So they're remaking The Omen

[ksmith]

...and as with many of these remakes, I ask myself "Why?"

The original had Lee Remick, and Gregory Peck, and Billie Whitelaw. Granted I was a teenager when I saw it, but I thought it was good, and creepy, and, well, a decent entry in the Apocalyptic Horror Movie pantheon.

The new version has a few names I recognize. Mia Farrow will be playing the Billie Whitelaw role--Mrs Blaylock, Governess of the Damned. I recognized a few other names--Michael Gambon, and one other Brit actor--but just from the overall cast list it looks like a low-budget remake with a few familiar names thrown in to get US distribution.

I don't know why they remade Pink Panther, either. Granted, the names were bigger, but still, why? Planet of the Apes--why?

Comments

[hoosier-red.livejournal.com]

And from what I hear, it's pretty much a shot-for-shot remake. I suppose some studio exec figured, "Well, it's a horror movie, those are doing really well these days, Julia Stiles isn't doing anything at the moment, what the heck..."

The kid playing Damien is a cutie, though. And there's something so wonderfully meta about Mia Farrow playing the Governess of the Damned.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

And there's something so wonderfully meta about Mia Farrow playing the Governess of the Damned

After all, she had no much experience rearing her own...

Still, though.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

.....and as with many of these remakes, I ask myself "Why?"


Right there with ya on that. I agree that the original was a fine film all by itself. The performances were good. The world was introduced to "Carmina Burana" in a whole different light. It's the best of 70s horror. Since we're stuck with a remake, though, here are my two cents:

Mia Farrow will be playing the Billie Whitelaw role--Mrs Blaylock, Governess of the Damned.

Given that she played Rosemary in Rosemary's Baby, I think that's an inspired bit of casting.

Planet of the Apes--why?

I understood the temptation at the time, but watching the new version provoked two thoughts:
1) Really, a remake wasn't necessary in any way.
2) There was so much potential on the screen in the remake; what a shame it's a failure. Tim Roth wuz robbed; he was the best thing about the film.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I confess that I was pretty excited a few years ago when I heard that Matt Damon was going to play Tom Ripley because I felt the idea of that open, all-American boy face as cover for a sociopath was just too, too.

Then they changed the story just enough.