Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jun 18, 2008 1:01:52 GMT -5
...this acutally hurts me to say, but it's what I'm feeling, so here goes...
I was watching the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" last night, and while I enjoyed it very much as late-night fall asleep fodder, I came to a shocking realization - this is actually a movie that could use a remake.
Don't ask me why it took me approximately 5,000 viewings to come to this conclusion, but on this particular viewing, something jumped out at me - almost all of the early "Friday the 13th" films, and especially the first two "Halloween" movies, did a good job building up pretty much every victim character. While it's true that those movies don't have anywhere near as ambitious a plot as "Nightmare," those films made a genuine attempt to make their characters three-dimensional, making the death scenes carry a lot more weight. Simply put, with the exception of Heather Langenkamp's Nancy...I just really didn't care about any of the other characters that much.
So, I resign myself to a sad fact - I want to see a "Nightmare on Elm Street" remake, provided that it's done RIGHT and not butt-raped like "TCM".
Absolute musts in a "Nightmare" remake:
(1) Find another excellent, mid-30s, unknown character actor to play Freddy. No name actors allowed in this role.
(2) Acceptable to cast someone relatively famous in the Nancy role, but not too famous. Don't ask me who I'd cast because I really have no idea, but personally, I have difficulty getting into characters when the actor is a super-duper big deal, and it is vital that the audience identify with Nancy rather than being star-struck.
(3) Unknown, attractive, good teenage actors in the rest of the teen roles.
(4) Flesh out the main group of teenage characters better. This is the main reason for this manifesto - give us reasons to care about them on levels other than just being stalked by a dream killer.
(5) Might not be a bad idea to have a longer buildup to the first death scene. In the original film, Tina is killed fifteen minutes into the movie, and we know virtually nothing about her (other than just being "Rod's girlfriend.")
(6) Adding more deaths is acceptable, but again, don't overdo it - I would say that you could tack on another two death scenes while also keeping the main story of the film relevant and engaging.
(7) Keep the budget low, and the special effects realistic and nonflashy. These movies are better raw, and while this will definitely be more produced than the original, don't do anything that looks like it only exists to make us stand up and applaud.
Anyway, that was my little epiphany as I watched "ANOES" last night half-asleep. Comments, questions, and flames are welcome.
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Post by Captain Wonderful on Jun 18, 2008 1:05:21 GMT -5
The only stereotypical cash-in treatment I want to see used on the Nightmare franchise is a prequel. I rarely, if ever, go for prequels, and NEVER remakes, but I could definitely do with seeing the Springwood Slasher in action.
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Post by Rorschach on Jun 18, 2008 1:34:27 GMT -5
...this acutally hurts me to say, but it's what I'm feeling, so here goes... I was watching the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" last night, and while I enjoyed it very much as late-night fall asleep fodder, I came to a shocking realization - this is actually a movie that could use a remake. Don't ask me why it took me approximately 5,000 viewings to come to this conclusion, but on this particular viewing, something jumped out at me - almost all of the early "Friday the 13th" films, and especially the first two "Halloween" movies, did a good job building up pretty much every victim character. While it's true that those movies don't have anywhere near as ambitious a plot as "Nightmare," those films made a genuine attempt to make their characters three-dimensional, making the death scenes carry a lot more weight. Simply put, with the exception of Heather Langenkamp's Nancy...I just really didn't care about any of the other characters that much. So, I resign myself to a sad fact - I want to see a "Nightmare on Elm Street" remake, provided that it's done RIGHT and not butt-raped like "TCM". Absolute musts in a "Nightmare" remake: (1) Find another excellent, mid-30s, unknown character actor to play Freddy. No name actors allowed in this role. (2) Acceptable to cast someone relatively famous in the Nancy role, but not too famous. Don't ask me who I'd cast because I really have no idea, but personally, I have difficulty getting into characters when the actor is a super-duper big deal, and it is vital that the audience identify with Nancy rather than being star-struck. (3) Unknown, attractive, good teenage actors in the rest of the teen roles. (4) Flesh out the main group of teenage characters better. This is the main reason for this manifesto - give us reasons to care about them on levels other than just being stalked by a dream killer. (5) Might not be a bad idea to have a longer buildup to the first death scene. In the original film, Tina is killed fifteen minutes into the movie, and we know virtually nothing about her (other than just being "Rod's girlfriend.") (6) Adding more deaths is acceptable, but again, don't overdo it - I would say that you could tack on another two death scenes while also keeping the main story of the film relevant and engaging. (7) Keep the budget low, and the special effects realistic and nonflashy. These movies are better raw, and while this will definitely be more produced than the original, don't do anything that looks like it only exists to make us stand up and applaud. Anyway, that was my little epiphany as I watched "ANOES" last night half-asleep. Comments, questions, and flames are welcome. I like your ideas.....they're inspired and creative. Seriously.....if Hollywood followed your advice to the LETTER.....I wouldn't hate remakes like I do. |
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The Line
Patti Mayonnaise
Real Name: Bumkiss. Stanley Bumkiss.
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Posts: 36,698
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Post by The Line on Jun 18, 2008 1:59:08 GMT -5
...this acutally hurts me to say, but it's what I'm feeling, so here goes... I was watching the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" last night, and while I enjoyed it very much as late-night fall asleep fodder, I came to a shocking realization - this is actually a movie that could use a remake. Don't ask me why it took me approximately 5,000 viewings to come to this conclusion, but on this particular viewing, something jumped out at me - almost all of the early "Friday the 13th" films, and especially the first two "Halloween" movies, did a good job building up pretty much every victim character. While it's true that those movies don't have anywhere near as ambitious a plot as "Nightmare," those films made a genuine attempt to make their characters three-dimensional, making the death scenes carry a lot more weight. Simply put, with the exception of Heather Langenkamp's Nancy...I just really didn't care about any of the other characters that much. So, I resign myself to a sad fact - I want to see a "Nightmare on Elm Street" remake, provided that it's done RIGHT and not butt-raped like "TCM". Absolute musts in a "Nightmare" remake: (1) Find another excellent, mid-30s, unknown character actor to play Freddy. No name actors allowed in this role. (2) Acceptable to cast someone relatively famous in the Nancy role, but not too famous. Don't ask me who I'd cast because I really have no idea, but personally, I have difficulty getting into characters when the actor is a super-duper big deal, and it is vital that the audience identify with Nancy rather than being star-struck. (3) Unknown, attractive, good teenage actors in the rest of the teen roles. (4) Flesh out the main group of teenage characters better. This is the main reason for this manifesto - give us reasons to care about them on levels other than just being stalked by a dream killer. (5) Might not be a bad idea to have a longer buildup to the first death scene. In the original film, Tina is killed fifteen minutes into the movie, and we know virtually nothing about her (other than just being "Rod's girlfriend.") (6) Adding more deaths is acceptable, but again, don't overdo it - I would say that you could tack on another two death scenes while also keeping the main story of the film relevant and engaging. (7) Keep the budget low, and the special effects realistic and nonflashy. These movies are better raw, and while this will definitely be more produced than the original, don't do anything that looks like it only exists to make us stand up and applaud. Anyway, that was my little epiphany as I watched "ANOES" last night half-asleep. Comments, questions, and flames are welcome. I like your ideas.....they're inspired and creative. Seriously.....if Hollywood followed your advice to the LETTER.....I wouldn't hate remakes like I do. agreed. Most remakes are just an excuse to get as good an "all-star cast" as possible. |
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Post by Rocky Van Heineken on Jun 18, 2008 2:03:51 GMT -5
I think AFI should make a list of 500 films that cannot be remade. I hate remakes.
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Post by Rorschach on Jun 18, 2008 2:08:10 GMT -5
I think AFI should make a list of 500 films that cannot be remade. I hate remakes. Why don't we start our own? My choice would be JAWS....just due to the huge increase in the average person's knowledge of sharks. There's no way this film flies today.....especially since the advent of CGI has killed the main reason it was successful in the first place. Now, there's no excuse NOT to show the shark.....and there goes every last shred of suspense, right out the windah. |
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Post by Rocky Van Heineken on Jun 18, 2008 2:12:38 GMT -5
I think AFI should make a list of 500 films that cannot be remade. I hate remakes. Why don't we start our own? My choice would be JAWS....just due to the huge increase in the average person's knowledge of sharks. There's no way this film flies today.....especially since the advent of CGI has killed the main reason it was successful in the first place. Now, there's no excuse NOT to show the shark.....and there goes every last shred of suspense, right out the windah. Funny you should mention that. I read on aintitcool that Spielberg is actually considering remaking Jaws himself. Add Back to the Future to the list. And Dr. Strangelove. |
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Post by Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action on Jun 18, 2008 2:14:22 GMT -5
I think AFI should make a list of 500 films that cannot be remade. I hate remakes. Why don't we start our own? My choice would be JAWS....just due to the huge increase in the average person's knowledge of sharks. There's no way this film flies today.....especially since the advent of CGI has killed the main reason it was successful in the first place. Now, there's no excuse NOT to show the shark.....and there goes every last shred of suspense, right out the windah. Eh, it could still fly. I've personally always considered Jaws to be a "super shark" anyways. He was always above a normal shark. Like how Jason wasn't undead yet in Friday the 13th II or it was the fake Jason in that one movie, yet they could do all this super human stuff. BUT, I ask everyone this. If they said they WERE going to make another Jaws no matter what. Would you rather have a re-start or a Jaws 5? |
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Post by Rorschach on Jun 18, 2008 2:27:55 GMT -5
Re-start the damn thing....the Brody family has been through enough.
Personally, I'd rather have it set in the Farallon Islands off San Francisco....and have it be a freaking SCHOOL of Great Whites that start going crazy and eating people right and left. Cue Hooper's smart ass son (Shia LeBeouf?) to the rescue....only he finds out something the city of San Francisco doesn't want him to know, and he becomes the target of not only the sharks in the water, but city sanctioned goombahs as well. Something like that.
Just leave the Brody family out of it.
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Post by macdaddysquid on Jun 18, 2008 2:42:55 GMT -5
The only stereotypical cash-in treatment I want to see used on the Nightmare franchise is a prequel. I rarely, if ever, go for prequels, and NEVER remakes, but I could definitely do with seeing the Springwood Slasher in action. Yeah... I was discussing this with fellow crapper JZBADBLOOD the other day. It would be really cool to see all of the events, freddy stalking kids, getting arrested, court, getting out of sentence cause he wasn't read rights, parents killing him. None of it would work without Englund coming back though |
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Post by Rorschach on Jun 18, 2008 2:52:28 GMT -5
Why don't we start our own? My choice would be JAWS....just due to the huge increase in the average person's knowledge of sharks. There's no way this film flies today.....especially since the advent of CGI has killed the main reason it was successful in the first place. Now, there's no excuse NOT to show the shark.....and there goes every last shred of suspense, right out the windah. Funny you should mention that. I read on aintitcool that Spielberg is actually considering remaking Jaws himself. Add Back to the Future to the list. And Dr. Strangelove. I demand a link to the Speilberg thing....not cause I don't believe you....but because I'm sitting here STUNNED that he'd even consider it, after the HELL that making the first one caused him. |
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JMA
Hank Scorpio
Down With Capitalism!
Posts: 6,880
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Post by JMA on Jun 18, 2008 3:04:59 GMT -5
I don't think anyone will be a better Freddy than Englund, BUT he can't play the character forever and there are many actors who could hit a home run with the role.
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Post by Rocky Van Heineken on Jun 18, 2008 3:10:24 GMT -5
Funny you should mention that. I read on aintitcool that Spielberg is actually considering remaking Jaws himself. Add Back to the Future to the list. And Dr. Strangelove. I demand a link to the Speilberg thing....not cause I don't believe you....but because I'm sitting here STUNNED that he'd even consider it, after the HELL that making the first one caused him. There ya go |
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Jiren
Patti Mayonnaise
Hearts Bayformers
Posts: 35,163
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Post by Jiren on Jun 18, 2008 4:50:00 GMT -5
Keep a coherent storyline.
1, 3 & 4 followed a reasonable story but it was still set out badly.
This is a remake i'm actually excited for (Sorry to say).
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Post by Bob Schlapowitz on Jun 18, 2008 6:01:10 GMT -5
Why don't we start our own? My choice would be JAWS....just due to the huge increase in the average person's knowledge of sharks. There's no way this film flies today.....especially since the advent of CGI has killed the main reason it was successful in the first place. Now, there's no excuse NOT to show the shark.....and there goes every last shred of suspense, right out the windah. Funny you should mention that. I read on aintitcool that Spielberg is actually considering remaking Jaws himself. Add Back to the Future to the list. And Dr. Strangelove. I'd like to add "Rocky" and "A Clockwork Orange" to that list. |
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Post by Rorschach on Jun 18, 2008 12:34:13 GMT -5
I demand a link to the Speilberg thing....not cause I don't believe you....but because I'm sitting here STUNNED that he'd even consider it, after the HELL that making the first one caused him. There ya go "But here's the kicker, or the real story if you will, Spielberg has openly talked about how he wants to continue working with long time friend Tom Cruise, even if his name has been tarnished by the media. Sam writes, "Tom Cruise is one of Steven's best friends and he think that the public will eventually get over all of the negative press created by the Scientology mumbo-jumbo," not here's the kicker, "if Steven doesn't use Tom in DUEL, he will develop a remake of JAWS with Cruise." VOMITS WITH RAGE, READIES MOLOTOV COCKTAILS FOR HOLLYWOODAwwww....... Nooooooo--- Awwwww, f***! Maaaaaan.......NO--- VOMITS |
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Killah Ray
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Post by Killah Ray on Jun 18, 2008 12:42:31 GMT -5
"But here's the kicker, or the real story if you will, Spielberg has openly talked about how he wants to continue working with long time friend Tom Cruise, even if his name has been tarnished by the media. Sam writes, "Tom Cruise is one of Steven's best friends and he think that the public will eventually get over all of the negative press created by the Scientology mumbo-jumbo," not here's the kicker, "if Steven doesn't use Tom in DUEL, he will develop a remake of JAWS with Cruise." VOMITS WITH RAGE, READIES MOLOTOV COCKTAILS FOR HOLLYWOODAwwww....... Nooooooo--- Awwwww, smurf! Maaaaaan.......NO--- VOMITSSo who would be the villain the shark or Cruise? |
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Post by DSR on Jun 18, 2008 12:51:12 GMT -5
"But here's the kicker, or the real story if you will, Spielberg has openly talked about how he wants to continue working with long time friend Tom Cruise, even if his name has been tarnished by the media. Sam writes, "Tom Cruise is one of Steven's best friends and he think that the public will eventually get over all of the negative press created by the Scientology mumbo-jumbo," not here's the kicker, "if Steven doesn't use Tom in DUEL, he will develop a remake of JAWS with Cruise." VOMITS WITH RAGE, READIES MOLOTOV COCKTAILS FOR HOLLYWOODAwwww....... Nooooooo--- Awwwww, smurf! Maaaaaan.......NO--- VOMITSSo who would be the villain the shark or Cruise? Maybe Cruise would play the shark...? |
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Killah Ray
El Dandy
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Post by Killah Ray on Jun 18, 2008 12:56:48 GMT -5
So who would be the villain the shark or Cruise? Maybe Cruise would play the shark...? Would he be in the ocean throwing copies of Dianetics at people? |
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
From the eerie, eerie depths of Lake Okabena
Posts: 4,874
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Jun 18, 2008 12:58:54 GMT -5
Wow...I post this thread, go to bed, come back, and 90% of the posts are about "Jaws" and Tom Cruise. To say that's not what I expected is an understatement.
Though Rorshach, your comments are appreciated. When remaking a movie, I think every director should look to John Carpenter's "The Thing" and David Cronenberg's "The Fly" - two of the rare remakes that are actually better than the original movie. They not only reproduce a good story, they eliminate elements that didn't work in the original and add their own flair to the material as well.
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