According to The Hollywood Reporter, there’s a new High Noon in the offing. In case you don’t remember, that’s the 1952 oater in which Gary Cooper (pictured) fends off a band of outlaws in real-time. (Like 24, but 50 years ahead of its time — and a whole lot better.)
It’s an undeniable classic and should be allowed to rest, unmolested, for all eternity. Especially since we saw what happened the last time it was remade: the 1981 sci-fi pic Outland, one of Sean Connery’s few clunkers.
When will Hollywood realize that there’s no upside to remaking classic films? It’ll never be as good as its progenitor; in fact, it will only suffer the comparison. Gus Van Zant’s Psycho proved that.
Find some films with fantastic premises that didn’t fully exploit them…or were just plain bad in the process. Not Near Dark, not Escape From New York, and not High Noon.
What would you like to see remade? Freshened up? Given a new coat of paint? Me, personally: The Hot Rock, the 1972 jewel heist comedy starring Robert Redford and George Segal. Or The Running Man (actually, just go back to Stephen King’s novella, which has become prescient over time). Or Star Wars: Episode I. Your turn.
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The Last Dragon
“one of Sean Connery’s FEW clunkers”?!?!
Are you kidding?
Red Dawn
Red Dawn
I will always defend Gus Van Zant’s Psycho. Yes, the original will always be the one of best films ever made… and one of my faves. However, GVZs version was a shot-for-shot, line-for-line remake with different actors and set in the present. To my knowledge this is the only time this has ever been done in film and makes for a fascinating study how these nuances change perception of the story and characters. What Psycho geek doesn’t appreciate it on that level?
I actually disagree; I like the classics being remade because it introduces a new generation to them. For example, Cape Fear. I saw the Robert Deniro/Nick Nolte one and through that version discovered the Gregory Peck/Robert Mitchum one. I’d never heard of High Noon before now; if I like the remake, I might check out the first one.
Personally, I think Peter Jackson’s King Kong is the best example of taking a classic and improving upon it while keeping the integrity of the original. Everyone seems to forget that reamake and always focus on Psycho. As for High Noon, sadly I haven’t seen it but as soon as it shows on TCM, I will. The question is, who (director, producer, writer) is remaking High Noon?
I loved Outland. I watch that movie whenever it comes on.
When I saw “Guess who’s coming to dinner” I thought it had to be updated. Mainly b/c the girl was so beneath Sidney Poitier. That movie’s idea of a modern women was someone who was allowed to speak while serving martinis.
However, Bernie Mac and Ashten Cutcher were not what I had in mind.
First, agreed that it’s disgraceful anyone would remake high noon. The movie is a gem not only for its themes, but also what it symbolized in its era. Now, remaking The Running Man would also be a sin. Richard Dawson’s performance was legendary.
I’d love to see the Warriors remade, but only if it’s done “retro” to reflect on the era the book was written. Gangs of NYC in the 1960’s might be an interesting concept to see on film.
Now that the online game is coming out, a remade Conan would be cool. The character’s got tons of storyline between the books and comics.
Or instead of a remake, why not a long anticipated sequel? The Last Starfighter certainly had a lot of promise…
Finally, Jason’s right. Connery’s made a LOT of crappy movies. Medicine Man anyone?
Let’s put a moratorium on remakes…PLEASE! I don’t believe they’re going to remake High Noon…that’s like remaking Gone with the Wind…you know, Hollywood wants to do that so badly, so they keep making prequels and sequels to GWTW….next they’ll try to remake Citizen Cane…that’s why they need to put a moratorium on remakes.
How about Hollywood coming up with original scripts instead of trying to mine past gems? The quality record of remakes is pretty piss-poor.
That picture looks like Dermot Mulroney!
While I agree Hollywood often goes too far when it tries to remake beloved classics, there are a few remakes out there that I really enjoyed just as much or, in some cases, better than the original. “Ocean’s 11″ was great when it starred the Rat Pack and was just as good when George Clooney and Brad Pitt took it on again. “An Affair to Remember” was a remake of “Love Affair” but is the version we remember most today, plus it had all of those Oscar nominations. I’ll admit though that the third remake (back to the title “Love Affair”) was definitely below standards. I also enjoyed “The Italian Job” with Mark Wahlberg more than I did the original version that originally starred Michael Cane. So it’s not always a bad thing. I think instead of remaking the solid classics (like “High Noon” and “Psycho”) they should focus on films that maybe aren’t remembered as well today and that could be told well in a modern setting.
Nothing. Nothing needs to be re-made. Leave old movies alone. I die a little inside every time I hear that one of my favorite childhood movies is going to be modernized. Stay away from old movies and come up with something new and original!!
Cyborg – This is one of my guilty pleasure movies. I think that the right director and screenwriter can do something amazing with the plot.
Commando – I mainly love this movie for the over-the-top action. I’d love to see The Rock (in Schwartzenegger’s role) and Vin Diesel as the villian.
It’s a horrible idea to remake a classic like High Noon. And it’s already been done! Yes, there was “Outland.” Yes, there was a bad cable-version with Tom Skerritt. But the version that takes the cake: The HORRIFIC “Miami Vice” episode “The Afternoon Plane” from ‘87 which stole the plot wholesale! And I believe both Vincent D’Onofrio and John Leguizamo guested. Not anyone’s finest hour. Ah, Philip Michael Thomas, where are you now?
The only reason to remake High Noon is if we had some incredible new technology that could add to it. But since we don’t, don’t even think about remaking High Noon. Some things are perfect as they are.
Ideas for imperfect movies to remake:
Gaslight – a serious remake could add so much; The Apartment – change the genders of the characters (who knows?); Starting Over was a 70s movie-just okay, but I think it could be done really today; and how about another “David Copperfield”?(not the magician). The kid who played him in the last Brit remake has done well. But I don’t think the movies have come up with a truly great version of it yet. Let’s give it a try.
Most video game movies need fixing in my opinion. Silent Hill is an exception but most are at least corny if not cringe worthy.
Instead of ripping of the Japanese, again, how about redoing The Fall of the House of Usher? They made us watch that in school and it messed me up!
I think we should be revisiting soundtracks rather than completely remaking films. High Noon is fine as is, but there are more than enough decent movies from the 70s and 80s that are virtually unwatchable courtesy of bad synth soundtracks. Once the soundtracks are fixed, we then only need to figure out a way to digitally remove pornstaches, feathered hair, and nuthugger jeans and the 70s and 80s classics would be watchable again.
remaking this movie makes me just as sick as the thought of remaking The Day the Earth Stood Still. OMG people! No more original thoughts? WTF? must steal from others who were clearly more clever? i agree that a remake of something that wasn’t a classic isn’t necessarily a bad thing cuz sometimes the remake can be better than the original. in this case however, bollucks! & if you are of the mind that the remake introduces the movie to a new generation, you’re an idiot! all it does is introduce the remake to a new generation, which does nothing for the original.
Clunkers? Connery. Highlander II. ’nuff said.
I truly think that Hollywood is out of ideas. Let’s leave the classics alone. As someone else said, I think it may be appropriate to take a look at a remake when the original is lacking in some way or not fully realized.
Fair game would probably be older fantasy sci-fi films that could be improved with new technology. Kong fits in there. I’m also thinking things like Journey to the Center Earth, Mysterious Island, Sinbad, etc. Just as long as they try to inject some sort of soul along with the effects.
Also, leave the TV shows alone too!
I always wanted to see a less campy version of Repo Man. Scrape of some of the 80’s cheese and put it in the hands of Lynch or the Coen brothers. Unfortunately, if it did get remade, it would probably star Dane Cook and have Sum 41 instead of Iggy Pop on the soundtrack.
God, I hope I haven’t given them any ideas.
Everyone acts like rehashing ideas is a new thing in Hollywood. The Humphrey Bogart version of The Maltese Falcon was the third try, in less than 10 years, mind you.
This is weird, it was already remade in 2000 with Tom Skerrit as Will Kane. Maybe that doesn’t count since it was made for television.
I wonder who they’ll get to play him this time, if they must remake it again, then I vote for Sam Elliot. But they’ll probably make it a comedy and get Jack Black.
Definitely “Chinatown”. Not really.
I would actually like to see a remake of “The Changeling”. The original is great, but I know it can be imporved upon.
peter jackson’s king kong was not very good first of all. although it fits into a category of movies that could have been remade in my mind. some remakes are good, but most are bad or absolutely horrible.
And i agree that you can’t remake the running man. the movie is awesome. and dawson’s performance kicks ass.
stop remakes though. just stop.
I believe Logan’s Run is still planned to be updated; pretty promising since it had a great concept burdened by 70’s special effects/direction.
They could really do a great remake of “Miracle at Morgan’s Creek” which would just need to updated for today’s, uh, new social mores. It could play a lot like a more screwball version of “Knocked Up” and while the surprise ending in the original wouldn’t work anymore, I’m sure they could come up with something just as clever.
Especially after ‘3:10 to Yuma’ this year, I don’t think there’s a need for this remake since the story and setting are similar -particularly Christian Bale’s character arc.