8 Reasons Why It's Time to Stop Movie Remakes ...

Do you ever get fed up with the number of movie remakes? It seems that the cinemas are full of "new" versions of movies many of us have already seen, and that rarely improve upon the original. So there is less room for fresh ideas. Here are some reasons why it's time to cut down on movie remakes and make some original movies instead …

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1. Unimaginative

The major problem with movie remakes is that they are so unimaginative. We've seen it all before, and in most cases they add little to the previous version. A few do succeed in adding a new slant, and occasionally even improving on the original. But mostly it's just lazy filmmaking.

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It often seems like the industry is playing it safe by capitalizing on the nostalgia and established fan bases of classic films. While this strategy might make financial sense, it does little to inspire or challenge audiences with fresh, original content. The magic of cinema is diluted when stories aren't given the chance to emerge from new perspectives and voices. Moreover, the frequent recycling of ideas suggests a concerning lack of confidence in the innovative potential of modern storytellers.

2. Inferior

On the whole, remakes are a pale imitation of the original film. To take just one example, think of the remake of "Psycho." How could you possibly improve on the Hitchcock original, or Anthony Perkins' portrayal of Norman Bates? It really was a pointless exercise.

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3. Make Way for New Ideas

When studios dedicate so much funding to remakes, there is little left to fund original and innovative filmmaking. Sure, there is a place for popcorn movies, but why can't they at least have an iota of originality, rather than be remakes? It's time to have some new ideas in the cinema.

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Hollywood's fear of taking risks is overshadowing the potential for groundbreaking storytelling that could resonate with modern audiences. Diverse voices and untold stories are waiting in the wings, only needing that chance to invigorate cinema with a fresh perspective. Isn't it exhilarating to walk out of a film feeling like you've discovered something incredible and new? It's essential for the industry to nurture and invest in creatives who are pushing the boundaries of the art form. Original films can challenge, inspire, and create cultural moments that remakes simply cannot replicate. Let's champion ingenuity on the big screen!

4. Copying Foreign Language Originals

This is one of the remake trends I find most annoying. Hollywood takes a perfectly good foreign film and turns it into a vastly inferior English-language version. Try watching the originals instead - it's not that difficult to follow subtitles!

5. New Writers

Making new versions of existing films reduces the opportunities for new writers. With remakes filling up the market, it's harder for them to get someone to look at their scripts. However, if new ideas are encouraged, it creates chances for new writers with original ideas - and we viewers can see something different!

6. Endless Remakes

Doesn't it get tedious seeing yet another version of a much-filmed story appear? There have been so many adaptations of classic novels like Great Expectations, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Most of us will have a favorite among each of them, but I groan when I see that yet another version is coming out!

7. Technology

As movie technology advances, some existing films are remade with better effects. This can work very well, but generally ends up being nothing more than a showcase for CGI. Take King Kong, for example - the 1931 original is by far the best, in spite of the "primitive" effects. And the recent version of Clash of the Titans just couldn't compare to Ray Harryhausen's work on the original.

8. Just Because You Can …

Okay, movie people. Just because you can make a new version of an older movie doesn't mean that you should. It's lazy, unimaginative and nearly always ends in an inferior piece of work. Start looking for some new ideas and original thinking, please!

Remakes often find an audience among people who haven't seen the original films and don't like old movies. This, presumably, is one reason why studios keep making new versions. Another is that it saves looking for new ideas. Personally I would rather see something new. But what do you think of remakes - do you actually dislike old movies and prefer to see them brought up to date?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Some remakes are good though. I'm not a big movie person, but the new Footloose I thought was amazing, whereas the old was just very good.

I agree with the points you bring up in this article. It's hard to revamp a storyline, especially if there are many fans out there who think the original was perfect. I tend to take remakes as new interpretations of the same idea, so I have enjoyed a number of them (like the Batman trilogy and Evil Dead remake). As @Lynel said, it all depends on who's doing the watching of the remakes and what matters to them.

I don't mind remakes to more modern, fictional movies ( like bat man and evil dead), but when they remake a classic, such as Les Miserables, it is simply frustrating. There are is a reason they are called classics!

One of the best remakes-definitely Evil Dead. The original(1981) was good but the 2013 was SO much better. I think never ending sequels should stop being made also. Sometimes just the first one is perfect and they ruin it with more.

Some remakes are worth doing. Like batman. The series what great in my opinion with Christian bale. Or like superman which the last on wasn't successful but the new one will probably become a hit assuming the story line is better. Spider-Man however didn't need a remake. I have to admit the remake was good. But I don't think a new revamp on the original spider man with Toby Maguire was great as it was in my opinion. But there are die-hard fans that would argue others wise saying the original didn't stick to the story line. So it all depend really

@Tori Good point! Almost as annoying as endless remakes are sequels! Some movies are perfectly fine and then they ruin it with a dozen more to follow! I used to give The Fast and The Furious crap for this, but I actually ended up loving them all, haha. I think it would be great if Hollywood would get more creative with their movies and actually come up with new ideas.

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