# The travesties, the shams, and the mockeries-remakes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138 "2009-02-02T19:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/1 "2009-02-02T19:08:49Z")
With Steve Martin & Co. having the gall to not only do one Pink Panther remake, but two, with the upcoming release of the 2nd one this week, thought it was appropriate to ask everybody what they think are the worst, the most unnecessary, and the most insulting (to the originals) film remakes of all time are. Sellers _was_ Clouseau; having someone like Martin trying to replace him is like having Arnold Schwartzenegger groomed as a double for George W. Bush, and expecting everyone to be fooled when the original dies. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/2 "2009-02-02T20:56:19Z")
The GusVanSant shot-for-shot contemporary remake of **Psycho**. What an utterly pointless excercise. He somehow managed to take a true classic and suck all the greatness out of it. And every contemporary change he made to it just furthered the damage. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/3 "2009-02-02T20:59:23Z")
I still have not forgiven Ron Howard or Jim Carrey for their total desecration of one of my most loved books – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, If one must view a version, the animated Grinch stays true to the spirit of the book. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/4 "2009-02-02T21:08:06Z")
Speaking of Steve Martin, remaking “Cheaper by the Dozen” and doing a sequel was not very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/5 "2009-02-02T22:09:56Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > I still have not forgiven Ron Howard or Jim Carrey for their total desecration of one of my most loved books – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, If one must view a version, the animated Grinch stays true to the spirit of the book. It is best not to watch big-screen adaptations of Dr. Seuss. They only annoy. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/6 "2009-02-02T23:00:45Z")
Steve Martin in **Sgt Bilko** ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/7 "2009-02-02T23:08:33Z")
Tim Burton’s **Planet of the Apes** was not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/8 "2009-02-02T23:08:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It is best not to watch big-screen adaptations of Dr. Seuss. They only annoy. I liked Grinch, loathed Cat. My own offering, besides “Cat in the Hat”, Nicolas Cage & Ellen Burstyn’s pissing on Edward Woodward & Christopher Lee in THE WICKER MAN. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/9 "2009-02-02T23:09:08Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > I still have not forgiven Ron Howard or Jim Carrey for their total desecration of one of my most loved books – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, If one must view a version, the animated Grinch stays true to the spirit of the book. This was what I was going to post. Almost verbatim too. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/10 "2009-02-02T23:16:24Z")
On the other hand, _The Maltese Falcon_ was a remake. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/11 "2009-02-02T23:20:28Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > On the other hand, _The Maltese Falcon_ was a remake. Not really, though. They weren’t remaking the earlier film, they were doing their own adaption of the novel. If the earlier film had never existed, they’d probably still have made _The Maltese Falcon_. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/12 "2009-02-02T23:24:00Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Not really, though. They weren’t remaking the earlier film, they were doing their own adaption of the novel. If the earlier film had never existed, they’d probably still have made _The Maltese Falcon_. Quite true. Moreover, count me in the minority that thinks that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was enormously better than Willie Wonka (not merely in special effects, but in general sensibility and in the music); it too is an adaptation of the common source material rather than the earlier film. I’ve read reviews of the 1989 Batman which called it a remake of the Adam West movie, and of Batman Begins which called it a remake of both. In each case the reviewer was clearly oen of the common clay of the Old West. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/13 "2009-02-02T23:43:38Z")
I agree with the already mentioned Mark Wahlberg “Planet of the Apes” was a waste. For some reason, american remakes of french films seem to be pretty lame: The Bridget Fonda “Point of No Return” remake of “La Femme Nikita” was terrible. It tried to copy the original scene for scene, but totally missed the mark (no pun intended). Similarly Tom Hanks’ “The Man with One Red Shoe” was no where near as good as the original “Tall Blonde Man with One Black Shoe”. I was pretty surprized to see that a second “Pink Panther” with Steve Martin was even being made. I thought the first sucked so bad, it would have ended that franchise. Sadly, I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/14 "2009-02-03T01:11:26Z")
In 2010, I’ll bump this thread to say: Steve Martin in [Topper](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923946/) ---
**Author:** ![tattman40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@tattman40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tattman40)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/15 "2009-02-03T01:33:39Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > I still have not forgiven Ron Howard or Jim Carrey for their total desecration of one of my most loved books – “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, If one must view a version, the animated Grinch stays true to the spirit of the book. And if they had to re-make it,all they needed was Iggy Pop with some green makeup. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/16 "2009-02-03T02:18:04Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > It is best not to watch big-screen adaptations of Dr. Seuss. They only annoy. Except for **[The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T](http://www.sff.net/people/rothman/GBF/drt.htm)**. And, with the right people involved, it could make a good remake. > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > In 2010, I’ll bump this thread to say: > > Steve Martin in [Topper](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923946/) Noooooooo!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/17 "2009-02-03T02:19:22Z")
As long as everyone’s bashing Steve Martin, I’ll throw in Father of the Bride (and the sequel). How about Tom Hanks and Dan Ackroyd in Dragnet? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/18 "2009-02-03T02:34:44Z")
I know I’m tired of unnecessary, (relatively) big-budget, slick studio remakes of what were innovative, independent low-budget pictures of the 1970s and early '80s. We’ve had _Texas Chainsaw Massacre_, _The Hills Have Eyes_, now _Friday the 13th_ is coming out. Remakes that totally lose the grungy sincerity of the original. Heck, they’re even remaking _Race With the Devil_. Why does that have to happen? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/19 "2009-02-03T02:41:33Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > As long as everyone’s bashing Steve Martin, I’ll throw in Father of the Bride (and the sequel). Although they weren’t, strictly speaking, necessary, I liked the above remakes. Especially the first. I’d been afraid the sweet quality of the original would be lost, that the Banks family would be portrayed as disfunctional or something. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2009, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138/20 "2009-02-03T03:01:37Z")
Compare Steve Martin’s “remake” movies (_The Pink Panther_ and sequel, _Father of the Bride_ and sequel, _Cheaper By The Dozen_ and sequel, _Sgt Bilko_, _Pennies From Heaven_, _Little Shop of Horrors_, _Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_, _The Out-of-Towners_) with his original movies (_Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid_, _The Man With Two Brains_, _The Jerk_, _LA Story_, _Roxanne_, _Bowfinger_, _All of Me_, _Planes, Trains & Automobiles_, _Grand Canyon_, _The Spanish Prisoner_, _Shopgirl_). If I were Martin, I’d fire my agent if he brought me any more scripts for a remake. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-travesties-the-shams-and-the-mockeries-remakes/484138.md?page=2)