It is rant time for the ole bald man.
When I learned that the 1981 classic Clash of the Titans was going to be given the Hollywood remake treatment, I just shook my head, growled under my breath, and moved on with my day.
I was annoyed for a week.
First, here is the newly released trailer for Clash of the Titans:
So second, why does this remake irk me so?
Remakes have littered Hollywood for decades. Some stories have been told more than five or six times. Every version has a different take on it but the story usually stays the same. I know how they begin. I know how they end. Sometimes it can be a great thing; sometimes it can be a terrible failure of intention.
Recently Hollywood seems to have been relying on the remake more and more. It’s not the cost of the recession; it has been happening for years now. Originality has gone to the wayside. Remakes have become as prevalent as H1N1, and I have no doubt they will destroy the world.
No, I don’t actually believe that. Well, not entirely.
I do find the recent trend of remakes to be disconcerting. In my opinion these types of projects add almost nothing to the movie lexicon. They are merely money-making vehicles. Name recognition increases box sale dollars, but in my opinion at a cost. I understand that movie studios must make money to take chances on untried properties, but there is a balance that is being tipped to one side at the moment. Putting new actors, creating fresh dialog, and upgrading the CGI is smoke and mirrors to me. Why would I want to spend money on a movie where I already know how it plays out?
I forever rebel against the remake!
Yes, I am ranting. I rant because I see so many great books out there begging to be adapted to the silver screen. I know so many original screenplays not getting the treatment they deserve. These are new, original stories, books and screenplays that are quality, that are being pushed aside so movie studio executives feel a bit safer in their job.
I sit here and read an article about the game Monopoly being adapted to film by fantastic director Ridley Scott. Really? Really??
Is Hollywood really that hard up?
Clash of the Titans is just the tip of the iceberg.
No matter how much I think they’ve assembled a great director and cast, I really doubt I will go see this one. The original is film history to me and one does not mess with film history, especially within 30 years time of the original’s release. I really enjoyed Sam Worthington in Terminator: Salvation and I have no doubt Avatar will be his breakout movie. Liam Neeson as Zeus? Awesome! Even though I’d like to see him play the Druid Allanon in The Elfstones of Shannara. Ralph Fiennes as Hades? Badass! Alexa Davalos as Andromeda? Gorgeous! And director Louis Leterrier impressed the hell out of me with his adaptation of The Incredible Hulk.
It still rubs me the wrong way though.
“One day, somebody’s gonna make a stand. One day, somebody’s gotta say enough!”
I say enough with the remakes already!
I do know one thing:
Perseus will have his hands full—with his past incarnation!
