Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Forbidden Planet film not a remake?


From filmstalker, You know it's as if we're hearing this phrase on every project that bears a direct resemblance to a remake. Have a film titled the same as a previous film and with an amazingly similar plot that originally has the script being taken from the original script/film/novel? Well that'll not be a remake then, it's something different, honestly. That's now what J. Michael Straczynski is saying about his remake of Forbidden Planet.

For more on the whole remake/not a remake thing, see the current Filmstalker feature, in the meantime, here's what JMS is saying about his next story.

"It's not a remake. It's not a reimagining. It's not exactly a prequel. You'll have to see it. It's something that no one has thought of when it comes to this storyline."
Well what the hell is it then? You know I don't get this sometimes, when is a remake not a remake? Well I started to understand it when I went and explored it in the current Filmstalker feature, but when you hear things like this about a remake project you start wondering if they are just employing very good spin doctors. Surely it's just going to be a remake?

J. Michael Straczynski is most excited about the Forbidden Planet work though, he says over at MTV through First Showing:

"I've always wanted to do something involving Forbidden Planet...It's my favorite science-fiction film of all time...I told [producer] Joel [Silver] this is how you do 'Forbidden Planet' without pissing on the original that no one has ever thought of...When I told [the idea] to him, his eyes lit up."
Well it would seem that he's got a great idea for the film, and Joel Silver thought so too, although he probably saw money signs flashing up rather than a great and entertaining idea.

However JMS seems to have one thing set out in his head, this won't be a retro project, they're going for as cutting edge as they can get it, and quite right too. He's been working on getting the Krell as logically correct as possible, understanding what science would say these creatures would look like.

Still, I find it hard to understand why this isn't a remake considering all that has been said even in this interview. It's a remake of Forbidden Planet, however many twists they add, in isn't it?

1 comment:

Octopunk said...

I'm trying to remember what the first movie to do this "it's not a remake or a reboot or a sequel" shtick was, and I'm thinking... Star Trek? Or was it Incredible Hulk?

Point being, what have we got so far as actual end product that we can hold up to the outrageous "it's not" claims for comparison? Anyone?

I'm pretty sure Incredible Hulk had some nutball quotes from Avi Arad, but I haven't seen it.

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