Classic Films That Could Be Remade Well

SPOILERS

Let me start by saying that it is always controversial (and usually heresy) to suggest remaking a classic film, because, well, how can you improve on a classic the second time around?  For a film such as The Godfather, which is about as perfect as a film gets, any attempt at a remake nearly as good would be ill-fated.  That is why Hollywood usually remakes foreign films that people won’t see because they hate subtitles and funny accents, or instead take fan favorites such as Total Recall and Red Dawn, strip away all the charm/intelligence, and replace them with shiny objects, explosions, and Chris Hemsworth.  So the point of this list is not to suggest films that Hollywood should bastardize, or to say that the remakes would be undeniably better, but simply to point out classic films that could be remade in a different direction, and still turn out to be solid films.

Oldboy

No, this film isn’t old enough to be a classic, and yes, it is already being remade so this is cheating, but I’ll use this example to ease people into this list and explain more of what my criteria is.

Oldboy, the 2003 Chan-wook Park film, is a cult hit and is destined to be a classic.  Currently, there is a remake of this film in post-production that was directed by Spike Lee.  And even though I think the original Oldboy was an incredible work of art, I am excited to see Spike Lee’s version.  Why is this?  Because the film has plenty of room to be reimagined.  Not necessarily improved upon, but just done differently.

Chan-wook Park’s version had so much flair, such a unique style, that the film really transcended the story.  One of the most memorable parts of the film was the hallway fight scene, all done with one tracking shot capturing the action.  This scene is remembered for its style, not for how it is relevant to the story.

My hope is that Spike Lee will take the solid story of Oldboy, and put his own flair on the film.  I don’t know if he will be successful, but I am looking forward to seeing his take, and that is why Oldboy is a good candidate to be remade.  While the general story will be the same, it has the potential to be taken in a new creative direction by a director with a record of success.

 

Blade Runner 

One of my all-time favorite sci-fi films and an undeniable classic, Blade Runner is a sci-fi masterpiece with incredible human elements.  Let’s forget all the troubles with the film (primarily the 7 different versions, including those with the awful and unneccesary Harrison Ford voiceover), and first concede that it would be almost impossible to capture the same magic that Rutger Hauer brought to the screen as the replicant Roy.  His physical presence and perfectly delivered lines (including his end monologue, which remains one of the greatest speeches in film history) are something special that a remake will never be able to approach, especially if they cast Chris Hemsworth for the role.

However, maybe there is another part of the film that could be improved upon, and this could be given more focus than the original gave it.  That part is whether or not Harrison Ford’s character Deckard is a replicant.  It is hinted at, but never explored with enough depth.  In a film where the question of what makes someone human is asked, it seems that the main character would have to ask himself this question much more.  My point is that there is a substantial amount of material here for a possible remake, where even though the atmosphere and Hauer’s character would be hard to match, there is still potential for a great film that explores the questions of humanity in a different way, focusing on Deckard questioning his own existence.

The chances of this happening aren’t great, with news of another Blade Runner-related film happening, and with it likely being a sequel.  Let’s just hope that the new film doesn’t take 7 releases to perfect.

The Searchers

Perhaps this is the most reasonable film to be remade on the list (although I don’t know much about the business/legal situation with any of these).  The reason for that is because of the critical and commercial success of the Coen brother’s True Grit, their remake of a different John Wayne classic.  While this film has a much more critically acclaimed status, being crowned the best western ever by many, it still has the potential to inspire a remake.

The main character, Ethan Edwards, is a severely racist former confederate with a patchy past.  That seems like it should be the description for a film’s villain, but westerns were made in a different time.  Regardless, the character still has the potential to be an interesting anti-hero.  For a modern version, the character Martin, a part Native American who accompanies Ethan, would likely have to take a larger and much bolder role, possibly even becoming the main character.  There is potential there for a modernized story, dealing heavily with the issues of racism that Ethan’s character shows.

The story would no doubt have to take a different view on some issues.  Having the stereotypical angry, stoic Native American savage might have been great in the 1950s, but so was segregation.  There would have to be an attempt to humanize the Native Americans, treated them as more than a one-dimensional enemy or set piece.  But I can see a modern version of this film that takes Ethan and Martin, explores the characters their relationship more, and still manages to be a great film.

Rashomon

This is the idea I feel the shakiest about.  Rashomon is one of my all-time favorite films, and I think to remake it you would have to change a lot about it, because a remake set in Japan during the same time period wouldn’t have a chance in hell of improving anything or being credited on its own merits.

Instead, I believe there is some room to set the story in a modern, inner city setting.  The rape and eventual murder would still play well with a modern setting, and there is potential to build a commentary on the state of modern inner city life.  The redemption at the end of the film, one of my absolute favorite endings of all time, would still play well and would still be moving.  A few things would definitely need to be changed, such as the psychic coming in to tell the samurai’s story, but overall this is a story that could adapt very well to a modern reimagining.

I think this idea would definitely fit a play format, as there are minimal characters and locations.  Perhaps that would be the better option, as an announced remake of Rashomon would undeniably provide some outrage, and it would be hard to make the film without reverting to cheap melodrama.  But if done with the same care as the original, there is potential for a film that could retell a story with a strong message.