Two remake-related items making news today:

1. The makers of The Karate Kid [1] remake have found their Mr. Miyagi in Jackie Chan [2].
2. The remake of East of Eden is really happening, as evidenced by the hiring of a director [3] (Tom Hooper, who directed John Adams [4]) and a screenwriter (Christopher Hampton, who wrote the Atonement [5] screenplay).

Some thoughts:

1. My feelings about a remake of The Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith aside, Mr. Miyagi is many things Jackie Chan isn't: Calm, reasonable, wise, deliberate. Jackie Chan is an entertaining guy but let's face it, he's totally spazzy high energy. I mean, I might actually die of laughter if I find myself in a movie theater watching Jackie Chan seriously delivering the line, "Wax on. Wax off."
2. And East of Eden. I really like the book and I understand why a director would want to try his hand at bringing this tale to the big screen (again), but the original version, starring the beautiful James Dean, is pretty perfect. It's a little sad but totally expected from Hollywood at this point.

What do you think of this news? Disappointing? Exciting? A little of both?

Source [6] and Source [7]