-and-white. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-appalling-remake/105460.md?page=3)