By Anika Nale

Adapting old Hollywood film plots and screening them to a different generation is a tried and tested tactic used by many directors and producers. This practice has been often dubbed as ‘rebooting’ or ‘remaking’.

In 2017 alone, more than 20 remakes and adaptations are set to hit the screens including Wonder Woman and Baywatch. Disney cartoons such as Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin are also being turned into live-action remakes.

The American superhero film, Wonder Woman, is based on the DC comics character of the same name. Photo from: Wonder Woman Facebook page

Contrary to popular belief, reboots are not new to the film industry. Reboots started from classics such as the 1983 blockbuster film Scarface. Starring Al Pacino, the film was a remake of a 1932 film of the same name.

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Reboot of classic Scarface starring Al Pacino. Photo courtesy of: Movieposter.com

The notable difference is the higher quality of the remake. Also making the remake a brand-new experience are the better visual and sound effects, especially with the advanced application of computer-generated imagery (CGI) in Hollywood, the characters and/or those who portray them, and maybe even a few spoken lines here and there.

According to data analyzing blog, The Droid You’re Looking For, there were 122 remakes released between 2003 and 2012. Collectively, Rotten Tomatoes critics have rated these remakes with an average of 46 per cent. In contrast, the rating for the original films had a median score of 78 per cent. Remakes such as Ghostbusters (2016) may have enjoyed low critical prestige but it raked in at the box office a staggering total of US$12 billion.

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Ghostbusters proved itself successful with its booming box office rake-ins. Photo courtesy of: IMP Awards

Over the years, even as remakes have been critiqued by both renowned film critics and the public, they still remain the talk of the town.

The Guardian referred to the term “remake” as a taboo in Hollywood due to the fact that audiences are fed up with this profit-driven approach. The approach continually receives backlash but Hollywood does not show any signs of stopping the traditional profit-making film method.

 

So here are some movie remakes that will be screening this year:

1. Wonder Woman: Looks like Marvel heroes have revived its match. The universe continues to expand this year, following Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, with the newest Wonder Woman.

Release Date: Jun 2

2. Spider-Man: Homecoming: Peter Parker has been played by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and this year, by Tom Holland. Marvel Studios takes us back in time when Peter Parker aka Spider Man was in high school.

Release Date: Jul 7

Whether you think these reboots are a hit or miss, it’s worth finding out – if only to relive good old memories!