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The Editor's Desk: 4 Rules Before Doing A Remake

 In  Remakes

Remakes have been a hot topic around Hollywood for a number of years now. It seems like each week we hear about an older film (some older than others) getting put into re-production by some studio.  Some people complain that this shows a lack of originality in Hollywood.  While I don't love the idea of remakes in general, I have to respectfully disagree to a certain extent.

To various degrees there are some terrific films that have been made over the years that were actually remakes. Films like Scarface, The Fly, Lord of the Rings and Ocean’s Eleven are just a couple of examples that prove remakes CAN work if done right…. just like any other movie project.  They can also fail miserably... just like any other movie project.

While I don't do back flips over the idea of remakes, I'm also one that doesn't mind the idea of them in general. Yes, it has the potential of sucking… but so does every movie. However, when approaching remakes, I believe there are 4 “rules” or prerequisites that a remake project should meet before a studio moves forward with it.

These are "rules" I've had for years, and I think they are especially applicable in today's movie world.  Now keep in mind, all rules are made to be broken and have certain exceptions (for example, the upcoming new "Spider-Man".  It's not REALLY a remake, as it is a re-imagining. A whole new franchise that's not just remaking the original Sam Raimi version).

So here are my 4 rules (or "guidelines" to be more accurate) that I believe every studio should consider when contemplating doing a remake:

1) The original has to have a good story
I know that sounds too simple to even mention here, but you’d be surprised. What would be the point of remaking “Freddy Got Fingered”? Story is the base foundation of everything, if the original didn’t have it… then don’t bother.  I believe the driving force behind any remake should be the idea that the story DESERVES to be told again because it's just that good, or at least has the potential to be that good.

2) Majority of current audience hasn’t seen the original
This is a major factor. The strongest argument for doing a remake (to me anyway) is to bring a great story to a modern audience that otherwise wouldn’t have seen it. Yes, they could always go to their Netflix account and put it in their que… but we all know the most popular rentals are the new releases. That being the case, it makes no sense to do a remake if most of the current movie going audience has seen the original already. Films like The Godfather, Star Wars and other classics like them have been seen by most people.  However, a great film like the asian masterpiece "Infernal Affairs" was missed by almost everyone in North America, so it made perfect sense for Martin Scorsese to make "The Departed" for us to enjoy.

3) Original has to be at least 20 years old
This "rule" needs to be tempered by rule #2.  But in general, if a film was out just 9 years ago... leave it alone for another decade (unless, as rule #2 says, no one has seen it really).

4) The story would benefit from a modern telling
You have to adapt material moving it from one era to another. The question is: can that adaption be made into a modern context, or in the same context but with the benefit of modern filmmaking techniques and technologies? For example, could the story of "Ocean’s Eleven" benefit from transporting it into a modern casino context? YES. Or Lord of the Rings. Could it benefit changing mediums from animated to live action utilizing today’s technology to enhance the storytelling? Obviously YES. On the other hand, a film like “The Three Amigos” shouldn’t be remade (yet) because the story as it is and the context in which it was told wouldn’t benefit from an update at all. Undoubtedly at some point it WILL… but not right now, even though it’s more than 20 years old, is a hilarious story and SADLY most people today haven’t seen it.

I think if a film meets these 4 criteria then it’s a prime candidate to be remade… hopefully for the better. Does following my 4 rules guarantee that a remake will be successful and glorious and wonderful?  Obviously not, but I believe it does increase its chances of providing a positive movie going experience.
 

So what do you think? Would you add any more “rules” or criteria to my list or remove any of the ones I have there?  Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image: The Fire Wire