back to article Great Scott! Is nothing sacred? US movie-goers vote Back To The Future as most-wanted reboot

It's been clear for decades that Hollywood is almost completely out of ideas and nothing is sacred when mining the past for inspiration. Disney, not content with flogging Marvel's back catalogue until everyone's sick to death of it, has set about rebooting its animated classics in live-action (read: CGI) remakes (I mean, you …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Joke

    Why ?

    We allready have Rick & Morty !

  2. Aladdin Sane

    I believe this is still relevant

    But you know I saw this movie this year called last year called er, 'Basic Instinct'. Okay now. Bill's quick capsule review: Piece-of-Shit. Okay now. Yeah, yeah, end of story by the way. Don't get caught up in that fevered hype phoney fucking debate about that Piece-of-Shit movie. "Is it too sexist, and what about the movies, are they becoming too dddddddd." You're, you're just confused, you don't get, you've forgotten how to judge correctly. Take a deep breath huuh, look at it again. "Oh it's a Piece-of-Shit!" Exactly, that's all it is. Satan squatted, let out a loaf, they put a fucking title on it, put it on a marquee, Satan's shit, piece of shit, walk away. "But is it too, what about the lesbian connot.. ddddd." You're, you're getting really baffled here. Piece-of-Shit! Now walk away. That's all it is, it's nothing more! Free yourself folks, if you see it, Piece-of-Shit, say it and walk away. You're right! You're right! Not those fuckers who want to tell you how to think! You're fucking right! Sorry wrong meeting again. I keep getting my days mixed up. tomorrow, it's the meeting at the docks. Tonight it's comedy entertainment with young Bill. Horrible film. And then I come to find out after that film. that all the lesbian sex scenes, let me repeat that, all the lesbian sex scenes were cut out of that film, because the test audience was turned off by them. Ha. Boy, is my thumb not on the pulse of America.

    Bill Hicks

    1. Adelio

      Reboots

      Some are ok, some are appalling

      The "new" ghostbusters was in the appalling category.

      If you HAVE to do a reboot PLEASE

      1. Do NOT repeat an existing film

      2. Actually get a good script. Spend money, Take your time and get the script right. It is "easy" to make a good looking film with CGI BUT without a good story it is just a wast of money.

      If you have a good story then this will shine through.

      1. Chz

        Re: Reboots

        On the plus side, a reboot would (I assume) involve someone from today going back to the 1980s. I think there's plenty of material to be mined from that. Maybe with a few references to the original thrown in there. Even more fun if they set it in the UK!

        1. Uncle Slacky Silver badge

          Re: Reboots

          I think Hot Tub Time Machine probably milked the 80s for all it was worth, time-travel-wise.

          Edit: Also the short-lived TV series "Do Over".

      2. Outski

        Re: Reboots

        Well I liked Ghostbusters...

        1. Kane
          Thumb Down

          Re: Reboots

          "Well I liked Ghostbusters..."

          The funniest thing about the reboot of Ghostbusters was Chris "You know, an aquarium is a submarine for fish" Hemsworth.

          For me, the rest was just cringe.

      3. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: Reboots

        "If you have a good story then this will shine through."

        Most of the listed proposed re-makes/re-boots are SF films. There's an enourmouse amount of decent SF books out there that have never made it to the big (or small) screen. Often because they were visually difficult or impossible to make previously. I mean, a quick scan through the Hugo or Nebula winners might be a good place to start.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Reboots

          Most of the listed proposed re-makes/re-boots are SF films. There's an enourmouse amount of decent SF books out there that have never made it to the big (or small) screen. Often because they were visually difficult or impossible to make previously.

          Correct. Ready Player One made it to screen, Snow Crash might never. Ender's Game tried hard.

          A Judge Dredd sequel? A re-remake of Total Recall [good this time]?

    2. Kane

      Re: I believe this is still relevant

      I've found that over the 24 years since his untimely passing, he has always held relevance.

      Remember kids, it's just a ride.

  3. Daniel von Asmuth
    Linux

    what the people want

    What? No sequels to Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck cartoons?!

    1. My other car WAS an IAV Stryker
      Childcatcher

      Re: what the people want

      Plenty of TV reboots on Disney / Disney Junior.

      I wish I let my kids watch better stuff, but it's all too crude and/or violent.

      1. bombastic bob Silver badge
        Devil

        Re: what the people want

        "but it's all too crude and/or violent."

        And therefore, FUN (instead of 'saturday morning schlock for the widdle kiddies').

        ESPECIALLY nauseating when the aforementioned SCHLOCK contains all of those 'parental lessons' embedded within them. [cartoons are supposed to be FUN, not an attempt at Disney doing parents' jobs for them].

        /me fondly remembers Animaniacs, which I have the great fortune to have seen for the FIRST time as an adult [so I got all of the jokes].

        1. Matthew Taylor

          Re: what the people want

          "ESPECIALLY nauseating when the aforementioned SCHLOCK contains all of those 'parental lessons' embedded within them. [cartoons are supposed to be FUN, not an attempt at Disney doing parents' jobs for them]."

          Inspector Gadget springs to mind. As a young'un I felt personally insulted by that programme. It's creators must have considered me especially dim, if they thought I wouldn't notice the plodding do-gooder messages sprinkled throughout it.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: what the people want, finger Prince!

          I do so love the humor in that show.

          "Dust for prints" "I found Prince!" "No, finger prints!" "I don't think so..."

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: what the people want

      How about a 'live action' Bugs Bunny?

      1. Stevie

        Re: what the people want

        See: Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

      2. Jamesit

        Re: what the people want

        I think a live action Road Runner would be great.

        1. scott2718282828

          Re: what the people want

          Live action Road Runner has already been done - The Villain from 1979.

          https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080097/

          Arnold Schwartzenegger as the Road Runner, Kirk Douglas as the Coyote, Ann-Margaret just because. Looks like a western, but has a lot of old Road Runner gags.

    3. bombastic bob Silver badge
      Unhappy

      Re: what the people want

      the CGI version of 'Steamboat Willy' is probably on the table, someplace...

      1. Simon Harris
        Coat

        Re: what the people want

        "the CGI version of 'Steamboat Willy' is probably on the table, someplace..."

        I'm sure there's already a live-action Steamboat Willy. Probably on PronHub.

  4. Steven Raith

    Hmm.

    I'd suggest whomever they polled have never actually seen any of the more recent reboots.

    I mean, name one that is anything other than 'better than expected', when 'expected' has become 'utterly godawful' lately.

    Steven "it's OK though, the originals will still be enjoyable so don't stress too much" R

    1. Aladdin Sane

      Re: originals will still be enjoyable

      George Lucas will see to that.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: originals will still be enjoyable

        They should make a new version of Star Wars Holiday Special - I want to see the funny shenanigans of Jar Jar and his family!

        1. Steven Raith

          Re: originals will still be enjoyable

          "They should make a new version of Star Wars Holiday Special - I want to see the funny shenanigans of Jar Jar and his family!"

          I don't wanna see Jar Jars dad watching the equivalent of cross species porn, though.

          (seriously that was one weird sequence in the Holiday Special...)

          Steven R

        2. Boo Radley

          Re: originals will still be enjoyable

          I'm almost ashamed to say it, but I liked the Family Guy spoofs of the Star Wars movies better than the originals. Downvote away!!

        3. Nolveys

          Re: originals will still be enjoyable

          They should make a new version of Star Wars Holiday Special - I want to see the funny shenanigans of Jar Jar and his family!

          Remember to get the deluxe edition. It comes with a bottle of whisky and a hand gun.

    2. Lee D Silver badge

      Re: Hmm.

      I think you're right.

      I hate "sequels/remakes for the sake of it". That kills so many franchises for me.

      Bladerunner, Total Recall, Ghostbusters, all kinds of things have been ruined by re-makes.

      Very, very, very few movies series ever get the momentum going... I was honestly surprised that MiB3 was actually as good as it turned out (mainly cos I love the little time-guy character, and they cast the "young" K really well).

      Even Aliens was killed by the "too many sequels" thing and they STILL keep banging on it and the Predator franchises.

      Some things are just better left alone. Don't even get me started on "The" Italian Job...

      1. bombastic bob Silver badge
        Devil

        Re: Hmm.

        "Bladerunner, Total Recall, Ghostbusters, all kinds of things have been ruined by re-makes."

        Add 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'. A perfect example of why NOT to do a remake.

        Klaatu. Barada. Nikto [mumble mumble mumble]. Heh.

        (I hear "they" wanna do a remake of THAT movie, too - the one where the protagonist says that shoutout phrase like a magic incantation, improperly, and comedy ensues - I have the DVD but for those who haven't seen it, let them google for it, heh)

        1. Steven Raith

          Re: Hmm.

          They want to remake Army of Darkness?

          I'm not sure how they can do that, given that it's basically a loose story tied around Bruce Campbells ability to do physical comedy, ham it up, and spit out false bravado like it was going out of fashion. The rest of the plot is fine, but is basically an excuse to do some neat practical effects.

          Steven R

          (army of darkness is genuinely one of my all time favourite films, so I might be biased)

          1. macjules

            Re: Hmm.

            There is a whole new genre of The Evil Dead TV series now (Ash vs Evil Dead), including Bruce Campbell. Sadly canned after 3 series.

            1. Steven Raith

              Re: Hmm.

              Ash Vs Evil Dead was cracking good fun.

              The, I think, penultimate episode ending musical sting was very good.

              Only three series, but all three were very good and worth a watch if you like comedy, gore (lots of gore) and some reasonably atmospheric horror elements - and of course, with Lucy Lawless and Brucey in there, more ham than a pork factory.

              Dana DeLorenzo and Ray Santiago were, it must be said, also well matched to the series too.

              Better to go a bit early while good than to go on too long and get....well, look at the Simpsons.

              Steven R

        2. The Dogs Meevonks Silver badge

          Re: Hmm.

          Only the greatest comedy horror movie of ALL TIME...

          Now I want some sugar. :/

          1. Kane

            Re: Hmm.

            "Now I want some sugar. :/"

            Awww, that was just pillow talk, baby!

      2. Robert Helpmann??
        Childcatcher

        Re: Hmm.

        For every great remake, there are a hundred reheated, rehashed and regurgitated movies and TV shows. I can think of only four remakes or reboots I enjoyed*. That's a remarkably bad return on all the time and effort and put into the productions.

        * The only exceptions to this I can think of are movies based on Shakespeare**

        ** Other than anything having to do with Romeo and Juliet. I just want them to kick off and be done with it. I can't help it. They're so annoying!

        1. JohnFen

          Re: Hmm.

          "For every great remake"

          All three of them?

      3. phuzz Silver badge

        Re: Hmm.

        I believe that remake of The Italian Job would have been a perfectly acceptable, maybe even better-than-average, action/heist film if they'd just had the bloody courage to make it it's own film, and not try and rip-off a classic.

      4. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: Hmm.

        "If you have a good story then this will shine through."

        There can be only one...and it doesn't involve tacked on aliens!

        (there ya go, two for one)

  5. TRT Silver badge

    I watched Back to the Future 2 last night...

    I always seem to manage to miss the first bit of the film... except last night... Is that Michael J Fox in drag playing his own daughter?

    1. Luiz Abdala

      Re: I watched Back to the Future 2 last night...

      Yes, he did. He played as his own daughter. It took me 10 years to figure it out too.

  6. cam

    This time, 'Marty' will be a woman, cos why shouldn't women be into science, and play guitar, and travel back in time. Doctor Who is a woman, and women are busting ghosts. Make sense.

    Waiting for a reboot of Larry Croft. :D

    1. illiad

      what about Galactica?

      YES, Galactica, where that main 'hunky man' was replaced by a woman?? thoughts please...

      For BTF, the whole cast needs revamp.. sounds about as good as the ghostbuster revamp.. ONLY good as a 'comedy tribute'...

      1. Teiwaz

        Re: what about Galactica?

        YES, Galactica, where that main 'hunky man' was replaced by a woman?? thoughts please...

        To be fair 'Face man' was a really crap actor....

        Even his best effort (the episode that wrote out his character Robinson Crusoe style) was only a fair to middling effort.

        As to 'hunky' - people are weird - 'Starbuck' in male or female form could never be considered a reliable love interest, a self absorbed car crash personality in both cases.

      2. Mooseman Silver badge

        Re: what about Galactica?

        The BSG was rather good, until they ran out of ideas at the end. No reason the heroic pilot shouldn't be a woman, I thought she was very good.

    2. bombastic bob Silver badge
      Devil

      forcing women into 'remake' character roles

      "This time, 'Marty' will be a woman"

      This would, after all, empower Holly-weird SJW-types to forcibly cram "this is how it was in the 1950's which is why we do not return to it" exaggerated 'misogyny' (their definition of it). As entertainment. And indoctrination.

      and when THAT kind of thing happens, their ticket sales reflect audience desire to NOT have politics crammed at them when they go to the movies to ESCAPE it...

      There seem to be a lot of crapsack-world post-apocalytpic movies, too. Where's the _ENTERTAINMENT_ in THAT kind of "doom/gloom" everywhere? I thought people went to the movies to have FUN? ['feeding the WRONG wolf', to quote another movie that's QUITE a bit more positive, something that was NOT a remake, either - it sets the doom/gloomers up as either the BAD guys, or those who've given up, and the young millenial protagonist as AN OPTIMIST, despite everything]

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      'Marty' will be a woman

      but then to be Even More Fairer, Uncle Joey will be Aunt Joy. "better get used to these bars, kid..." since, ya know, women are severely under-represented in the typical state corrections system. Just sayin'.

    4. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

      "Waiting for a reboot of Larry Croft. :D"

      Damn! You made me create an extra 31 accounts so I could upvote you properly :-D

  7. Luiz Abdala

    Great Scott!

    This is heavy.

    We don't need a reboot or remake.

    They mangled She-Ra into a queer... and the villains are not by-the-book evil... just misunderstood girls this time. Hordak is just watching from afar...

    Now this.

    I'm ok with Avatar 2, because IDGAF.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Great Scott!

      'a queer'? Nice one, bigot.

      1. #define INFINITY -1

        Re: Great Scott!

        Isn't that now acceptable, because "LGBTQ"? Of course it then doesn't mean "LGB or T".

      2. not.known@this.address

        Re: Great Scott!

        "'a queer'? Nice one, bigot."

        Dangerous opinion here, but why do you let silly people calling you names hurt you so much? Just ignore them, they aren't worth getting upset over. I was crap at sports at school and wore glasses, so you should be able to work out what my childhood was like most of the time.

        I didn't go crying to teacher every time someone called me a nasty name, I IGNORED THEM. It's only words and if you refuse to let them get to you then guess what? You can survive. You will survive. Even if they refuse to use your real name, calling you whatever makes them "happy", let them get on with it. Their words do not make you any more or less valuable as a member of society, it just shows them up as small-minded bullies.

        We don't need laws and committees to stop verbal abuse, we just need to show the "victims" that they are not the ones with a problem.

        1. #define INFINITY -1

          @not.known@this.address Re: Great Scott!

          The children are taking the reigns. Woe to thee oh earth and sea. Life was totally shit, fucked up, miserable, when we were at the butt-end of those people... until we learned about, say, the French peasants.

      3. John Brown (no body) Silver badge
        Big Brother

        Re: Great Scott!

        "'a queer'? Nice one, bigot."

        That's a nasty assumption there. Are you offended on your own behalf or on behalf of someone else? How do you know that the poster doesn't self-identify as "queer"? One of my colleagues does and takes great delight in outraging those who take offence on behalf of others on a night out :-p

        1. Mooseman Silver badge

          Re: Great Scott!

          You can tell a lot about someone's attitude by the language they use. Sorry, the "mangled into a queer" phrase dripped venom and casual unpleasantness.

          And no its not about essentially "growing a pair" - if you are constantly belittled and insulted and are then told to essentially "get over it" it shows that you don't have a clue.

          1. Luiz Abdala

            Re: Great Scott!

            They hinted left and right she liked girls. They didn't need to do that. Hence, "mangled". The former show worked without it.

            If it was her daughter, it would be A-OK, regardless of her sexuality, implied or not. That's what makes reboots so bad, in general: try to do something never mentioned in the original.

            Venom and casual unpleasantness, excellent, I liked those. Fit for purpose.

            1. TRT Silver badge

              Re: Great Scott!

              What sort of LGTBQI treatment could they give to a remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

  8. WallMeerkat
    Stop

    Do it in style

    What car would they use? There is nothing like the iconic DeLorean DMC12 in production today. No doubt some manufacturer would see it as a golden marketing oppurtunity, but given the current US car market about the only choices are SUVs.

    How long would it take a 2 ton SUV to get up to 88mph?

    At least they could go back in time to the early 1900s, when tall, square shaped, big wheeled cars were last in fashion, and not look out of place.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Do it in style

      What car? Clearly a Tesla. Marty will still be an idiot who struggles to outrace a VW van loaded down with terrorists despite driving a vehicle capable of hitting 88 MPH in about 50 feet.

      I for one am looking forward to the reboot, mostly for the rebooted sequel, so that I can get a super accurate preview of what 2050 will look like!

      1. Down not across

        Re: Do it in style

        What car? Clearly a Tesla. Marty will still be an idiot who struggles to outrace a VW van loaded down with terrorists despite driving a vehicle capable of hitting 88 MPH in about 50 feet.

        Might take bit longer than that. DMC12 was bit underpowered compared to its looks.

        The movie was accurate in one way though, the original alternator was too weak and battery would end up flat if everything was turned on. Later cars did have better alternator.

        1. TRT Silver badge

          Re: Clearly a Tesla

          No, that's for the remake of Christine. Where the car kills people. By deliberately running into semis and dividers and stuff.

      2. A Nonny Moose

        Re: Do it in style

        "I for one am looking forward to the reboot, mostly for the rebooted sequel, so that I can get a super accurate preview of what 2050 will look like!"

        It's already been done, it was called "Idiocracy"

    2. Down not across

      Re: Do it in style

      How long would it take a 2 ton SUV to get up to 88mph?

      About same time as DMC12 if the SUV is something like X5 4.4i or similar given the 2.85 litre PRV V6 only had about 130hp and 200 Nm of torque.

    3. MJI Silver badge

      Re: Do it in style

      About 20 seconds with a Diesel

    4. phuzz Silver badge
      Stop

      Re: Do it in style

      "There is nothing like the iconic DeLorean DMC12 in production today."

      There's two iconic things about the Delorian: it's looks, and the fact that it was a massive flop.

      Any replacement would need to tick both of these boxes, so Tesla doesn't qualify.

      Mind you, I guess they do share the 'larger than life founder who you can imagine ending up in a drug deal'...

      1. TRT Silver badge

        Re: Do it in style

        Somehow I don't think "The carbon-nanotube fibre composite body is ideal for flux dispersal" would ride well.

  9. JohnFen

    Not just no

    But hell no.

    It'll probably get made, and if it does, I'll ignore that it exists.

    1. veti Silver badge

      Re: Not just no

      Hear, hear. BttF is probably the best movie trilogy ever released, and I for one am not about to lend even a sliver of encouragement to those who would batten their own lack of talent on its quality.

      Heck, I'd rather see a remake of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. With Tom Hanks and Jim Carrey, and the inevitable cameo by director Quentin Tarantino.

  10. DubyaG

    Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

    I saw that first movie was first impressed by the eye candy and then realized the dialog was 100% cliche.

    Did they find another cliche dictionary to use for the second one?

    1. MiguelC Silver badge

      Re: Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

      You mean blue Pocahontas?

      1. David 132 Silver badge
        Happy

        Re: Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

        @MiguelC, I always preferred to refer to it as "Dances With Smurfs".

      2. bombastic bob Silver badge
        Devil

        Re: Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

        yes, the comparison between how American Indians were treated in the 1800's was painfully obvious in Avatar. However, the movie was still entertaining, and had a fairly standard plot of 'oppressed vs oppressor'.

        When it's entertaining, I can overlook the underlying SJW'ness. Choke the bile a bit and wash it down with popcorn and soda. Or if I'm at home, pizza and beer. Or tequila.

        1. GrumpyKiwi

          Re: Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

          I say we take off, nuke the entire site from orbit. That way none of us have to give a f*** about some giant tree defended by space smurfs. It's the only way to be sure.

      3. Patched Out

        Re: Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

        "You mean blue Pocahontas?"

        Yes! I actually said that out loud in the theater as I was watching it: "This is just a remake of Pocahontas!"

        And using the element name unoptanium? Really?!? That name had been a joke among us geeks and engineers forever.

        After all the hype, I was greatly disappointed in Avatar and never went back to see Avatar 2.

    2. JohnFen

      Re: Reboot Avatar? Yuck!

      Maybe that's why I didn't like Avatar -- there wasn't enough eye candy in the world to hide the fact that the actual story was just a poorly-written retread.

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Who'd a thunk it?

    US movie-goers vote Back To The Future as most-wanted reboot

    Who'd a thunk it? Turns out Americans actually do understand irony.

  12. Ochib

    About time for a Matrix Sequel

    There is only Matrix film at the moment

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I hope they get what they deserve.

    The post is required, and must contain letters.

  14. ThomH

    Suggestions for the putative BttF remake:

    Give Marty more of a back story. Lots of intoning about how he was born for greatness, destined to be a saviour.

    Up the stakes a little. He should be trying to save the entire universe from complete destruction across all time, not just his own family.

    Also, the payoff needs to be larger. Don't just have his family be rich while Biff's are suddenly subservient. Make him president or something.

    The Doc is too old to be hanging out with children. Replace him with a wise-cracking tweenager. It'll open up a whole new demographic.

    Obviously he's not going back to the 1950s now, he's actually going back to the 1980s. So his dad can't be a nerd because everybody thinks nerds are cool now. Make him more like Bender from Breakfast Club but, you know, not 30. Actually, get rid of him altogether. In this movie Marty has to become his own dad.

    With no dad to play off, maybe give him a robotic dog as a sidekick?

    88mph is too slow, and we can't really be doing that light-hearted stuff with terrorists. In this version he has to base jump and reach terminal velocity. He first goes back in time because he's an extreme dude whose bungee cord fails. Probably somewhere in China, to hit that demographic. Actually, make the robotic dog Chinese. We know some guys who can do Chinese accents right?

    Also it's way too long until he actually travels back in time — something like the entirety of act one is set in the present day. Let's just open with him already back in time, and leave whether he gets back to the present for a sequel.

    Also, this Marty guy doesn't seem very interesting. Maybe make the robotic dog the star?

    1. David 132 Silver badge

      You are an evil genius, and I fear that two years from now we'll be re-reading your comment and thinking how prescient it was.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      And the scenes set in the past should be done in sepia tone.

    3. Stevie

      Suggestions for the putative BttF remake:

      Start showing current Doctor Who regenerating into Marty McFly.

      What?

    4. Sceptic Tank Silver badge
      Trollface

      @TomH: The sequel will be worthless if there isn't a vampire.

      1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        ...and zombies. Don't forget the zombies!

  15. Boris the Cockroach Silver badge

    Did'nt

    the film spaceballs have the bit where they were already making the sequel before the 1st film was finished?

    1. chivo243 Silver badge

      Re: Did'nt

      @Boris the Cockroach

      I think you're thinking of History of the World? And it never got finished?

      1. David 132 Silver badge
        Mushroom

        Re: Did'nt

        Spaceballs had the wonderful scene where they were watching the VHS tape of the movie as it was being made, and found themselves watching themselves watching themselves, etc...

        "What the hell am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie?"

        "Now. You're looking at now, sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now."

        "What happened to then?"

        "We passed then."

        "When?"

        "Just now. We're at now now."

        "Go back to then."

        "When?"

        "Now."

        "I can't."

        "Why?"

        "We missed it."

        The icon is for Spaceballs The Flamethrower ("the kids love this one")

        1. Uncle Slacky Silver badge
          Thumb Up

          Re: Did'nt

          About time for "Spaceballs 2:The Search for More Money"...

  16. Voland's right hand Silver badge

    There is plenty of original material

    There is plenty of original material for Sci Fi.

    You can spend the next 100 years doing series with weekly episodes based just on Neil Asher's Polity universe or David Brin's Uplift universe.

    There is plenty of "film level" original material which will make into a blockbuster movie like Adrian Tchaikovski Ironclads.

    You CAN make a blockbuster out of a good book (as Ender's game has proven). And you should.

    Enough f*** reboots, prequels and sequels. Screw em all.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: There is plenty of original material

      > "There is plenty of original material for Sci Fi."

      Sure is, but two things get in the way. One is that "Sci Fi" has been flooding the market for some time now, and most of that flood is just the usual plot gumbo, with lasers. That's what the public thinks Sic Fi is.

      The other thing is that real Science Fiction is unsettling and confusing to a lot of movie goers. It may be fine for discerning readers, but the usual film crowd doesn't want to think too much. It's scary, and not in a good way.

      Spandex heroes are safe, and pretty much guarantee at least some decent return on investment. Sigh fi...

      1. Dave 126 Silver badge

        Re: There is plenty of original material

        To make room for a more involved plot a TV series is often a better match than a movie - Westworld, Handmaid's Tale, Altered Carbon. For short, sharp plots an anthology series works - Black Mirror, Electric Dreams.

        Movies fill that gap between a 1 hour runtime and an 8 hour runtime.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: There is plenty of original material

          "To make room for a more involved plot a TV series is often a better match than a movie - Westworld, Handmaid's Tale, Altered Carbon."

          Dark Matter

          Counterpart

          Defiance

          Humans

          Person of Interest

          Traveler

          12 Monkeys

          Continuum

          And on the fantasy side -

          Lucifer

          Penny Dreadful

          Warehouse 13

          The Magicians (if you can get by the annoying first season)

          iZombie (exception to rule that all zombie tv shows are garbage)

    2. Stevie

      Re: There is plenty of original material

      I always thought Samuel R Delany's Nova would make excellent fodder for the big screen.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: There is plenty of original material

      "There is plenty of original material for Sci Fi.

      You can spend the next 100 years doing series with weekly episodes based just on Neil Asher's Polity universe or David Brin's Uplift universe."

      Or classics as well as modern -

      Hal Clement, Mission of Gravity

      Arthur C Clarke, Childhood's End

      Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers (really based on the book, this time)

      Keith Laumer, any of the Retief stories

      Phillip K Dick, The Unteleported Man

      Joe Haldeman, The Forever War

      Greg Bear, The Forge of God

      Patrick Tilley, Fade Out

      James H Schmitz, The Demon Breed

      Clifford Simak, The Big Front Yard

      Frank Herbert, The Dragon in the Sea (British: Under Pressure)

      Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Footfall

      .... and so on ...

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: There is plenty of original material

        I read somewhere that is The Forever War is in production (or possibly production hell). There is already a 3 part TV miniseries of Childhoods End.

      2. PhilBuk

        Re: There is plenty of original material

        Larry Niven - Ringworld et al.

        Phil.

      3. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: There is plenty of original material

        "Arthur C Clarke, Childhood's End"

        Already been done recently as a mini-series.

        1. TRT Silver badge

          Re: There is plenty of original material

          I have just seen a trailer for Mortal Engines. Some stuff is too outlandish to be filmified.

  17. Gothmog

    Why not go the whole hog....

    ....and remake some of those oh-so dated films that could really benefit from extensive CGI and green-screening. And more appropriate actors/actresses too.

    The Shawshank Redemption (Adam Sandler and Jamie Foxx)

    The Princess Bride (Channing Tatum, Mark Wahlberg and Sandra Bullock)

    The Godfather (Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller and Meryl Streep)

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Why not go the whole hog....

      There is NO WAY to make The Princess Bride any better than it is.

      1. Dave 126 Silver badge

        Re: Why not go the whole hog....

        > There is NO WAY to make The Princess Bride any better than it is.

        A Very Deadpool Christmas. Ryan Reynolds told Fox he'd support a cert PG version of Deadpool 2 if some proceeds went to Fuck Cancer and if he could kidnap Fred Savage.

        1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          Re: Why not go the whole hog....

          > There is NO WAY to make The Princess Bride any better than it is.

          Really, where is the theme park ride and video game plug ?

          1. Michael H.F. Wilkinson Silver badge
            Mushroom

            Re: Why not go the whole hog....

            As long as they don't do "Dr Strangelove 2: The Rematch" with Bruce Willis saving the day

            I think I need more dried frog pills, actually

      2. This post has been deleted by its author

  18. SVV

    How unimaginative

    Trust the Americans to take this seriously and make a dull choice. Someone should have got an internet campaign going to make sure something massively inappropriate won the poll, such as the Russ Meyer classic Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens.

    1. David 132 Silver badge

      Re: How unimaginative

      Or any of the Troma films!

      Or Ishtar - at least the remake couldn't be a bigger waste of celluloid.

      I have a suspicion that "Brewster's Millions" will be the next one up for a remake - after all, it's only been made about a dozen times since the 1920s.

    2. Uncle Slacky Silver badge

      Re: How unimaginative

      No, we need a remake of "Plan 9 From Outer Space", or "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" or "They Saved Hitler's Brain".

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Letting people vote...

    ...on things they clearly have no clue about:

    A slippery slope that could end in utter madness.

    1. DJV Silver badge

      Re: Letting people vote...

      Ah, I see what you did there and fully commend you.

    2. TRT Silver badge

      Re: Letting people vote...

      Marty McMarty-face?

  20. chivo243 Silver badge
    Meh

    Done right

    This reboot, rewrite, regurgitation might be OK?

  21. IGnatius T Foobar !

    Post-America Hollywood

    The reason Hollywood can't produce good films anymore is because they've been completely overwhelmed with politically correct post-American values. Today's films are made to be "woke" instead of actually *good*. Hollywood is done. It should be leveled and turned back into orange groves.

    Downvote me all you want; it'll only make the truth truthier.

    1. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

      Re: 'Today's films are made to be "woke"'

      I take it you haven't seen Adam Sandler's 'Pixels'. That wasn't particularly PC or "woke". neither was Ready Player One.

      C.

      1. bombastic bob Silver badge
        Meh

        Re: 'Today's films are made to be "woke"'

        not all films, obviously. just too many of them, In My Bombastic Opinion.

        When I see a movie I want to be entertained, *NOT* guilted, manipulated, nor nauseated [unless it's really good 'bloody guts' special effects or something like it in a horror genre].

        This is the first time I've heard the term 'woke'. 'Woke' from WHAT exactly? [no don't answer, it's rhetorical]

    2. ThomH

      Re: Post-America Hollywood

      Today's films are made for the same reason as films have always been made: to obtain money from audiences. There's really no ulterior motive.

      Nowadays that means: a lot of action, because it's language agnostic, and a fairly simple plot, because that's closer to being language agnostic. And if you're doing action then you're in a CGI horse race, so expect an entirely desensitised audience.

      The reason they didn't make anything like Citizen Kane last year is not that they're worried about offending sledge owners. The reason that they didn't make The Godfather is not that they're worried about a Twitter shame campaign by horses. It's that neither film would be likely to turn a profit.

      The idea that political correctness motivates anything doesn't really have any evidence behind it; films are less likely to be e.g. racist now, but they're also more likely to include mobile phones. Are you worried about Hollywood's mobile phone agenda?

    3. JohnFen

      Re: Post-America Hollywood

      "Today's films are made to be "woke" instead of actually *good*"

      No, today's films are made to generate the maximum possible revenue in worldwide sales instead of actually good. Big difference.

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: Post-America Hollywood

        Today's films rely on foreign sales to fund the production (rather than DVD/TV sales)

        That means a subtle exploration of the artist's soul that will appeal to 100Million teenage boys in Asia + S. America.

        Or something that will ensure attendance at your theme park for the next 10 years

  22. Anonymous Coward
    Holmes

    How about?

    Thinking about reboots seriously, unlike HooHahWood and the boobocracy, one comes to mind - Be Bill - Kill Bill from the perspective of Bill rather than the Bride.

    The problem with most reboots is that they are structured around cool scenes with a 'plot' whose sole function is to link the scenes and a 'script' whose function is to set up the scenes before and admire them afterwards.

  23. Stevie

    Bah!

    Given that I was forced to attend a screening of Fantastic Cheek: The Crimes of JK Rowling* at the weekend I'd say that all people wanting to complain about Hollywood also include the crap ideas being fed to it by their own countrymen.

    * - A movie with no story and characters recycled from the never-ending HP saga.

    Fact is that Hollywood will only make what they think will make money. Come up with a non-comic book, non-remake idea that people will actually go and watch for cashmoney, then you can take the high road and be king of the hill.

    Eye-Witness Evidence is that new ideas on worthwhile subjects (eg First Man) are playing to almost empty theaters.

    1. bombastic bob Silver badge
      Devil

      Re: Bah!

      "new ideas on worthwhile subjects (eg First Man) are playing to almost empty theaters."

      Apparently, they forgot the 'magic stuff' that was in 'The Right Stuff' and 'Apollo 13'. And 'The Martian'. Yeah, that too!

      I suspect I know what it is, though I haven't actually SEEN that movie to confirm it. Maybe I'll get the DVD later, when it comes out. I usually like space movies. Hopefully I'll like 'First Man' too.

      (pssst - it's RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM and/or PATRIOTISM - the controversy over saluting the flag and then removing that scene from the theatrical version - this may be driving the low turnout. As observed by someone who was *ALIVE* *IN* *1969* and watched EVERY launch and landing that was televised)

      1. ThomH

        Re: Bah! @bombastic bob

        The flag is in the film. The sequence is shown in first-person and Armstrong is shown to plant the flag. There's no long shot or big slow-motion dramatic planting, just as there isn't a long shot or slow-motion lift-off or landing, or anything else.

        There's no cutting-room floor footage featuring more of the flag; it's a standard-issue culture war manipulation storm in a teacup.

        Per a joint statement from Armstrong's family and the biographer (emphasis added):

        Although Neil didn’t see himself that way, he was an American hero. He was also an engineer and a pilot, a father and a friend, a man who suffered privately through great tragedies with incredible grace. This is why, though there are numerous shots of the American flag on the moon, the filmmakers chose to focus on Neil looking back at the earth, his walk to Little West Crater, his unique, personal experience of completing this journey, a journey that has seen so many incredible highs and devastating lows.

        ... and as if it weren't clear enough to you yet what the real motivation for the chicken-in-a-basket controversy were, they add:

        In short, we do not feel this movie is anti-American in the slightest. Quite the opposite. But don’t take our word for it. We’d encourage everyone to go see this remarkable film and see for themselves.

        Which I might paraphase as "they're not the real Americans, we're the real Americans, you should give us some of your money to prove it".

      2. Stevie

        Re: Bah!

        " haven't actually SEEN that movie to confirm it. Maybe I'll get the DVD later, when it comes out"

        And here we see why Hollywood won't make the sorts of film you want to watch, Bob.

        Comic book movies and nostalgia-riddled remakes are almost always heavy CGI exravagonzos which work better on a big screen and even better on an IMAX in three D than they do on your flatscreen at home.

        Change your own viewing habits, fund the movies you want to see made.

        And take your meds.

  24. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The lack of willingness to try out new material does my nut in. There are thousands upon thousands of novels worthy of a big screen makeover, but no, let's rehash something we know yet again. Harry Turtledoves world war series,for example, I have said since it began that it was practically a screenplay already, one ripe for a blockbuster

    1. Sherrie Ludwig

      The lack of willingness to try out new material does my nut in.

      There's one coming out that looks interesting - Welcome to Marwen. Would this tick that box?

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_Marwen

  25. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Trollface

    Top Gun in 2020...

    Featuring product placement by Lockheed Martin, in the guise of the F-35B?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Go

      Re: Top Gun in 2020...

      Maybe the flight combat instructors will get a chance to say "The F-35 is an unflyable PoS, but fortunately we have brought these F-14s out of mothballs."

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Top Gun in 2020...

        This has potential, especially if the Top Gun is a drone flown by a Raspberry Pi...

        1. TRT Silver badge

          Re: Top Gun in 2020...

          Stealth (2005)

        2. Woza

          Re: Top Gun in 2020...

          Pi way to the danger zone?

          1. TRT Silver badge

            Re: Top Gun in 2020...

            Pi in the Sky? Pi Captain and the World of Tomorrow?

  26. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge

    Nobody knows anything...

    “Nobody knows anything.... Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what's going to work. Every time out it's a guess and, if you're lucky, an educated one.”

    William Goldman

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: Nobody knows anything...

      But sequels normally make >65% of the original, cost next to nothing to market and you already have the theme park ride built.

  27. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Joke

    Make Hollywood Great Again!

    icon --->

  28. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I hate reboots..

    In the non-SF category they didn't do "The girl with the Dragon tattoo" any favours either.

    There is IMHO nobody capable of improving on the fantastic performance of Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander. I have the Stieg Larsson books ("original" as far as they're direct English translations) and I have the movies stored somewhere electronically because some things are simply worth preserving.

    The remake, nah. It's probably not fair to pre-judge the "next episode", based on the new book written by David Lagercrantz, but let's just say that I have no reason to expect something quite as visceral as the originals with Noomi Rapace. It's just so good that it's hard to improve upon.

    1. Outski

      Re: I hate reboots..

      Wasn't The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo not so much a reboot, but an English language version?

      1. Teiwaz

        Re: I hate reboots..

        Wasn't The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo not so much a reboot, but an English language version?

        Only due to the fact that English speaking audiences have (in the the majority) no appreciation for foreign language films.

        Although I'm not sure if it's the language and merely dislike dubbed and baulk at being expected to read subtitles or it's the sometimes slight cultural differences that make them uncomfortable.

        1. TRT Silver badge

          Re: no appreciation for foreign language films

          Not always true. I mean, yes, they did feel it necessary to make an English language version of Les Visiteurs, which was utter crap. But thank God no-one decided to do the same with Betty Blue.

  29. GrumpyKiwi

    A Matrix sequel?

    Why would you make a sequel to The Matrix which was perfect. Surely any kind of sequel would be full of crap clichés and waffle to the point of not being watchable, or at the least instantly forgettable.

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: A Matrix sequel?

      <Alec Guiness hand wave> there were no sequels to The Matrix </Alec Guiness hand wave>

  30. Starace
    Alert

    Not going to happen

    Zemeckis and Gale have been quite clear that there isn't going to be any BTTF reboot while they're alive and they own the rights.

    This is really well known so any story about a possible reboot or remake is just empty noise.

  31. Korev Silver badge
  32. 0laf
    WTF?

    Just clean up the old one and rerlease it to the cinema.

    Cheaper for the studio and I might actually pay to see it.

    If you must you can do a He-Man reboot, the film was crap so you've got a good base to work from

    1. Teiwaz

      If you must you can do a He-Man reboot, the film was crap so you've got a good base to work from

      Funnily, I grew up contemporaneous with He-Man, and didn't think the toys up to much and the cartoon lacking.

  33. Milton

    It's the Age of Stupid, stupid

    It's just more evidence that air pollution or radiation or social media or {enter your favourite hypothesised cause here} is causing a steady diminution of IQ worldwide.

    BttF is one of the few 80s film productions that my kids (born around the millennium) really enjoyed, and watched more than once. (Along with The Princess Bride, oddly enough.) It stands as the ideal film-school example of perfect casting, pacing and script: not a single wasted word, every line has a purpose, and even in BttF2 it pulls off the phenomenal trick of keeping you abreast of what is, when you think about, a dizzyingly complicated plot and timeline. That anyone would consider a remake is proof, should you need it, that Joe Public is as dumb as a stump.

    Considering Brexit and Trump and the general state of the world, from the citizens in the street to the rantings of a man-child in the White House, British ministers demonstrating towering ignorance on a daily basis, or the adolescent, ill-considered bletherings of Musk ... I dunno, maybe it's due to alien rays broadcast from orbit to stupefy the entire planet's population in preparation for a bloodless invasion.

    But yeah: we are now deeply, darkly into the Age of Stupid.

  34. DropBear
    Trollface

    No, no, no, folks!

    How could they not make a reboot of "Where Eagles Dare" yet?!? Or maybe "The Guns of Navarone"...? Come on, I have a whole list - and when we're done with it, we can just move on to John Wayne...!

    1. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
      Trollface

      Re: No, no, no, folks!

      How could they not make a reboot of "Where Eagles Dare" yet?!? Or maybe "The Guns of Navarone"...?

      "Where Vultures Dare"

      "More Guns of Navarone"

  35. MJI Silver badge

    BTTF is just right

    No remakes allowed

    Great series

  36. Wade Burchette

    The reboot I want ...

    ... is Star Wars episodes 1-3, and 7-8. And I want a clean slate. Take the original scripts and ideas of all 5 and throw them in a box and then burn the box and just for good measure hurl the ashes into the sun. However, if this is not feasible, at least nuke and burn episodes 1 and 8. Episode 8 was so bad that I decided to never see Solo nor episode 9.

    1. Teiwaz

      Re: The reboot I want ...

      ... is Star Wars episodes 1-3, and 7-8.

      Careful, Disney own it now. You might get what you wish for and it'll be filled with talking inanimate objects

      - do you really want to see Luke Skywalker bantering with his lightsabre???

      - Or hear Princess Leia singing a lonely duet with a piece of furniture while incarcerated in a cell on the Death Star?

      1. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
        Joke

        Re: The reboot I want ...

        - Or hear Princess Leia singing a lonely duet with a piece of furniture while incarcerated in a cell on the Death Star?

        That would be... "When You Wish Upon a Death Star"

    2. Voland's right hand Silver badge

      Re: The reboot I want ...

      I do not. IMHO, star Wars finished with Rogue 1.

      I am aware that this does not chime with Joe Average Star Wars fan. I do not care as it was much more of a proper movie than any other Star Wars episode. Only Empire Strikes Back in places comes close.

      I am not going to even consider buying Solo, Episode 8 and whatever follows. No point now. Everything which had to be said was said: "Hope, rebellions are built on hope".

  37. Florida1920
    Pint

    I'm happy

    Never saw the originals. Now I get to skip the reboot.

  38. Just An Engineer

    I think Caddy Shack 2 should get a reboot. The Original was so bad a reboot could not help but improve it.

  39. nath042

    Why not... Think up a fresh idea for a change?

  40. Patched Out

    I would vote for

    ... a remake of Eragon. The books were good. The movie killed the franchise before it could get started.

    I can think of several really awful movies where the story is deserving of a remake/reboot. Stop messing with the great classics!

  41. 89724102172714182892114I7551670349743096734346773478647892349863592355648544996312855148587659264921

    ...infecting the originals with Deepfakes would be a far lesser evil

  42. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Mushroom

    A Nightmare on Elm Street

    A Nightmare on Pennsylvania Avenue

    No administration official is safe from FreddieTrump

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