Which movies should be left alone?

In general, I'm opposed to the idea of remaking any film. For example, Planet of the Apes, in spite of the improvements in special effects, was just wrong. I was surprised anyone would attempt The Music Man without Robert Preston, but someone did, and even got decent reviews, though for me the original remains unchallenged.

On the other hand, I used to think Basil Rathbone was the definitive screen Sherlock Holmes until Jeremy Brett came along on the BBC series and rocked my universe, so I guess remakes can work out for the better.

To answer the question, though: I'd be very surprised to see anyone attempt a do-over of Casablanca, It Happened One Night, or It's A Wonderful Life.

(Casablanca, strange as it may seem, was the basis for a short-lived TV series of the same name starring David Soul back in 1983, so its safe to assume nothing is sacred.)

yog, monster from outer space should be left alone very, very, alone. wasted 50 cents on that "movie"

yog

oh sorry gus, i see that you meant good movies...........

Freddy got Fingered would be my candidate. It was so perfectly done the first time. It would be nothing more than blatant commercialism to try to top this classic.

For real, The Big Country. and The Princess bride

"Some Like it Hot' should be left the hell alone. "North by Northwest" should be also. Many of my favorites they've already remade. And they stunk. The general opinion is that 12 Angry Men is one of, if not THE ONLY, remake worthy of the original.

Basil Rathbone/ Jeremy Brett is a good one. Jeremy Brett was fantastic.

I really dislike the remakes that are the result of a dearth of original ideas, or just call-it-in sorts of things. ("Hey, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty want to do a romantic movie together. Hmmm, what's the most romantic movie ever? Why, "An Affair to Remember", of course! We'll do a remake!!")

I think there can be genuinely good remakes if there is a new element added (like the racial aspects in "12 Angry Men") or if a current actor is just the perfect fit in an old role. (Can't think of an example right now, it's happened.)

All About Eve should be left alone. Can't imagine any other cast. And, Gus, I agree with you about To Kill a Mockingbird.

I'd second Greyfan in saying that "Casablanca" should never be remade, especially since Hollywood would probably cast Adam Sandler in the role of Rick Blaine (which is about as sacreligious as casting Adam Sandler as the lead in the remake of "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" -- oh wait, they already did that!). In fact, don't remake any Humphrey Bogart film. And don't touch "Citizen Kane," "The Third Man," or "Dr. Strangelove."

I suppose it might be considered unnecessary to list silent movies among those that shouldn't be remade: after all, how likely is that, right? Well, Hollywood decided to reach back into its vaults to remake Buster Keaton's "Seven Chances" as "The Bachelor" starring Chris O'Donnell (reputedly a very bad movie: I never saw it -- but "Seven Chances" is really funny). So don't mess with: "Intolerance," "Battleship Potemkin," any 1920s German expressionistic film, or any silent comedy.

i agree with joefromchicago, don't remake any bogart films.

Most things with Yul Brynner (sp?). He was such a huge screen presence, I just couldn't imagine any other actor being able to do one of his roles.

Or look half as good as Mr. Brynner in the role. Any role.

So... Magnificent Seven shouldn't have been.. um remade into a Samaurai flik?

Wizard of Oz was remade. Anyone have that same warm and fuzzy feeling about The Wiz?

I'm suprised no one has said 'don't remake Gone With the Wind'. I think maybe it could be remade, but prolly not as well.

don't remake:
Metropolis
Koyaanisqatsi
Dr. Zhivago

And I'm still waiting for the sequal to Buckaroo Bonzai!

The Silence of the Lambs. Hopkin and Foster were magnificent. I cannot imagine anyone else playing their roles.

Also, most anything directed by Alfred Hitchcock. His direction was so wonderful, that any remake would pale by comparison.

"Is nothing sacred?" For me, the answer is "no". If someone feels he can make a superior product, let him try. If he fails (as he probably will) so be it. In the unlikely case that he succeeds, we all benefit.

Godfather...never remake that please...

Oh and the Police Academy Saga....

That's one for the books....I don't think it's possible to ever recreate the range, emotion, or brilliant storytelling...I laughed, I cried, I snored........

It Happened One Night was remade, with the title You Can't Run Away From It. Lame.

The Producers

But they're going to redo it anyways