10 Unofficial Remakes
This week's List is dedicated to those film which tread the fine line between homage and pure rip-off.
The Fast and the Furious (2001) = Point Break (1991)
Young undercover cop infiltrates a band of adrenalin junkies suspected of carrying out a series of daring heists, led by a guru who spouts pseudo-philosophical nonsense. The cop forms a bond with the leader, which is complicated when the cop falls in love with a girl close to the leader. The cop eventually chooses duty over loyalty; the ring is smashed, although the cop does allow the leader one last shot at freedom.
Further proof:
Even the pseudo-philosophical gibberish in both films has the same clunky ring to it: "Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true"; "I live my life a quarter mile at a time . . . for those ten seconds or less, I'm free."
Days of Thunder (1990) = Top Gun (1986)
Tom Cruise is a young hotshot who enters an institution for piloting high-speed vehicles. The competition is fierce and he butts heads with both his competitors and those in authority. He falls in love with a young doctor, who discover's that his bravado is merely cover for his deep-seated insecurities. After an accident, during which his only friend is incapacitated, the hotshot is temporarily dismissed from the institution. After swallowing his pride and facing his fears, however, he makes a triumphant return.
Further proof:
Reportedly, Days of Thunder was pitched to the studio as "Top Gun on wheels."
Independence Day (1996) = War of the Worlds (1953)
Earth is invaded by a bunch of aggressive, grotesque, aliens. Human technology is no match for them - even a direct hit with a nuclear weapon has no effect on their ships - and humankind is soon on the brink of total destruction. However, we are saved when the aliens fall prey to a virus.
Further proof:
Director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin had wanted to officially remake the George Pal classic. When they had trouble acquiring the rights to the title, they went ahead anyway. The resultant film became Independence Day.
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) = Yojimbo (1961)
A nameless wanderer breezes into a small town sometime in the 19th century. The town has been torn asunder by two warring gangs, and ordinary folk are getting caught in the middle. After the wanderer demonstrates his exceptional fighting prowess, both gangs court his services. The wanderer cunningly plays both sides off against each other while working to save a family caught in the crossfire. Eventually the Man With No Name's duplicity is discovered and he is given a sound beating; he escapes and, with the use of a plate of iron as armour, dispatches the last of the gangsters.
Further proof:
Akira Kurosawa sued Sergio Leone for copyright infringement and was awarded an apology, $100,000, and 15% of the film's gross in Asia in compensation. Kurosawa apparently said "it is a very fine film, but it is my film."
Trainspotting (1996) = A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The protagonist is an intelligent, charismatic young man who has a deep-seated addiction to an illicit, highly illegal, activity. He and his friends, who share the same addiction, actively participate in acts of violence to feed it. At least one of his friends is a brutal psychopath. After undergoing a harrowing treatment in an attempt to cure his addiction the protagonist appears to be cured, but the film's ambiguous ending suggests that any cure may only be temporary.
Further proof:
The writing's on the wall - literally. The wall art at Trainspotting's Volcano nightclub is the same as that at Orange's Korova milk bar.
Into the Blue (2005) = The Deep (1977)
A treasure-hunting couple in the Bahamas discovers a wreck containing millions of dollars in gold bullion. Their efforts at making a claim, however, are complicated by the discovery of another wreck nearby containing millions of dollars in narcotics. In order to recover the gold, the couple need to make a deal with the unsavoury characters who are after the drugs.
Further proof:
Let's not worry aboput proof. Let's just compare the following promotional photos from the films:
'Nuff said.
Entrapment (1999) = The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
Bored wealthy dashingly handsome devil-may-care playboy conceives the theft of the century. He is opposed by an infeasibly sexy female . . . erm, insurance investigator. Flirtatious cat-and-mouse shenanigans ensue and, succumbing to the playboy's charms, she becomes a willing collaborator in his scheme.
Further proof:
The story goes that when MGM wanted to remake Thomas Crown, they came down to two scripts. The one they chose eventually became the 1999 remake starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo; the on they rejected was sold to 20th Century Fox and became Entrapment.
The Island (2005) = Logan's Run (1976)
In the future, a society lives within a large futuristic dome. The inhabitants of the dome are well cared for and have all their needs attended to. They also have numbers in their names and instruments on their wrist that indicate changes to their wellbeing. The price to pay for this seemingly idyllic lifestyle is that the inhabitants are routinely culled under false pretences. Two young, impossibly attractive inhabitants wonder whether there's more to life than this. They escape and discover that there is a world outside the dome. They are chased, fall in love, defeat their pursuers, and return to destroy the dome and reveal the truth to the other inhabitants.
Further proof:
Logan's Run is clearly not the only influence; see here for a list of other 'inspirations'.
Enemy Mine (1985) = Hell in the Pacific (1968)
Soldiers from opposing nations during a war meet in battle and are separated from their colleagues. They find themselves trapped with each other in a hostile, unfamiliar environment. Although initially hostile to one another, they soon learn that they must work together if they are to survive their predicament. Each gains a grudging respect for the other's culture. Ultimately they must confront a mutual enemy that threatens both of them.
Further proof:
To be fair, Enemy Mine is based on a novella by science fiction author Barry B Longyear. However, Longyear has conceded that Hell in the Pacific was an influence on the novella.
Disturbing Behavior (1998) = The Stepford Wives (1975)
A family moves to a peaceful suburb in the Midwest USA. One of the members of the family is appalled by his / her peers in the town, who are well-behaved, obedient, and placid. He / she begin investigating with a friend and discovers that the peers are that way because they have been replaced with robotic duplicates. The friend falls prey to this fate, and the family member discovers with dismay that the rest of the family wants to give him / her the same "treatment."
Further proof:
Check out this scathing review. If CNN agrees with me, I must be right.
The Fast and the Furious (2001) = Point Break (1991)
Young undercover cop infiltrates a band of adrenalin junkies suspected of carrying out a series of daring heists, led by a guru who spouts pseudo-philosophical nonsense. The cop forms a bond with the leader, which is complicated when the cop falls in love with a girl close to the leader. The cop eventually chooses duty over loyalty; the ring is smashed, although the cop does allow the leader one last shot at freedom.
Further proof:
Even the pseudo-philosophical gibberish in both films has the same clunky ring to it: "Fear causes hesitation, and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true"; "I live my life a quarter mile at a time . . . for those ten seconds or less, I'm free."
Days of Thunder (1990) = Top Gun (1986)
Tom Cruise is a young hotshot who enters an institution for piloting high-speed vehicles. The competition is fierce and he butts heads with both his competitors and those in authority. He falls in love with a young doctor, who discover's that his bravado is merely cover for his deep-seated insecurities. After an accident, during which his only friend is incapacitated, the hotshot is temporarily dismissed from the institution. After swallowing his pride and facing his fears, however, he makes a triumphant return.
Further proof:
Reportedly, Days of Thunder was pitched to the studio as "Top Gun on wheels."
Independence Day (1996) = War of the Worlds (1953)
Earth is invaded by a bunch of aggressive, grotesque, aliens. Human technology is no match for them - even a direct hit with a nuclear weapon has no effect on their ships - and humankind is soon on the brink of total destruction. However, we are saved when the aliens fall prey to a virus.
Further proof:
Director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin had wanted to officially remake the George Pal classic. When they had trouble acquiring the rights to the title, they went ahead anyway. The resultant film became Independence Day.
A Fistful of Dollars (1964) = Yojimbo (1961)
A nameless wanderer breezes into a small town sometime in the 19th century. The town has been torn asunder by two warring gangs, and ordinary folk are getting caught in the middle. After the wanderer demonstrates his exceptional fighting prowess, both gangs court his services. The wanderer cunningly plays both sides off against each other while working to save a family caught in the crossfire. Eventually the Man With No Name's duplicity is discovered and he is given a sound beating; he escapes and, with the use of a plate of iron as armour, dispatches the last of the gangsters.
Further proof:
Akira Kurosawa sued Sergio Leone for copyright infringement and was awarded an apology, $100,000, and 15% of the film's gross in Asia in compensation. Kurosawa apparently said "it is a very fine film, but it is my film."
Trainspotting (1996) = A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The protagonist is an intelligent, charismatic young man who has a deep-seated addiction to an illicit, highly illegal, activity. He and his friends, who share the same addiction, actively participate in acts of violence to feed it. At least one of his friends is a brutal psychopath. After undergoing a harrowing treatment in an attempt to cure his addiction the protagonist appears to be cured, but the film's ambiguous ending suggests that any cure may only be temporary.
Further proof:
The writing's on the wall - literally. The wall art at Trainspotting's Volcano nightclub is the same as that at Orange's Korova milk bar.
Into the Blue (2005) = The Deep (1977)
A treasure-hunting couple in the Bahamas discovers a wreck containing millions of dollars in gold bullion. Their efforts at making a claim, however, are complicated by the discovery of another wreck nearby containing millions of dollars in narcotics. In order to recover the gold, the couple need to make a deal with the unsavoury characters who are after the drugs.
Further proof:
Let's not worry aboput proof. Let's just compare the following promotional photos from the films:
'Nuff said.
Entrapment (1999) = The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
Bored wealthy dashingly handsome devil-may-care playboy conceives the theft of the century. He is opposed by an infeasibly sexy female . . . erm, insurance investigator. Flirtatious cat-and-mouse shenanigans ensue and, succumbing to the playboy's charms, she becomes a willing collaborator in his scheme.
Further proof:
The story goes that when MGM wanted to remake Thomas Crown, they came down to two scripts. The one they chose eventually became the 1999 remake starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo; the on they rejected was sold to 20th Century Fox and became Entrapment.
The Island (2005) = Logan's Run (1976)
In the future, a society lives within a large futuristic dome. The inhabitants of the dome are well cared for and have all their needs attended to. They also have numbers in their names and instruments on their wrist that indicate changes to their wellbeing. The price to pay for this seemingly idyllic lifestyle is that the inhabitants are routinely culled under false pretences. Two young, impossibly attractive inhabitants wonder whether there's more to life than this. They escape and discover that there is a world outside the dome. They are chased, fall in love, defeat their pursuers, and return to destroy the dome and reveal the truth to the other inhabitants.
Further proof:
Logan's Run is clearly not the only influence; see here for a list of other 'inspirations'.
Enemy Mine (1985) = Hell in the Pacific (1968)
Soldiers from opposing nations during a war meet in battle and are separated from their colleagues. They find themselves trapped with each other in a hostile, unfamiliar environment. Although initially hostile to one another, they soon learn that they must work together if they are to survive their predicament. Each gains a grudging respect for the other's culture. Ultimately they must confront a mutual enemy that threatens both of them.
Further proof:
To be fair, Enemy Mine is based on a novella by science fiction author Barry B Longyear. However, Longyear has conceded that Hell in the Pacific was an influence on the novella.
Disturbing Behavior (1998) = The Stepford Wives (1975)
A family moves to a peaceful suburb in the Midwest USA. One of the members of the family is appalled by his / her peers in the town, who are well-behaved, obedient, and placid. He / she begin investigating with a friend and discovers that the peers are that way because they have been replaced with robotic duplicates. The friend falls prey to this fate, and the family member discovers with dismay that the rest of the family wants to give him / her the same "treatment."
Further proof:
Check out this scathing review. If CNN agrees with me, I must be right.
posted by Frank at 3:30 pm
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