Best Remake - The Ring
I remember seeing The Ring in theaters. Not only was it scary, it was unnerving. The imagery set a creepy tone and the music got under your skin. I love a good horror film, but that one really shook me. In fact, I was shaking so much when I went into the bathroom afterwards that I dropped by cell phone in the toilet. (Yes, I saved it. The cheap thing still worked!)
Two years later we watched the original Japanese film, Ringu. Not only did it have this other weird mumbo-jumbo going on, but the woman wasn’t half as strong as Naomi Watts’ character in The Ring. For once, Hollywood did a much better job.
Worst Remake - Red Dragon
This isn’t an awful movie - it just didn’t need to be made. I’ve read the book and Manhunter did a far better job capturing the essence. It was so stylish and creepy - and it featured William Petersen. After seeing Manhunter, Red Dragon fell so short. Plus it was only made to capitalize on the success of Silence of the Lambs.
Best Song Remake - Cars, originally by Gary Numan, remade by Fear Factory. The remake and video even feature Gary Numan:
Loved the song Cars by Gary Numan, but have not heard of Fear Factory so can't compare.
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
I'll have to check out that Cars remake...cool that they featured Numan in it!
ReplyDeleteI like the remix, but not as much as the original. Once you've got a song in your head, it's hard to replace it.
ReplyDeleteI love a good horror film so I think I will def have to check out The Ring. I'll just be sure not to take my phone with me into the bathroom after :)
ReplyDeleteThe Cars are great. Loved The Ring. Never saw the Japanese version.
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate,
Shelly
Completely agree about the Ring. Something about the original that just can't be touched!
ReplyDeleteI love that fear Factory remake.
ReplyDeleteLike you mentioned on my page we had different opinions on The Ring/Ringu. But I can't disagree with you on Red Dragon.
The Ring was better than the original and no one can beat Michael Mann's film.
ReplyDeleteFear Factory's Cars - excellent choice.
Thanks for participating in our blogfest!
oooh, I shake too! I am know for dropping things, no cell phones in the toliet yet, but glasses and other fun items! Japanese horror is different-reminds me of this Hairy Girl on the ceiling, in another film?! It looked like cousin IT-not funny, not scary, just odd?!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the Cars!
Happy Friday
:D
I'm not familiar with these movies. Well I'm not really a movie fanatic.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to check out the songs...
Writer In Transit
Elizabeth, and he looks as weird as ever.
ReplyDeleteElla, I'm clumsy, so I should've known better.
My dear Diane, I didn't see either movie but I'll take your word for it. I also heard Red Dragon was very bad. I just saw bits of it and went to sleep.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in our blogfest! :D
You're right. A re-make doesn't have to be bad to qualify for the Worst list, it just has to be unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI love the book, just not the movie.
ReplyDeleteI agree Manhunter didn't need to be redone, but I'll go see anything with Ralph Fiennes :).
ReplyDeletei cant watch horror, i dont like being scared! ah!
ReplyDeletebut i love cars and thats a cool version!
Still won't go down in the basement after watching The Ring. Totally creeped me out.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more with Red Dragon. It didn't hold a candle to Manhunter and, yes, I also agree that it was just made to capitalize on SotL.
ReplyDeleteI love that Cars song. I need to put it on my iPod.
ReplyDeleteDidn't see Manhunter but I'm not sure I want to if it's scarier.
LD, and that one was so unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteTara and Mark, they did a good job with the song.
Definitely a huge disagreement on The Ring. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the worst song remake is the country album that came out of all Rolling Stones songs. Talk about travesty and insult.
Love the song remake!!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I haven't seen the movies . . .
I don't know either of those two movies but you mentioned "creepy" so I probably never will! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the remix pretty well, though my favorite song remake lately is Seether's version of Careless Whisper. The original was VERY 80s... definitely like the heavy metal version better.
ReplyDeleteHaven't yet found the nerve to watch the Ring, but I'll take your word for it :) Never heard of Red Dragon. must check it out.
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Red Dragon had a terrific cast.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen either of those. Little Women is one of my favorite remakes. I also really like the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. One of the worst remakes is The Truth about Charlie, which was a remake of the Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn film Charade. Charade is one of my favorite "oldies", but the remake was terrible.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Oh dear. It sounds like the Ring would FREAK ME OUT.
ReplyDeleteHey, that Cars remake IS good!
I agree that the remake of Red Dragon was awful. Not to mention unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteInteresting you've mentioned The Ring as the best. I've seen it as the worst in other parts of this blogfest. I can't comment because I've only seen the Japanese version.
I never saw Red Dragon - I heard it was bad.
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend!
I've seen both films but don't remember them much. I know I didn't drop my cell phone in the toilet. That I would remember.
ReplyDeleteLee
A Faraway View
An A to Z Co-host blog
I don't watch scary movies if I can help it. Love the idea of you dropping your phone.
ReplyDeleteJO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
Love Fear Factory's remake of Cars. And the video is just fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteI just came from a blog stating Ringu was great and the American version was awful. Guess its a matter of perspective.
I still want to see The Ring. Maybe I should see if its downloadable and watch it tonight :)
ReplyDeleteI remember the RING very well, but I forgot it was a remake. A good one!
ReplyDeleteYa know, I hated Cars since it first came out. I don't know why. Just did. Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteHart, considering the artist, Seether's version is much better.
ReplyDeleteTony, so did Manhunter.
Laura, it's it terrible when they ruin an old film for us?
Stephen, it is all in how we view things. The video is really fun, which is why I posted it!
Very good point about Red Dragon! They did try to capitalize off of Silence and could not pull it off!
ReplyDeleteGreat picks.
Heather
Haven't seen either of these. Will skip the worst one. :) Remakes are tough to get right, aren't they?
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
I actually liked Red Dragon, but you're right, the first one fit the book better in some ways. Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteWe watch completely different movies. BTW - there is no link (or it's not working).
ReplyDeleteRhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
Thanks, everyone. My in-laws are visiting so I'll visit everyone tomorrow once they have gone!
ReplyDeleteRhonda, the links to the blogfest hosts are all working.
Not familiar with any of those, so can't say if there were good bad or indifferent. First movie that came to mind as a really re-make was The Italian Job.
ReplyDeleteAfter A-Z
I think Planet of the Apes is the worst remake for me. The Italian Job is a close second.
ReplyDeleteJai
I haven't heard FF's version ;) But I do like that band.
ReplyDeleteI loved the remake of Ring as well, but I can't really judge because I haven't seen the original. I recently read the book though and was surprised by all the differences in plot. I loved the book, even if it was my idea of 'wacko genius' ;)
I've never seen The Ring. Some horror writer, huh? *laughs* I do agree with you on the Red Dragon comments. The book was excellent and the remake clearly was only riding coat tails.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, Diane.
-Jimmy
I didn't see those movies, but I just watched the video. It's great. It helps that the song is so catchy too. I almost jumped up and danced, but his face morphed and I got a bit creeped out. =)
ReplyDeleteBe well, Diane, and thanks for your well wishes.
xoRobyn
I totally didn't know The Ring was a remake. It was pretty dang scary!
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with you about Red Dragon. Manhunter was such a better movie! :)
ReplyDelete