Gremlins Falls Victim to Hollywood

gremlins0zf

The wave of 80s movies remakes continues to claim victims. As you all know, Tron is coming, Robocop is in the works, there’s an A-team flick in there somewhere, and rumors of He-Man are recirculating (not that I think anyone could top Dolph Lundgren). And now you can tack on another classic, Gremlins.

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This isn’t just some rumor started by a malicious mogwai – this comes from the director of the first two Gremlins installments, Joe Dante. Apparently, he told Emprie:

“I (Dante) hear they’re going to make another one soon. I can see why – it would be stupid to let that title go to waste.”

Really? How many times can we watch Billy Peltzer screw up and once again loose/feed/soak Gizmo? There doesn’t seem like enough to sustain another sequel. And isn’t everyone in the originals too busy handing over the AARP cards at early bird specials to film another one? This is all assuming anyone remembers where they’ve stashed the Gizmo puppet.

More than likely the original cast (with the exception of some cheeky cameo) won’t be involved. Strike one. Chris Columbus, the creator of the characters that spawned innumerable lunch box graphics, has adamantly squashed any notion that he’ll be involved:

“I haven’t heard about it. If they do the monsters with CGI, I don’t know if it would be the same. They should go back and do it with puppets again, though at this point I wouldn’t be interested in being involved.”

Strike two. And what was that, Columbus? CGI, not puppets? Strike three. You’re out.

Hollywood’s eagerness to reach into the CGI bin and see how they can bastardize movies that defined a generation has the potential to be its downfall. Is Hollywood so short on plots that they have to scour IMDB for films yet to be remastered and digitized? If the powers that be have their way, they could possibly erase an entire generation of film. With remakes popping up like social networking sites, the new films’ progenitors will fade into obscurity until coming generations don’t even realize that the remakes are remakes! Just to solidify my point, take a gander at this list of 80s films set to be revamped in the next few years:

They Live (2011)
Short Circut (2010)
He-Man (no date announced)
Red Dawn (2010)
Robocop (2010)
Weird Science (no date announced)
Karate Kid (retitled The Kung Fu Kid) (2010)

Karate Kid?!?! Really? Didn’t we already try this 15 years ago before Hilary Swank went full-on dude (see: Boys Don’t Cry)?

Seriously though, if Gremlins can fall, I would bank on an ET remake, a Back to the Future remake, and how about a Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure remake for safe measure? Where will the madness end? These guys seem to think that throwing a little CGI into an old story will turn it into something great for the new generation. But is there really enough of a following of Teen Witch (for real-life example) to warrant investing millions into a remake that’s a waste of Ashley Tisdale’s – and everybody else’s – time? There’s no way they can TOP THAT film (click the link for proof)!

sad-teen-witch-newspreview

So remember these three rules, Gremlins fans: Steer clear of moisture, avoid the buffet after midnight, and let’s leave well enough alone, shall we?

Source: Empire, Zombie Chatter, buzzsugar.com

Tags: gremlins,

Sly Fox

I was watching the original "Gremlins" and thinking about this blog tonight when I came to an important realization. While most people seem to get upset because remakes or reboots are ruining their favorite movies, I only get upset when Hollywood wastes their time making remakes of movies I never really cared about.

For example, I don't really think we need another Karate Kid (who could replace Pat Morita, anyway?), Short Circuit (I always preferred 2 to the original), Red Dawn, or He-Man. In those cases, I agree that I'd much rather see Hollywood use new, original ideas, or at least go back to adapting book rather than old movies, theme park rides, and action figures.

On the other hand, I was really enthusiastic about the much malligned 2006 "Pink Panther", because I knew nothing could hurt the genius of the Peter Sellers originals, so Steve Martin's take could only add to the mythos. I always loved anything to do with "Gremlins", and I'd be one of the first to buy a ticket to a new Gremlins movie.

Ashley Tisdale shouldn't be wasting her time with a "Teen Witch" remake, but after seeing her in the Gremlin-esque "Aliens in the Attic", I have utmost faith that if "Gremlins" were to be remade, she could really pull of that "Why I hate Christmas" speech with those puppy eyes and that quivering lip thing she does.

And if the remake's really terrible (I've seen my fair share of those), there's always the original to fall back on for comfort.

Cantizzle

i never saw the original Ocean's 11 to compare, i think i might have to check it out.
i don't so much mind when remakes are made and done well, i just don't like when they are made because original ideas are running short which seems to be the trend.
as much fun as a Krull remake sounds, i kinda like the campiness of the original.

Paul Young

@mike - did you just compare the remake garbage that is spewing forth right now to Scarface and The Thing? Dude, those movies came out more than 25 years ago...you CANNOT group those movies together with what is being done now.

mike

A lot of these remakes have very original takes on the material. Look at Oliver Stone's Scarface script or Carpenter's The Thing. Or Ocean's 11. Why does everyone think it'll be like Van Sant's Psycho?

Cantizzle

i just don't like the remakes because there is no originality to them. "i can't think of anything fresh....so we should just remake this old movie with some new special effects."

mike

@Paul

if the younger generation already don't know about the originals, then the remakes will bring more attention to them. Face it, not doing anything with them isn't going to get the younger set to notice the originals any more.

And remakes can be creative if done right. Look at how John Carpenter remade the The Thing and gave us a better film. Or look at how he remade Rio Bravo as Assault on Precinct 13. Thank god for those remakes. Look at Ocean's 11, that remake was better than the original. Or Hitchcock remaking his own The Man Who Knew Too Much, with greater success.

Sure, there are more bad remakes than good, but the ratio's about the same for original films as well.

They can always rerelease Gremlins but it probably wouldn't even make enough money to justify the rerelease. A remake would. It's a business.

Paul Young

@Mike - "But why get mad when others that do are being given that option?" Because it's a free nation I live in and I'm allowed to express my opinion or displeasure any way I deem fit? Just sayin....

My major problem with remaking so many films from the 80's is the younger generation starts to think the newer version of the film is the only version of the film. They hate teh remake and never bother to see the original and therefore miss out on the whole experience.

Also, it shows a complete lack of creativity on the part of the Hollywood writers and that is just sad.

SIN187UM

You know a Critters remake/reboot would work. Hmmmm.............

KnkonWD

Now I'm not a fan of all the so called remakes that keep popping up. But Ihave to admit I wouldn't mind seeing another Gremlins movie. But I don't think a remake is necessary. I saw the commercial that was recently done with the Gremlins old school with puppets and it looked great. I understand the writers in Hollywood have lost all creativity. But maybe, just maybe, somebody could scribe up something that could simply bring the Gremlins up to date. Times have changed doesn't mean the Gremlins have to. But what better time for the Gremlins to show their faces again then a tech dominant world. They could be blamed for everything from Iphones not doing what you want them to do. To the auto industry taking a dive. I believe it's totally possible to bring Gizmo and the same old tongue in cheek Gremlins to life to wreck havoc on the 21st century.

mike

@Paul

If you don't wanna watch the remake, then don't. No one's forcing you.

But why get mad when others that do are being given that option? You should skip it, but others should be able to watch it if they want without you getting upset about it.

INK

@Matt

While I agree with your take about just watching the original if the remake is bad, I would have to think we are missing out on a lot of truly unique and interesting stories being made into film because of the remakes being done.

Matt Keith

Paul Young,

It wouldn't matter to me if those films were remade....its not gonna affect the original ANYWAY, and even they turn out to be complete crap then I'll just go watch the original again. For example I HATE the Godzilla remake, but I don't watch it...I just watch the original over.

steven the git

Also I remember Critters very well. Leonardo DiCaprio had an early role in one.
Good but daft movies.

steven the git

I love Big Trouble to bits. The DVD with Carpenter and Russell's commentary makes it even better, with the pair of them laughing at their hero.

I've no problem with remaking dodgy or bad movies, but no idea to touch a lot of these ones. Maybe a Krull remake, that I'd like to see, if will always love the original.
Just fed up with inferior directors and actors getting to redo movies I love.

Phil G

I'm not too upset by this.

Granted, I wasn't a huge fan of the first two Gremlins movies by any measure of the imagination. Still, I can easily see an upgrade of the franchise be a little more successful, and we have generations of both children and teens who have probably never seen these movies, who could still probably appreciate the concept if modernized a bit more.

See, I'm reminded of when Terminator 2 came out. It was sleek, impressive, up to date, and very well-liked, of course. Some neighboring teen boys were at my place (sons of my mom's friend) who had never seen the first movie, of course loved the second, and was curious about it. I warned them about the gore, but let them watch em. They didn't even finish the movie. Wasn't because of the gore. They called it BORING. Geez. Philistines. :D

But in this case, Gremlins 1 and 2 would probably get the same reaction. I feel old.

Bob

"They should go back and do it with puppets again"

How do you get Columbus saying CGI not puppets from that?

Paul Young

@Everyone complaining about us complaining about remakes - You miss the point entirely about a remake. I've seen this movie once already - AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN THE 80'S!!!!

I do not want to see it again 20 years later just because CGI has been invented. I like what they are doing with the Clash of the Titans remake, because I was so little when the movie came out that I never saw it in the theater. There are so many more movies that deserve a fresh and updated look from the 50's, 60's and 70's and they are skipping them because the writers they have in Hollywood are my age, 27 - 37, and all those writers can think about is how "cool" it would be to work on a sitcom/video game/cartoon they grew up watching and how they could make it look great on the big screen. Great idea but ultimately they've all failed.

Think it's ok for them to remake everything after only 25 years? OK, here's a list of movies from the 80's that they could remake *cringe*: The Terminator, Die Hard, The Abyss, Action Jackson, Beetlejuice, Better Off Dead, Beverly Hills Cop, Big, Caddyshack, E.T., Cobra, The Color of Money - I've only gotten through the C's and I'm sure I named a few films that no one wants to be remade but they fall within your timeframe to qualify so I hope they get made just to prove my point.

TheMantis

Ive been hoping for a Gremlins revival for years.

Jimmy

Eh I'll give it a chance. Don't see why we need to think the worst of everything. And I'm DEFINITELY giving Robocop a chance, after what Aronofsky did with The Wrestler!

mike

exactly, Matt. Those of us that know this get really annoyed with people freaking out over remakes

Matt Keith

"whatâ€™s wrong with making cash grab films?"

ALL films are a cash grab.

mike

what's wrong with making cash grab films? You'd be surprised how many original films were made to make money

jerseycajun

Not all of these 80's grab bag films can be looked at with equal disgust. Gremlins, sure, it doesn't need a revisit, and it shouldn't get one. The idea ran it's full course, and that should end that. It won't but it should.

But Tron? It was a decent idea with ideas that had more potential than what got put to film. It's remembered more for it's groundbreaking (at the time) graphics than for an absorbing story. But the seeds were there and you can still see them. If there is untapped potential, then it's worth taking a fresh look at it.

Hollywood however is not capable of deciphering one type from the other so they'll throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.

Vic Holtreman

Of course remakes don't "soil" the original. But for the most part they're a quick, easy money grab that's not as hard to write as an original film and that is looking to cash in on an established brand. Sure, some remakes are great, but others just stink of opportunism.

Here are my "5 Rules for Movie Remakes" that I published a while back:

http://screenrant.com/top-five-rules-for-movie-...

Vic

greenknight333

@ steven the git

I totally agree with you on Big Trouble in Little China..leave that one alone..

To quote Jack:

"When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail.""

I love that movie!!! :)

Stephen

They Live? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SIN187UM

Id sit through Gremlins 3 before a gremlins remake. Either way they wont be of any real quality liek the first two.

blipvert

No to Gremlins 3.

BUT, I actually wouldn't be opposed to a gremlins remake. More so than any of these other remakes. But a darker version, bring the creepy back to gremlins. It can have slight comedy undertones but I think an R rated horror style mashing of like The Thing meets Gremlins would be fantastic.

Darren seeley

I hate to remind you of this Jake, but Tron Legacy is a sequel with two original cast members from the 1982 film recreating their roles. In addition, the Karate Kid film with a young Hilary Swank was not a remake. It was a sequel.
Also, not every announced 'remake' will in fact take place. Warriors remake? Dead. Revenge Of The Nerds? Close but no dice. Scanners? Still around in limbo. Escape From New York? Gerald Butler pulled out, it stalled. The list of casualties continues. There is no set date for Weird Science or They Live (Again), as those are simply announced with few, if anyone, really connected to them.

In your silly little rant, you also omitted two actual remakes of 80's films, A Nightmare On Elm Street and Footloose (which both are currently filming), there is no word if Gremlins will be a remake or a sequel, just that if either takes place, they'll Yoda-ize the General and Mogwai. Of all the SW prequels, love 'em or leave 'em, the CG Yoda was nothing short of outstanding. I'm not suggesting they should do this when the Gremlins multiply, but if they do at least half and half, so be it. It will be fine by me. True, they could save some cash doing it the puppet way, and, to be fair, the second film broke the fourth wall in both big screen/cable and VHS, so maybe it doesn't have to be taken seriously. But if some Gremlins are CG, that's alright.

Yes, I said silly. It was so off the mark that I actually thought you must have been having a energy drink crash or something. Nothing H'wood will do will soil the original pictures. In some cases, they make them look better. Also, some of the best 80's films were themselves remakes- The Fly, Roxanne, The Blob, John Carpenter's remake of The Thing and let's throw in Batman while we are at it. Don't say the latter does not count either; otherwise, you might as well take He-Man (Masters Of The Universe) off that 'list' of yours, since it is a new take on something that beforehand was turned into camp cheese.

Did you know that Children Of The Corn got remade? That Steven King short story has been remade into an upcoming SyFy TV film. I didn't hear anyone raising a big fuss about it. Maybe that first film was a piece of doggie dump with some flies on it. So it went under the radar. Who knows.

I can't say for sure if Gremlins will be remade or not anymore than They Live will be. Or even Top Secret! for that matter. (Hey, with all the spoof films, why not a...no, no, no, forget it...)