Tête à Tête: Are remakes, prequels and sequels necessary?

[one_third]James Kersley Says “YES!“

[dropcap]U[/dropcap]ndoubtedly remakes and sequels can become tiresome, especially when they are done badly. However, the ability to tinker, alter and reimagine existing films can yield exciting and thought provoking results. We always remember the terrible remakes, like Nicolas Cage’s The Wicker Man (2006), and sequels, like Blues Brothers 2000 (1998), which would have John Belushi turning in his grave. Projects like these are irrefutably the brain children of Hollywood accountants and I do find something irksome about this.

However, we should not scorn remakes and sequels because sometimes they go on to pleasantly surprise us; some have in fact exceeded expectations and revitalised films for new generations. The Cohen brothers’ True Grit (2010) is a recent example that people consider to have usurped the original. It is essential to allow artistic expression in a variety of ways, since the smallest changes in scenario or characterisation can have a large impact and change perceptions.

even if something is financially motivated it doesn’t mean that it can’t be entertaining as well as artistically credible.

Jonah Hill, left, and Channing Tatum in “22 Jump Street.” Image: Columbia Pictures

To draw a line in the sand and say that it would be a crime to remake Memento (2000) or have another Toy Story film is a rather pedantic claim. The criticism should be that these remakes are perhaps more financially minded than they are artistically, but having said that, even if something is financially motivated it doesn’t mean that it can’t be entertaining as well as artistically credible. A good example is the Jump Street franchise. 22 Jump Street (2014) is a very self aware film. As a sequel with a big budget it knows that it might not live up to the hype. The writers used this to their advantage and made a really entertaining parody of sequels.

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with sequels and remakes. Instead, it’s unimaginative directors and writers who will make bad films.

James Kersley[/one_third][one_third_last]Elena Prest says “NO!“

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t certainly seems to me that Hollywood is gradually running out of ideas. In 2014 we had films such as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Godzilla, this year we had the likes of Terminator Genisys and Poltergeist, next year we can expect Zoolander 2 and Finding Dory. Also successful foreign films are often remade, such as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Ju-On: The Grudge, as apparently few people can be arsed to read the English subtitles.

Al Pacino as Tony Montana in “Scarface” (1983). Image: Universal Studios

Furthermore, I myself am a big fan of 80s films, but to get anyone else to watch them with me is a struggle as ‘they are too grainy and the special effects are crap’. But now we have a Ghostbusters remake, a Blade Runner sequel, a Bill and Ted sequel and more on the way. I mean for heaven’s sake, there is even talk of a ‘Scarface’ remake, which is not only ridiculous because the 1983 film was itself a remake of a 1932 film of the same name, but there is no point in anyone bothering to compete with Al Pacino’s (one of the greatest actors of our time) Tony Montana.

There is a lack of fresh ideas coming from Hollywood – rather than being motivated by creativity, they appear to be motivated by money

But no, these films apparently need remakes, often in no way building upon the original film or improving them, just ramping up the budget and improving the special effects. I’m not suggesting that all these remakes and sequels are crap and there is no denying that this is working for Hollywood. But it is just lazy. There is a lack of fresh ideas coming from Hollywood – rather than being motivated by creativity, they appear to be motivated by money; relying on making films with an already established reputation and fans, who they can rely on to fork out the cash to watch sequels of favourites such as Jurassic Park and prequels to Harry Potter. Perhaps they should dare to make new favourites.

Elena Prest[/one_third_last]