Everything New is Old Again?

Ok, so I think I have found my calling in life; To end the senseless enslaught of remakes, covers, and updates of classics. I first noticed my rapidly growing animosity towards this trend (although it's been around forever) when I heard they were remaking Hairspray (now they did say it was being made based on the Broadway show not the original movie, but that is just splitting hairs to me). My first problem was John Travolta. Perhaps because in my mind no one can replace Divine as Edna, or perhaps it is because of some lame movie John did where he "tried" to speak with a southern accent, and it was the most horrific thing I had ever heard. I love Hairspray, Ricki Lake IS Tracy, no one can top that. Why they felt this classic needed an update given that the movie is maybe 20 years old is beyond me. Have you seen the original? It doesn't need updating. Perhaps Adam Shankman just needed a reason to show up on SYTYCD a plethora of times this year and figured that if he remade a beloved hit into a cinematic musical that it would score him a judging spot... his plan worked! But I still will not go and see Hairspray. My next bout of fury came when I heard the talk that they are going to remake Footloose (that link sums up some of my feelings pretty well). EXCUSE ME? Footloose?? Hello, have you seen this movie? Why on earth would you need to remake it, and as a MUSICAL? Have you completely run out of original ideas and somehow got the insane notion in your head that anyone could do it better than Kevin Bacon (have you seen him on his Will & Grace episode?? HILarious!), John Lithgow, Chris Penn and the rest of the cast, let alone Zac Efron? That person must have severely bumped their noggin because only a person who has been under a rock for the last 15 or 20 years would attempt this - Kenny Ortega I am talking to you. If it does get made, I will not see it.

I don't have a problem with people remaking things, but don't you think a better idea in terms of remaking movies, songs etc, would be to remake the ones that tanked, blowed, self-imploded and internally combusted and try to improve them? Aren't you just setting yourself up for failure when you take a hit and try to one up it? How come no one has attempted to remake Joe vs the Volcano? Terrible movie - someone has got to think they can make it better. Instead someone thinks "what's the best, most successful movie of all time? Let's remake it!" I don't get it. Another option would be to take a previously exisiting idea (Spider-Man cartoon) and try it in a different way (live action, not animation). Granted, I was not a believer the first time I heard they were doing this, but I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Transformers falls into this category too. I don't know how well Alvin and the Chipmunks will do (they sort of look a little creepy to me), but at least someone is shaking it up a little and not just rehashing an old story.

So, what's your least fave remake idea? What's your fave remake? What do you think should be remade and what should never be touched?I personally am up for a live action Jem and the Holograms movie - that would be awesome! I have raw footage of me and a friend jamming out as Jem and Aja.... it can be done! Any struggling producers/directors out there that needs an idea/project? Give me a call - we'll work out the details.