Not that this has been a horrible year for movies, but it’s sad when you take a broad look at the cinematic landscape and realize that practically every relevant movie this summer…and even going back into the spring…has been a remake, sequel or adaptation of published material. This was hammered home last night at my second viewing of War of the Worlds, where it seemed every trailers was for a remake of some sort.
The eight films that I’ve seen thus far from 2005:
• Constantine – Comic book
• Sin City – Comic book
• Episode III – Prequel
• Crash – Original
• Be Cool – Sequel
• Batman Begins – Comic book
• Madagascar – Original
• War of the Worlds – Remake
This month is perhaps the worst. Friday night we get “Fantastic Four”, another comic book adaptation. A week later, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” drops, followed by a remake of “Bad News Bears” on the 22nd of July.
It would be wrong to cite this as a solid negative – Batman was an incredible film, blowing away its predecessors, War of the Worlds built strongly on the previous film (and radio/print adaptations, which it more closely allied to,) and Sin City (like the forthcoming and not anticipated at all by myself Fantastic Four) had never been seen on the big screen. Still, as interesting – I hesitate to use the word “good” – as this summer has been at the movies, there certainly hasn’t been much original thought in play.
And here I forgot all about “The Longest Yard,” mostly since I didn’t go see it. Or “Land of the Dead.” Not to mention “Bewitched.” And another “Herbie” movie. Not to mention “The Ring 2″ and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
The big movies this fall? “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” from Shrek director Andrew Adamson and “King Kong” from LOTR’s Peter Jackson.
Quick, somebody make another Godfather so we have a legitimate Oscar contender.