Despite ongoing arguments amongst critics and fans alike, Hollywood doesn’t ever seem to tire of rehashing the same old plots. But can this ever be a good thing? With remakes of The Crow, Carrie and Evil Dead amongst this year’s releases, Screen Co-Editor Rob Harris lists his ultimate top 5.
King Kong (2005)
Following its release back in 2005, the film immediately became controversial between fans. After all, how could anything match the industry-defining Hollywood darling of the original? Well, Peter Jackson certainly helps. Under his direction, not only did it receive all the necessary tweaks to design, script and characterisation to effectively update it for modern audiences, but it also came out fighting armed with Jackson’s own personal brand of epic bravado. Despite not quite living up to the 1933 version, this love letter to the past still stands as an example of how to handle such a beloved series.
Casino Royale (2006)
This one may be cheating slightly seeing as it’s more a reimagining of a book than a full-blown remake, but its quality cannot be denied. The last attempt at this Ian Fleming classic was back in 1967, but took the rather peculiar angle of a satirical slap in the face to the spy genre rather than following in the same vein of the Sean Connery instalments. It was not until the series reboot 39 years later that audiences were properly exposed to story and it soon became one of the greatest Bond films of all time.
The Departed (2006)
In 2002, Hong Kong’s film industry drew a collective sigh of relief as Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs broke through the creative deadlock to provide one of Eastern cinema’s most critically acclaimed and successful franchises. After gaining a substantial fan base across the globe, Martin Scorsese decided to bring the story to Western audiences. The result is a thoroughly entertaining, smartly written and award winning take on the cops vs. crooks formula which brings both action and a star-studded cast to the crime-riddled streets of Boston.
True Grit (2010)
As a near frame by frame remake, you would be forgiven for dismissing it as nothing more than a simple rehash of the John Wayne original. However, this could not be further from the truth. By ditching the PG-rated tone of the 1969 version, the Coen brothers succeed in producing both a darker approach to characterisation as well as an appropriately mature style. Throw in impressive performances from Jeff Bridges and newcomer Hailee Steinfeld and you are left with a movie which outdoes its predecessor in virtually every area.
Scarface (1983)
Of course, the only thing better than improving upon a concept is leaving it outclassed, trampled and forgotten. By trading the prohibition-era Chicago gangsters for the greed and power of the Miami Cartel, the 1983 version of Scarface did just this, soon becoming one of cinema’s most brutal, controversial and memorable crime films to date. The 1932 original may have been met with critical acclaim when it was first released, but nothing can compete with this cocaine-fuelled endeavour into the very underbelly of drug and crime culture.
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