Remake Blasphemy Continues (Escape From New York Thread)

[Doc Holliday]

Mori has the story on the main page. I'm pretty forgiving of remakes - but not this one. Nothing against Butler - I just don't see the need for a remake or anything that such a film can improve upon over the original. This could be a huge mis-step after the exposure 300 has given him:

[i]Hey, everyone. â€

[papalazeru]

Why?

I don't get it. Why are studios fighting over this?

Yes its a cult classic but thats the original. Why on earth would be want to remake/reimagine/reanything a film like this?

Surely Big Trouble in Little China could do with a sequel instead of this.

[colonel_lugz]

First no time travel now THIS?!


Why did I get up this morning?

[Doc Holliday]

Surely Big Trouble in Little China could do with a sequel instead of this.

"Papalazeru, he speaks the truth."

[papalazeru]

Surely Big Trouble in Little China could do with a sequel instead of this.

"Papalazeru, he speaks the truth."

Not just me. Guarantee'd if you ask Kurt Russel he'd agree. His career needs a shot in the arm as well as in the bank balance. Needs to keep Goldie in cosmetics.

[Doc Holliday]

Funnily enough, I watched POSEIDON on Sunday and really enjoyed it in a popcorn-y kinda way. Good to see Russell can still deliver too after a few not-so-great movies in recent times.

As for this remake though...I'm just not sure the studios have got it right in expecting there to be an audience out there - I think they're overestimating quite a bit. The original became a cult classic - it wasn't an instant mainstream success of the likes they seem to be expecting (given their squabbling to sign it up).

And a cult classic's audience is a double-edged sword - for as many of those who will blindly go watch anything with the same title, just as many again will swear off the whole venture for being pure sacrilege.

And let's just get it out there - didn't they kind of do the remake already? I think it was called 'ESCAPE FROM L.A.' or something and it wasn't very good

[nodforlife]

Escape From LA is vastly superior to the original. "Blasphemy!" you may say, but to you I pose one question:

Does the original have Cadillac surfing?

Check. Mate.

[Doc Holliday]

Nope. Nor Bruce Campbell. Nor Stacy Keach Jnr. And still it blew.

Factor in what should have been advantages....account for them on a sliding scale of proportionate shitness and there you have the true horror of it.

It could have been worse.....but it should have been a hell of a lot better!

[instant_karma]

If this does go ahead, I hope they cast and Englishman in the part of the President and make sure he makes no effort to do an American accent.

I always found that funny...

[papalazeru]

If this does go ahead, I hope they cast and Englishman in the part of the President and make sure he makes no effort to do an American accent.

I always found that funny...

Why not an American trying to do a 'stiff upper lip' brit accent?

[Doc Holliday]

If this does go ahead, I hope they cast and Englishman in the part of the President and make sure he makes no effort to do an American accent.

I always found that funny...

But then we'll know the President is a bad guy, right from the off!

Ooops.....erm, um...I mean: "SPOILERS"

[havocSchultz]

Hell...the most we can probably hope for is that this is a little more along the lines of the Assault on Precinct 13 remake than The Fog remake...

Carpenter must need cash or something - cause he's selling off any and everything that his name was ever attached to...

I'm waiting till they just decide to remake/merge some of his films together...

I'll be first in line for Memoirs of an Invisible Ghost of Mars...

[Doc Holliday]

'Assault on The Thing' would be pretty good.....if shot in foggy conditions.....

[papalazeru]

John Carpenter's "Vampires: They live to Escape from the mouth of the big trouble, madness, village of the damned in little china....with vampires"

"A white knuckle, roller coaster ride of a movie" says one reviewer,
"The best horror in 10 years" says another unreliable source.

[havocSchultz]

'Assault on The Thing' would be pretty good.....if shot in foggy conditions.....

Big Trouble in Little Prince of StarMan...

[burlivesleftnut]

I love me some John Carpenter, but the Escape from New York was crap, so who cares? I guess you guys do, but I am not sure the world puts much stock in your opinions.

[Doc Holliday]

I love me some John Carpenter, but the Escape from New York was crap, so who cares?

*Feels behind him for chair......sits down in shock*

This just isn't the usual positive, upbeat sort of post I've come to expect from you Burl. You wouldn't be feeling sore because they've discontinued the line on your figurine would you?





What was it about Escape that you didn't like. Apart from the start middle and end of course? What did it lack over the other Carpenter stuff that you like?

[Chairman Kaga]

I love the original but I don't immediately hate this idea.

[havocSchultz]

I don't know why they just don't get Russell to star in this again...
He'll be on the brink of "comeback" with Grindhouse...

And when they say the: "I thought you were dead" line - it can actually mean in regards to the "Snake" character - and Russell's career itself...

It would easily still work - and would be kinda cool...


If Loincloth stars in it - they could call it Escape From LS...

[so sorry]

Surely Big Trouble in Little China could do with a sequel instead of this.

"Papalazeru, he speaks the truth."

I'm thinking the exact opposite.

For me Big Trouble is more untouchable. Shitty effects? Yeah. Questionable acting? Hell yeah. Intentional AND unintentional humor? Gobs of it.

All of these things combined=no remake for me. You can't duplicate the chemistry of these elements. It would be less of a remake and more of a 'reimagining' ala Dawn of the Dead 2004.

Now Escape from NY, on the other hand, is prime for a redo.
Its a great concept that could use today's technology without losing the gist of the story.

As long as the Rock is nowhere near this... and Kurt could play the president!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

If Loincloth stars in it - they could call it Escape From LS...

Hehehe... now that's a the funny, eh?

I gotta to tell a you, the Dino, he donna like a the idea of a the Gerard Butler as a the Snake, eh? Anna here's a why... inna the original, the Snake, he was a played by a the Russell, who was inna the good shape, to be sure, but he was a not a the hulking brute that is a the Butler, eh? Anna so's a the Snake was alla the more of a the, how you say? "badass?" a 'cos he hadda the deadly reputation with a the reasonable physique, eh? Anna so's a when he hadda to go inna the ring with a the big hulking brute, then a the fight, she was a the real contest of a the brute force vs. a the guile, for example... Iffa you gotta the Butler inna there, it's a just a the brute force vs. a the brute force, no? It changes a the whole goddamn dynamic, eh?

[havocSchultz]

If Loincloth stars in it - they could call it Escape From LS...

Hehehe... now that's a the funny, eh?

I gotta to tell a you, the Dino, he donna like a the idea of a the Gerard Butler as a the Snake, eh? Anna here's a why... inna the original, the Snake, he was a played by a the Russell, who was inna the good shape, to be sure, but he was a not a the hulking brute that is a the Butler, eh? Anna so's a the Snake was alla the more of a the, how you say? "badass?" a 'cos he hadda the deadly reputation with a the reasonable physique, eh? Anna so's a when he hadda to go inna the ring with a the big hulking brute, then a the fight, she was a the real contest of a the brute force vs. a the guile, for example... Iffa you gotta the Butler inna there, it's a just a the brute force vs. a the brute force, no? It changes a the whole goddamn dynamic, eh?

That's a good point...unless Loincloth tones down quite a bit - it would work better with somebody else...

Hell, Statham would probably even be a better choice...
And his voice would sound cool saying some 'Snake' lines...

I'm not saying I'm all for this - but, Like so sorry said above - out of alot of Carpenter's films - this one could (a very big IF and MAYBE) be enjoyable if done right...

So who would make a good SNAKE...?

[Doc Holliday]

Surely Big Trouble in Little China could do with a sequel instead of this.

"Papalazeru, he speaks the truth."

I'm thinking the exact opposite.

For me Big Trouble is more untouchable. Shitty effects? Yeah. Questionable acting? Hell yeah. Intentional AND unintentional humor? Gobs of it.

All of these things combined=no remake for me. You can't duplicate the chemistry of these elements. It would be less of a remake and more of a 'reimagining' ala Dawn of the Dead 2004.

Now Escape from NY, on the other hand, is prime for a redo.
Its a great concept that could use today's technology without losing the gist of the story.

As long as the Rock is nowhere near this... and Kurt could play the president!

I agree - I'm only interested in a sequel, not a remake. And then, only if Russell reprises his role.

[WinslowLeach]

Gerard Butler aint no Snake Plissken. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease. Another bad idea by the clowns out there in Ho-wood.

They get the bird for even talking about a remake of EFNY.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

I agree - I'm only interested in a sequel, not a remake. And then, only if Russell reprises his role.

"Escape From a the New Orleans"

You gotta to figure, the government, she's a never gonna to get around to cleaning uppa the place, eh? Anna so's a they just a turn a the whole city inna'to a the maximum security prison...

Starring a the Hugh Jackman as a the Snake.

[havocSchultz]

I think I remember hearing awhile back (around the time of the Escape from LA release) that if Carpenter was to ever make a 3rd film - it would be Escape from Earth or something like that...

Or was that supposed to be one of the Fortress sequels...???


Hmmm...

Christopher Lambert for Snake...?

[WinslowLeach]

Escape From Nawlins! Nice idea teh Deeno!

Starring Hugh Jackman as Garder Snake Pisskin. It will be a musical with Hugh singing and dancing!!

[LaDracul]

Hotter dudes in remakes FTW. Which is why I'm backing Noel Fielding as Windslow/Glam Rock Phantom...not because he's only hot, he's also great at playing sweet to psycho and has a nice voice. (They're probably going to let him sing in this one, count on it.)

Though in some cases, that can't save the film. Remember "Bedazzled"? I love Brendan Fraser, but they needed to keep the realistic ending from the original.

[beastie]

I was never an Escape from New York fan. So, I don't care, much, but wouldn't mind seeing Escape from Planet Earth.
Anyway, what's worse is that Universal plans to (already) remake The Host - http://www.mania.com/53925.html

[SilentBobX]

This is another terrible idea ripped from the pus ridden womb of Hollywood. Remaking this film is pointless. I loved the original and this is yet another terrible idea that screams "We don't have anymore ideas!!" We give up!

That and the fucking stupid Geico caveman tv series. Are we gonna get Louie the Lizard and Spuds McKenzie cameos in that? Wouldn't shock me.

I maintain this now and forever. If you're gonna remake something, remake a BAD movie. Like Supergirl, Manos The Hands of Fate, or Blood Waters of Dr. Z. If for only to see those titles on the marquee again.

[darkjedijaina]

This is another terrible idea ripped from the pus ridden womb of Hollywood. Remaking this film is pointless. I loved the original and this is yet another terrible idea that screams "We don't have anymore ideas!!" We give up!"

I agree. Hollywood has had remake after remake lately, and it's just a bit tiresome.

America needs a renaissance, if you ask me...

and anyone other than Kurt as Plissken is just blasphemy, imo...

[havocSchultz]

If you're gonna remake something, remake a BAD movie. Like Manos The Hands of Fate

They did - it was called Hannibal Rising...

[SilentBobX]

If you're gonna remake something, remake a BAD movie. Like Manos The Hands of Fate

They did - it was called Hannibal Rising...

Hannibal Rising had a bunch of women fighting in white negligees? Damn, you'd think our lil red haired potentate(El Grande Rojo) would've mentioned that in his review.

Damn you Knowles. Damn you to Wisconsin.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

With alla these a complaints about a the remakes, let's a not a forget a the Carpenter's own a remake of a The Thing, no? Alla you geeks love a that a film, eh?

[so sorry]

With alla these a complaints about a the remakes, let's a not a forget a the Carpenter's own a remake of a The Thing, no? Alla you geeks love a that a film, eh?

The Dino scold a you!

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Not a the scolding, you goddamn putz... more like a the friendly reminder, no?

This is a the new, more sensitive Dino, eh?

A 'cos of alla the goddamn crybabies inna here... "waaah, the Dino, he yell atta me!!"

[Lady Sheridan]

I don't doubt that someone is shopping a remake, but I sincerely doubt
Butler's going to be the man at the center. He's been pretty adamant that he doesn't want to be the "next action hero" and has turned down the action scripts he received in the past.

Then again, he tends to pick some silly stuff...I still fail to see the appeal "Priest" held for him, though that seems to have fallen apart. And he IS a child of the 80's like most of us, the temptation to play Snake would be pretty strong.

[darkjedijaina]

I'm not saying "DON'T MAKE REMAKES EVER!"... but, there comes a time when you look at what's been out lately and the majority of it is remakes, and one is left scratching their head wondering why.

I think perhaps the reason lies in our society. We've become so hungry for the new and improved, and we want it NOW. We live in a land of convenience, and so, perhaps Hollywood is catering to that. I think that perhaps, as a society, we don't want to spend the time or energy developing anything new, because it's just simply too much work.

[instant_karma]

David Hayter for Snake...

[Doc Holliday]

David Hayter for Snake...

I like your style Karma

[pomeroy]

I'm up for a remake. If it's cool, that's awesome (I'll have a new, great double-feature). If it sucks, I won't have to watch it again (and I can still watch the original).

Honestly, I don't get why anyone gives a crap when a remake is made. If it's decent, it does well. If it sucks, no one remembers it.

[Doc Holliday]

I'm not violently opposed to remakes as a general rule - so many great films out there are remakes themselves. But normally you can think "Sure - I see why they're prepared to take another swing at that one" - even when the only reason is to make fast cash.

I just don't see it with this one, don't see it at all.

Of course, I've been wrong more times than Kirk's clicked on a porn spammers profile, so we'll see, we'll see......

[WinslowLeach]

The reason most remakes suck ass is because the directors who make them suck ass too. If you wanna do a remake give it to a director who knows how to at least a) make good movies and/or b) is REALLY a fan of the original. Dont give it to the ones who BS and say they are but really arent.

I really dont care what gets remade unless its a favorite of mine, then I feel annoyed and put off by it. Strangely the majority of remakes these days are of unique cult classics. They try to recapture stuff you CANNOT recapture or make better. Thats all there is to it.

My advice is to NOT remake these films. Do something original thats inspired or influenced by the other movie, and use your own talents and ideas for the rest. At least we'd be seeing something new and not a remake and the original film wouldnt have to be tainted cuz the new one sucks so bad.

These hacks could at least say: this is MY movie and its not a remake of a movie by a director I know is 1000X better than me.

[Fried Gold]

Surely there are other places Kurt Russell could escape from. Like Milton Keynes.


Or Southend.

[bastard_robo]

I don't doubt that someone is shopping a remake, but I sincerely doubt
Butler's going to be the man at the center. He's been pretty adamant that he doesn't want to be the "next action hero" and has turned down the action scripts he received in the past.

Then again, he tends to pick some silly stuff...I still fail to see the appeal "Priest" held for him, though that seems to have fallen apart. And he IS a child of the 80's like most of us, the temptation to play Snake would be pretty strong.

I see Butler being the next Thomas Jane. Doing some serious straight forwar stuff, but not being able to resist doing some popcorn fare beacuse deep down theres a found love of it.

[DinoDeLaurentiis]

Of course, I've been wrong more times than Kirk's clicked on a porn spammers profile, so we'll see, we'll see......

P'shaw, eh? NOBODY can a be wrong a that many times, no?

[minstrel]

"Escape From John Carpenter" - that's probably the reason this idea is on the table.

Hollywood spews out remakes because that's what the public wants. The public doesn't KNOW that it wants remakes, but original ideas can't get financing because the money people say "I see what you're saying, but this idea is just too offbeat - people won't like it. Make it more like, you know, Die Hard." So producers make it more like Die Hard. Eventually they just say screw it and just plain remake Die Hard.

Film geeks don't like this, but we're generally better informed about movies, and more interested in movies, than the public at large.

[WinslowLeach]

Most average filmgoers dont care if its a remake. We care because we are looking to see new things and not remakes of movies we already love. Its a natural reaction for me to get PO'd when I see they are remaking movies like EFNY, simply because its a cult classic I love alot. I also dont like having to compare/contrast the remakes with the orig. Thats a pain in the ass to me. If they remake Sabrina or some shit, I could care less.

[Nachokoolaid]

I don't mind remakes, as long as they're done well. I mean, Batman Begins is one of my favorite flicks, and some might consider that a remake.

[havocSchultz]

If they remake Sabrina or some shit, I could care less.

But they did remake Sabrina...and Harrison Ford was the bomb in it, yo...