Let's start with the undisputed worst remake. Psycho. The 1960 masterpiece is still among the scariest movies made. Even the trailer's scary. Anthony Perkins was fabulously creepy, and the shower scene is indelibly etched in our minds. (It was bubble baths for Janet Leigh. She said publicly that she never showered again.) Bernard Herrmann's score made the scene. I know, you hear the EE-EE-EE music right now. Gus Van Sant inexplicably remade Psycho in 1998 and copied it shot for shot. (Vince Vaughan and Anne Hache?) An homage to Hitchcock? Not your best decision, Gus.
Shaft starred Richard Roundtree in 1971, with Isaac Hayes's unforgettable music. Shaft's '70's pimp clothes and smooth moves should never have been touched. Remade in 2000, Samuel L. Jackson's a great actor, but -- there's only one Shaft!
King Kong was made in 1933, starring Fay Wray and the big ape. It was remade twice, in 1976 with Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange and in 2005 with Jack Black (what?) and Naomi Watts. Of course the original had stop-motion modeling and cheesy backdrops (state of the art for 1933), but King Kong was more tragic and sad in the original. Should have been left alone.
Let's look at the new and improved.
Ocean's Eleven starred the Rat Pack in 1960. It had Frank, it had Dean, it had Sammy! It was fun and cool. Steven Soderbergh took on the remake challenge in 2001 with George, Brad and Matt -- and their pack. The new one is better, more intelligent, just as stylish (that's even) and has more substance. Good enough for an Ocean's Twelve and Thirteen. (Oprah had the whole cast on in 2001. Asked how the movies differed, Julia Roberts quipped, "Well, we weren't drunk.")
The Italian Job in 2003 was more sophisticated, intricate and fun than the 1969 version. It was funny and action-filled. And after the movie, Mini-Coopers sold like never before!
Then there are the draws.
The Thomas Crown Affair from 1968 starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in a stylish and sexy heist movie. Great plot, gorgeous actors, and at the time, the longest-ever screen kiss. It was remade in 1999 starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. They played beautifully off each other and gave a real kick to cat-and-mouse. Both excellent movies. McQueen. Brosnan. Hot.
Scarface. Did you know it was originally made in 1932? It starred Paul Muni and George Raft, an early sound movie. Great, tough performances, directed by Howard Hawks. In 1983 Brian De Palma remade Scarface with Al Pacino. Totally over the top, great fun, and a highly memorable quote.
I know you have more of your own. Let's have fun and rent some old ones.
that was afforded to this great film.
"The Hulk" only a few years after the first (though not the same story, but they changed the origin of the Hulk). I liked both the original and the remake equally.