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Added by SJMJ91

on 11 Sep 2010 07:46

 
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Best remakes.

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People who added this item 4309  Average listal rating (2855 ratings) 8  IMDB Rating 8.5 
1. The Departed (2006)
Original film: Infernal Affairs (2002)


Scorsese goes to remake number 2 after Cape Fear but this time features a breathtaking ensemble cast and became a lot more of a success by winning Best Picture 2006, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay (which is the first time a remake has ever done). To be honest, even if one never knew about it, I don't think anyone would be able to notice that this is in fact a remake.

BEST REMAKE EVER!


The Departed or Infernal Affairs? The Departed
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People who added this item 492  Average listal rating (314 ratings) 7.3  IMDB Rating 7.8 
2. The Ten Commandments (1956)
Original film: The Ten Commandments (1923)


Cecil DeMille does something that nobody had done before and hasn't been beaten since: made a remake of his own creation. I think perhaps he didn't receive as much credit or glory from the public with the '23 version and then decided to remake it and I am really glad he did. Made at a time where epic dramas were being made and becoming successful and I personally think that this is the best of the early costume dramas.

1956 version or 1923 version? Haven't seen the 1923 version yet so can't answer that..
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People who added this item 3792  Average listal rating (2580 ratings) 6.4  IMDB Rating 7.3 
3. King Kong (2005)
Original film: King Kong (1933)


This film is in fact a second remake of the original 1933 version (other being in 1976). This perhaps was made in this generation to compare effects, action and actors. It was very wise that Peter Jackson was the director of this because he already knows how to direct an epic film (like he did with Lord Of The Rings) but with King Kong, he shows that he is a great director of remaking older films. Where I think this one was better than the original was because this one shows that Kong does have a heart and a soul whereas in the original, he didn't really have any character. It never really expressed that. The remake, however, is one of the best remakes ever!

1933 version or 2005 version? Hmmm... I'd say the 2005 version.
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People who added this item 1389  Average listal rating (836 ratings) 7.8  IMDB Rating 7.9 
4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Original film: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009)


This being the second film adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo succeeds with a heavily positive critical reception, which is rarely the case of remakes in this generation. David Fincher who previously directed mystery-thriller Zodiac in 2007 executes this American version amazingly and neither tries to surpass the original version nor even lose any dark tone that came from it. It's definitely one of the greatest remakes in a long time.

2009 Swedish version or 2011 American version? Quite frankly, they are both as brilliant as each other in every aspect, but if there's one that I'd choose to watch regularly, it would be the Swedish version.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 1283  Average listal rating (848 ratings) 6.9  IMDB Rating 7.3 
5. Cape Fear (1991)
Original film: Cape Fear (1962)


Admittedly, I probably am one of the few people to love the remake over the original and like most remakes are compared to their originals, they are perhaps more popular by the public and receive a more positive response. I mean, seeing as this is a film from Martin Scorsese of all directors and stars Robert De Niro, it's obviously going to receive a better critical response than the original. Yeah, this remake obviously does take a lot from the original but it does something that the original doesn't really do that well for me: catches the audiences attention and keeps a strong firm hold on them. It is unlike Scorsese to do a film like this but I think it's something he should perhaps have another go at in the future (ohh wait a sec... he partly already has: Shutter Island).

1962 version or 1991 version? Easily the 1991 version!
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 3133  Average listal rating (1959 ratings) 7.9  IMDB Rating 8.3 
6. Scarface (1983)
Original film: Scarface (1932)


Well, I think this is perhaps the most overrated remake that has ever been made but despite that, it rightly deserves to be one of the best remakes that features one of the most badass characters you'll ever see in a film. The remake of Scarface is a lot longer than the original film duration (remake: 170 minutes, original: 93 minutes) and despite that both films begin and end the same way, I'm impressed that the remake was like an hour and a half longer but didn't feel too long or didn't get boring. Go, Al Pacino!

1932 version or 1983 version? Well, I really liked the original but I personally prefer the remake.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 647  Average listal rating (377 ratings) 6.4  IMDB Rating 6.8 
7. Fatal Attraction (1987)
Original film: Diversion (1980)
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People who added this item 3581  Average listal rating (2358 ratings) 6.7  IMDB Rating 7.2 
8. A Bug's Life (1998)
Original films: Seven Samurai (1954), The Magnificent Seven (1960)


Well, A Bug's Life isn't an official remake of Seven Samurai like The Magnificent Seven is but it is loosely based on that film because the story is almost the same, just characters look different and it's animated so I would still call it a remake. Clever because of this story, we actually saw in the world of insects and how they live their lives so it's a good biology lesson for us.

Is A Bug's Life better than Seven Samurai and/or The Magnificent Seven? Well, it's better than The Magnificent Seven but not as good as Seven Samurai.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 507  Average listal rating (344 ratings) 7.5  IMDB Rating 7.8 
9. The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Original film: Seven Samurai (1954)


This is perhaps the most appreciated remake that has ever been made. A very risky project to make seeing as it's a remake of the classic Seven Samurai but my oh my! It was so brilliant! Thankfully, it wasn't a shot-for-shot remake with the same screenplay and everything. It gives us something a bit different but still shows how amazing Seven Samurai is. One of the best remakes of all time.

Seven Samurai or The Magnificent Seven? Despite The Magnificent Seven is awesome, I still find Seven Samurai a better film.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 6418  Average listal rating (4248 ratings) 6.5  IMDB Rating 6.8 
10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
Original film: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)


I think I appreciate this remake more than the original because I never saw the original as a child (yes, that's true) and saw the remake before that one. Also, features a better actor as Willy Wonka and a better known and more famous director. It's funny because the title of the remake is Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and the film is more about Willy Wonka and the original is called Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory and that is more about Charlie. A visually stunning remake that only Tim Burton could direct and pull off so brilliantly!

1971 version or 2005 version? 2005 version
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People who added this item 1709  Average listal rating (1061 ratings) 6.6  IMDB Rating 7.2 
11. Insomnia (2002)
Original film: Insomnia (1997)
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People who added this item 2013  Average listal rating (1309 ratings) 7.8  IMDB Rating 8.3 
12. Heat (1995)
Original film: L.A. Takedown (1989)


Ironically directed by Michael Mann so he does what Cecil DeMille does with The Ten Commandments: remakes a film of his own creation.
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People who added this item 1891  Average listal rating (1325 ratings) 6.5  IMDB Rating 7.2 
13. True Lies (1994)
Original film: La Totale! (1991)
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 703  Average listal rating (392 ratings) 6.8  IMDB Rating 7.2 
14. Let Me In (2010)
Original film: Let The Right One In (2008)


Is Let Me In better than Let The Right One In? Ummmm... perhaps not because yeah the American remake was visually darker but it wasn't as scary or as emotional as the Swedish version is so think I prefer Let The Right One In.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 690  Average listal rating (416 ratings) 7.5  IMDB Rating 7.5 
15. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Original film: The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)


Hitchcock did the same with this one like Michael Mann did with Heat and L.A. Takedown and Cecil DeMille did with the 1923 and 1956 version of The Ten Commandments.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 1513  Average listal rating (974 ratings) 7.5  IMDB Rating 7.8 
16. True Grit (2010)
Original film: True Grit (1969)


The Coen's create a very successful remake. Acting was perfect from Jeff Bridges and honours John Wayne's performance in the original. It is darker than the original version but not as powerful for me.

What's the best? 1969 version or 2010 version? The original 1969 version, for me.
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 1963  Average listal rating (1168 ratings) 6.6  IMDB Rating 6.7 
17. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Original films: The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923), The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1939), The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1956)


Well, this is as much of a remake to the original 1939 version like the Disney Beauty And The Beast is to the 1946 version which includes same characters and story but there are differences like the ending and the fact it's a musical. It's a remake of four films of the same title.

What's the best? 1923 version, 1939 version, 1956 version or 1996 version? Well, only seen the 1996 Disney version so can't say what's the best so far..
SJMJ91's rating:

People who added this item 1290  Average listal rating (843 ratings) 7.5  IMDB Rating 7.8 
18. Scent of a Woman (1992)
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People who added this item 999  Average listal rating (594 ratings) 7.5  IMDB Rating 8.1 
19. Ben-Hur (1959)
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People who added this item 2734  Average listal rating (1664 ratings) 5.6  IMDB Rating 5.5 
20. 101 Dalmatians (1996)
Original film: 101 Dalmatians (1961)
SJMJ91's rating:



List of the best remakes that I've seen.
There are some in the list that are either loosely based from another film, are made into a full-length feature from either a TV-drama, short film or a TV short.
Yet I would call films made into another language from another one that is based upon a book (so, yeah a second film adaptation).

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Comments

Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago at Sep 20 17:51
the 12 angry men
12
Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago at Sep 20 21:18
Next you should do worst remakes list. Never mind, it'd be too long.
Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago at Sep 21 4:24
Haven't seen that remake.

Yeah I will :)
Posted: 6 months, 1 week ago at Nov 15 10:43
WHAT!?!?!?! you like the newer charlie and the chocolate factory better then the older...... weird
Posted: 4 months, 3 weeks ago at Jan 1 18:33
No, "Superman1014" it's not weird. It's different. You know, different opinions?
Posted: 4 months, 3 weeks ago at Jan 3 18:42
The Ten Commandments (1923)
prince of egipt
Posted: 4 months, 3 weeks ago at Jan 3 18:50
They are very similar, yes, but The Prince Of Egypt is not a direct remake but just an animated, children's version of the film that alters a few of the plot elements that were in the Bible. For example, in the Bible Moses wasn't raised by the Pharoah, Queen and as Rameses' younger brother. He was raised by the Pharoah's daughter. Also, the Pharoah (Rameses) tried to kill Moses in the Bible and The Ten Commandments whereas he didn't in The Prince Of Egypt and Moses never met his biological mother in The Prince Of Egypt but did in The Ten Commandments and the Bible.
So, that film may not have the precise 'historical' facts from its original sources (like most history films) but it's still a breathtaking take-on of the tale.

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