I’ll explain why I liked the Manchurian remake. First of all, I doubt anyone can argue that the acting wasn’t top notch–Denzel Washington, Jon Voight, Meryl Streep & a very underrated performance by Liev Schreiber as the tormented hypno-freak. I assume your objections to the Manchurian remake are based on the heresy of tampering with the original.

Fair enough, but I think the point was to take a dated Cold War story and use it to say something topical about today. In particular, the latest political ‘evil’ in the world seems to be coming from corporations. Who knows if it’s true (much like the threat of ‘evil’ commies) but the fact is we’re becoming increasingly concerned & skeptical toward the Halliburtons, Blackwaters and miscellaneous oil companies that seem to be making huge profits from war.

The Manchurian remake did a great job of fitting this classic story into the new context I mentioned. It’s a reflection of the times, just like Cold War paranoia was a reflection of the Kennedy era.

OK, there were a few really stupid things, like the stupid “microchip” (why didn’t they throw in a “flux capacitor” while they were at it), and I thought the romance angle was a little out of place. But I think these were just minor distractions. The main idea was to comment on how vulnerable the political process is to big $$$. I think the remake did a bang up job about that.

Oh, one last thing… I also liked the Solaris remake better than the original, but that’s just me. I was never too keen on Tarkovsky’s indulgent, 20-minute closeups of pond scum and highways. I mean, we’re not that dumb–we get the picture Tark! Let’s move along with the story. The Solaris remake cut out all the fluff and gave us a movie which, true, wasn’t as artistically challenging, but at least it didn’t come across as extravagant.

OH DUDE… STOP THE PRESSES… I just thought of one you *have* to put in your list ASAP…
“City of Angels”
Wim Wenders is turning over in his grave, and he’s not even dead yet.

one remake i would add would be I Am Legend. i liked Will Smith but was really unimpressed with the “vampires” and the “twist”. the original twist and vampires were much better and the whole role reversal idea was just a really great twist yet in I Am Legend it came off more as a zombie movie.

My theory is that there are only two good reasons for doing a remake: 1) The original did not reach its full potential whereas a remake might, e.g. The Thing (From Another World). 2) The original was based on a premise so potent that a good film maker could do a new take on it without diminishing the original or slavishly copying the original story, e.g. Dawn of the Dead. Oh, and shades of the Spanish Inquisition sketch, I’ve just thought of another one: 3) The original was done in a foreign language and setting, but would work well in a local setting and in English, e.g. Ring – and, perhaps, Let The Right One In.

And my addition to the list: The Haunting (as in the adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House).

Thanks for the contribution. I agree with you, all these should have made the list. Especially When a Stranger Calls and The Eye… Japanese horror films have a special place in my heart.

Black Christmas (2006)
Children of the Corn (2009)
The Eye (2008)
Fame (2009)
The Fog (2005)
Godzilla (1998)
The Longest Yard (2005)
Poseidon (2006)
Rollerball (2002)
The Stepford Wives (2004)
The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (2009)
When a Stranger Calls (2006)

Oh, and John, please learn the difference between your and you’re.