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Remember Drop Dead Fred? Yeah, They're Going to Remake It

BuzzSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:20:18 -0700

Ack! Hands off my childhood!

Sorry for the outburst, but, seriously, it's one thing, I suppose, to take successful '80s franchises like The Karate Kid and update them for a new generation. It's kind of another to just start randomly selecting one-off gems from my youth for the sole purpose of giving someone a starring vehicle.

When I first saw that Drop Dead Fred would be remade with Russell Brand in the lead, I immediately thought: "Oh, great. What's next, Beetlejuice?" And then I read this:

The first Fred was critically drubbed and commercially unsuccessful. But it did achieve a certain cult status and is considered a film that fell short of its full potential. The take for the new Fred is to make a film in the tone of Beetlejuice, building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends. Brand would play the trouble-making pal.

The original Drop Dead Fred was dark, weird, off-beat, and totally absorbing. Why remake it at all? Why not just write a movie for Russell Brand about a girl with a zany British guy for an imaginary friend? Is there anything good about this news, or does it just make you want to . . . well, you know, drop dead?

Source and Source

Remake News: Casting Mr. Miyagi and a Return to Eden

BuzzSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:30:19 -0800

Two remake-related items making news today:

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

Some thoughts:

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."
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 and Source

Jaden Smith = The Next Karate Kid?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:30:32 -0800

We all know that Hollywood is extremely remake-happy these days, so I'm not even going to resist the Karate Kid remake news because it was probably bound to happen, right? Now moving onto the casting: Jaden Smith is first in line to play the lead role, the Kid himself, in a new version of the 1984 pop culture staple. Variety has more info:

The script is being written by Chris Murphy, and the film will shoot next year in Beijing and other cities. While the new film will be set in that exotic locale, it will borrow elements of the original plot, wherein a bullied youth learns to stand up for himself with the help of an eccentric mentor.

The younger Smith, who next stars in The Day the Earth Stood Still, is a martial arts practitioner.

That little Jaden Smith is so adorable. Thoughts on the next Karate Kid? Are you annoyed this is being remade at all? If it has to happen, is Jaden a good fit?

Source and source

Which Is Better: A Remake or a Sequel?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 16:30:56 -0800

In a recent interview, Natalie Portman pooh-poohed the idea of making movie sequels - in particular she never wants to do a sequel to The Professional. Remakes, on the other hand, appear to be a different thing according to Natalie, as she is currently filming Brothers, a remake of the Danish movie Brødre.

Her point was basically that if a movie is good enough as it is, there's no need to make a sequel. But this doesn't hold true for remakes? Or if it does, then that means the original Brothers wasn't good enough so Portman and the filmmakers have taken it upon themselves to remake it?

What do you think? Are remakes okay, but sequels are bad? Or vice versa? Or are they both acceptable or unacceptable?

Source

Link Time! James Van der Beek Is Coming to The Forgotten

BuzzSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:30:35 -0700

James Van Der Beek will make an appearance on The Forgotten - The Ausiello Files
Woody Allen's next movie will be called You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - Vulture
Jay-Z will perform at the World Series this week - Pitchfork
Bravo has a new Top Chef spinoff in the works that's focused entirely on desserts - YumSugar
Keira Knightley will portray Eliza Doolittle in Joe Wright's My Fair Lady remake - Cinematical
Check out these two new leaked promos for 24 - The Wrap
Michael Hurwitz confirms that he's directing the Arrested Development movie - MTV Movies Blog
5 things you should know about the Battlestar Galactica spinoff Caprica - Pop Candy
Kristin Chenoweth is going to reprise her guest-starring role on Glee - PopWatch
Kenny Ortega drops out of directing the Footloose remake - Coming Soon

Watch, Pass, TiVo, or Rent: Fame

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:31 -0700

I had semi-cynical feelings about the remake of Fame when I first heard it was being cast, but flash ahead two years later, and the trailer has me kind of pumped to see it on Friday. The music numbers look flashy, and it's got So You Think You Can Dance alum Kherington Payne, so I fully expect to be toe-tapping in my seat.

But here's the dilemma: I also really loved the original Fame. The characters were just these fragile, but impassioned people - and there were pirouettes on cars! It will always have a place on my list of dance movies.

I still want to see this new version - 'cause basically I'll see any film that features Capezios - but I'm hoping that it's different enough from its predecessor so I can just enjoy it for what it is: a total guilty pleasure.

Are you going to check out Fame this weekend? Or will you wait until it comes out on DVD, so you can do your dancing at home?

New Charlie's Angels TV Show Planned on ABC

BuzzSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:30:27 -0800

Word is that ABC is close to finalizing a deal to bring another version of Charlie's Angels to TV.

This new series would be a "modern version" of the '70s hit, and yes, I know you're thinking that we already got a modern version with the 2000 movie Charlie's Angels and its sequel. Interestingly, Drew Barrymore is involved in this new series somehow (I'm guessing production), as is Leonard Goldberg who produced the original series. Josh Friedman (of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) will write and exec produce.

Whether or not you think it's a great idea to remake, it would provide plum prime time roles for three actresses. If you had your pick, who would you cast in this new series? I hear Mischa Barton and Ashlee Simpson need new gigs. I'm kidding, but what are your ideas?

Link Time! Taylor Swift Wins Entertainer of the Year at the CMAs

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:30:31 -0800

Taylor Swift is the youngest person ever to take the big CMAs prize - Watching TV
Where are all the women writers in late-night? - New York Times
Get to know the new guy on 30 Rock - Marc Malkin
Dawson's Creek scribe Kevin Williamson is working on a redo of The Bedroom Window - MTV Movies Blog
Harvey Keitel joins the cast of Little Fockers - ComingSoon
Sesame Street's five biggest controversies - TV Squad
Fright Night is getting a remake and the woman from Buffy the Vampire Slayer is behind it - Cinematical
Bill Clinton shares his thoughts on the ladies of Mad Men - TresSugar
Minnie Driver to guest star on Modern Family - Ausiello Files

Link Time! George Clooney Gets Behind A New TNT Show

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:30:05 -0700

George Clooney is signing on to exec-produce Delta Blues (with an Elvis impersonator cop!) for TNT - TV Squad
January Jones will star in the Nicolas Cage thriller The Hungry Rabbit Jumps - Coming Soon
The Short Circuit remake gets a director - MTV Movies Blog
Those DirectTV ads with Chris Farley and David Spade suffer some backlash - E! Online
Kristin Davis talks the Sex and the City sequel - Hollywood Crush
Lots of photos from this past weekend's CMJ Festival - Stereogum
Weezer and Lil Wayne's collaboration "Can't Stop Partying" is pretty darn catchy - Idolator
Check out this list of the best rock-'n'-roll movies - Rotten Tomatoes
Author Augusten Burroughs is working on two new TV series, one for CBS and one for Showtime - Movieline
Norah Jones plays a pirate in her new music video - HitFix
Just in time for Halloween: The 5 scariest TV episodes ever - TV.com
Plus, 10 girl-power inspired costumes (Bella Swan made the list!) - TresSugar

Adam Shankman to Direct Rock of Ages Movie Musical

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:30:28 -0700

Sometimes I forget that So You Think You Can Dance's Adam Shankman is also heavily involved in the movie biz - he directed 2007's remake Hairspray and recently produced 17 Again. Now the booty shakin' judge just scored a deal to direct and choreograph another movie musical, the Broadway hit Rock of Ages.

The stage show debuted in 2006 and revolves around the hits of '80s glam/hair/metal rock bands. It boosted the career of former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis, but he may not be reprising his role: Shankman remarked, "I'm thinking big, and absolutely am going to attempt to cast with movie stars. Now that musicals are working again, actors are much more open to it."

I've never seen the show, but I just read the listing of songs (think Journey and Bon Jovi) and now I'm dying to see it on stage and on the big screen. If you've seen it, what big names could you see starring?