The Decade: Best and Worst Remake
December 10th 2009 01:33
Like the previous post, this is simply The Best and Worst in this particular category, rather than a list. The criteria here was that you had to have seen both the original and the remake: due to this, it narrowed down the playing field quite a bit for me as there are many originals of the (numerous) remakes that came out this decade that I've yet to see. The final choices are based upon how well (or horrible) the film functioned as a remake of the source material. My best remake of the decade is not my favorite remake I have seen this decade.
Best Remake of the Decade:
Dawn of the Dead (2004, Snyder)
I actually fell asleep during the original film. I know I’m in the minority here. But I think this Dawn of the Dead is tighter and faster paced and improves much upon the original. It also has one of the best opening title sequences with unreal song usage as well as awesome ending.
Worst Remake of the Decade
The Manchurian Candidate (2004, Demme)
I remember loving the trailer and being oh so excited for this film. Before seeing it on opening day, I noticed it was already a rotten on rottentomatoes. And boy they weren’t kidding. Leiv Schriber was as good as he could be but the film was just terrible. Moreover, the remake proved pointless as it brought nothing new or improved upon and only made me want to see the original again.
An Honorary Award goes to The Women (2008, English) for Film of the Decade that Never Should Have Been Remade. If I ever saw The Women, I'm sure it would be my worst remake of the decade. However, I never will. Talk about a disgusting venture. Any movie that puts Eva Mendes in the role of Joan Crawford is abysmal and I could not even be forced to watch this pointless trash. What ever possessed Diane English to think she could even attempt to remake such a Hollywood classic is beyond me.
Best Remake of the Decade:
I actually fell asleep during the original film. I know I’m in the minority here. But I think this Dawn of the Dead is tighter and faster paced and improves much upon the original. It also has one of the best opening title sequences with unreal song usage as well as awesome ending.
Worst Remake of the Decade
The Manchurian Candidate (2004, Demme)
I remember loving the trailer and being oh so excited for this film. Before seeing it on opening day, I noticed it was already a rotten on rottentomatoes. And boy they weren’t kidding. Leiv Schriber was as good as he could be but the film was just terrible. Moreover, the remake proved pointless as it brought nothing new or improved upon and only made me want to see the original again.
An Honorary Award goes to The Women (2008, English) for Film of the Decade that Never Should Have Been Remade. If I ever saw The Women, I'm sure it would be my worst remake of the decade. However, I never will. Talk about a disgusting venture. Any movie that puts Eva Mendes in the role of Joan Crawford is abysmal and I could not even be forced to watch this pointless trash. What ever possessed Diane English to think she could even attempt to remake such a Hollywood classic is beyond me.
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
I've not seen the remake of The Manchurian Candidate, nor The Women original or remake. I'm a fan of Eva Mendes though.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I enjoyed the Dawn of the Dead remake too, certainly better than I was expecting.
Totally agree that The Manchurian Candidate rehash was atrocious, though the original is one of my favourite all time films.
A few of my favourites:
Willard with Crispin Glover would be included on my own list of best remakes.
The Departed wasn't bad but i still prefer the original Infernal Affairs more.
Steven Soderberg's Solaris may be inferior to the original but i do think it is still a great sci-fi.
I did a list some time back titled "14 Cinema Remakes that stand beside the original", you can read it by clicking HERE if your interested.