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This week I'm looking at film and tv reboots.
I noticed recently that they are talking about a TV series as a prequel to Lord of the Rings and I really don't know how I feel about it. I always thought that Peter Jackson did an excellent job of bringing Middle Earth to life in his Lord of the Rings trilogy, along with great casting. At first I was excited at the possibility of seeing ALL of the books re-done to include Tom Bombadil, the Barrow Wights and Old Man Willow, for example, but then they said it would be a prequel to Fellowship. That leaves me wondering which if any of the characters we know that we will see. I mean, you cannot replace Andy Serkis can you??? Will it be events that are in other published works? I wouldn't be that interested in it then to be honest.
That got me thinking about film reboots. For me, I grew up with Christopher Reeve as Superman, and I liked those films at the time. I got bored with them when they were screened pretty much every year at either Easter or Christmas. I'm not interested in these constant remakes of Superman using new actors each time. I saw Tobey Maguire as Spiderman and now I've seen the story once, I don't feel I need to see more versions with different actors. How many times are they going to reboot Superman, Spiderman and Batman??? I just wish they would concentrate on giving us something original to watch instead of just the same things, slightly made-over. It's not just the comics that this is happening with. Look at things like Robin Hood, Pride and Prejudice, King Kong. There are lots of versions of these out there on film and tv, some certainly better than others.
There have been new versions of things I really liked first time round ie Total Recall, Fright Night, It, Miami Vice and others. I'm wary of re-makes in case they aren't as good as the original, and sometimes it is the casting that makes me want to avoid it. (ie Colin Farrell turns up in most remakes I want to see but I don't like him and don't watch him) I feel that I go into watching these things with apprehension and certain expectations of what it'll be like and in the case of Miami Vice, end up disappointed. Some, I will watch. There are also rumours of more reboots of Charlie's Angels, Resident Evil, and countless other films. OK some of them, if correctly casted and something new is brought to them, could be quite good. But some of them like Pride and Prejudice are redone constantly with just a new cast and nothing new, and frankly I just get tired hearing about things like that.
Why do long running things that I once liked basically get flogged like a dead horse until people are sick of looking at it? I'm thinking here of loving the original Star Wars trilogy then being underwhelmed by the second trilogy. (I haven't watched the new trilogy which is getting mixed reviews) I'm talking about hating Prometheus after loving the first three Alien films. Obviously that is just a personal opinion. Some fans got tired of all the Star Trek and Stargate spin-offs while others loved them.
My real point here is that as a reader, I constantly find great books that if handled correctly, would make good films or TV series. Why are more of these new and original books not getting their chance when more reboots are constantly being put out there? I find it frustrating. I don't mean that there should never be remakes. Something from the 70's or 80's getting a great new makeover could be great with the special effects we have now. But do we have to rehash everything that was ever sucrssful when great new things are out there?
Do you welcome a new version of Lord of the Rings? Do you think there are too many remakes out there? Do you want to see more original things being filmed? Which reboots did you love and hate? What did you like once but refuse to watch a new version of? Do franchises like Star Wars go on too long? What would you like to see a new version of?
***no plot spoilers please***
I don't want a new version of Lord of the Rings, but at the same time, I just found out Murphy Brown is being rebooted and coming back with Candice Bergen, and I LOVED that show. I would love to see more of her and I'm currently enjoying the Xfiles seasons -- but mind you these are all continuations of shows I've loved brought back for limited runs. Do I want more originals? Yes. But I hate procedurals more now, so if there's one more NCIS From Wherever ... sighs.
ReplyDeleteI've lost count of how many versions of CSI, Law and Order and NCIS there are! I liked NCIS and the LA one but didn't have time to keep up with them because of my reading. I'm ok with bringing back something that has been off the tv a long time if they get it right!
DeleteI doubt I will watch The Lord of Rings thing coming out. I agree and have said many times to Mr. Barb that why do they have to keep recycling the same old things. Sometimes it seems like there are no original ideas being used at all. That being said, some of the reboots have been done well. I enjoyed IT for the most part. I think a lot of the older films can benefit some from new technology but yes, I agree with all the superhero remakes. I barely made it through the original Spiderman without having him redone time and time again.
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes that they are in such a rush to get things out that they don't do as good a job as they could. I agree, some things remade are good and some not so much but I'd just like to see some different things coming out. For example, I see some exciting looking books being filmed like Ready Player One. More of that and less bloody Superman!
DeleteIt all comes down to money. When a film studio takes on something completely new, there’s a lot of uncertainty involved. They don’t know if a project will be successful because it hasn’t been done before. With sequels and reboots, they know that an audience exists for those things. If the original was wildly successful, then the sequel or reboot will probably also make money.
ReplyDeleteI guess, if you don’t like reboots, then make sure you’re watching a lot of standalone films or new series.
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Oh I know the reasons why they do it...I get that they want a surefire hit...I just don't see why we need three different supermans in about 6 years, rather than film another popular book as something original instead. There is so much good stuff out there thyat could be made into great films or tv like Game of Thrones.
DeleteI'll probably watch the Lord Of The Rings prequel out of curiosity. And I'm with you. Give us more from great books. There are so many I'd like seen made into a movie or series. Ditch the same old, same old reboots.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at the number of superhero films out there it is staggering. I've given up on plans to watch the ensemble fils like Avengers etc as I just won't have time to catch up on all the films of each hero featured. I get little time for tv as it is so I need to start focusing on original stuff I think.
DeleteWhen it comes to sequels and adaptations, I don't mind them so much, though I often find myself disappointed in them as very few actually stand up to the original work. In terms of reboots/remakes though, I am more more torn. I sometimes wish they'd leave the good classics well alone, because there's little chance they can make a better movie anyway, they'd be better off coming up with something more original for a change.
ReplyDelete~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
I like that they are actually filming the popular YA books even if they might not appeal to me personally-it is at least new original content. There are a few interesting looking things coming out soon like Ready Player One that I want to see.
DeleteI was kinda curious about Lord of the Rings until I heard the prequel idea. Ugh no thanks. I mean Unfinished Tales is one of my favorite books, and some sort of pre- LOTR stuff might be good on film, but I want to see the main story too. Tom Bombadil ha ha!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the constant reboots. Give me the original Total Recall (that movie is a TRIP) or Point Break anyday. lol and Miami Vice *sigh*
I'm just not sure it'll work. GoT prequel idea may not feature the characters we love but these historical events are discussed as bedtime stories so we at least know more, enough to whet the appetite! I've never read all these Tolkien works are they look heavy going-I'm just not sure I'd be interested.
DeleteI am convinced that Hollywood doesn't have any original ideas anymore. I don't watch a lot of TV or movies but so much seems the same when I do. Even songs on the radio seem to have a lot of new versions of older songs.
ReplyDeleteIt's more about squeezing money out of the cash cow than creating new things to entertain. What happens when people stop going to see these reboots? Will they have any new ideas then?
DeleteA prequel?! What the heck.
ReplyDeleteYep believe it or not!
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