Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Right the first time


So, due to my condition (I'm a father) I had to watch "The Grinch who Stole Christmas" last night with my 6 year old. Now when he first said "Daddy, do you want to watch the Grinch?" I was all excited. My oldest, my boy. Falling in love with one of the Seussian classics. I couldn't have been prouder. Much to my chagrin, it turns out that what he wanted to watch was not the said classic but the Jim Carey rip-off. Now I have nothing against Jim Carey and like some of his movies. But really! Where do he and Ron Howard get off trying to redo something that was already done right.

All of this got me to thinking about the first holiday classic I watched that wasn't the original and how badly it turned out.

"It's a Wonderful Life." We all know it. I love this movie. And yes, it makes me tear. The part where George Bailey is on the bridge praying to get his life back....and then the snow starts to fall. Cue the water works.

When I was about 13, the family and I were sitting around watching t.v. when "It happened one Christmas" comes on. About ten minutes into the movie I'm thinking this is a rip-off. Marlo Thomas plays the part of George Baily and Wayne Rodgers plays his wife. What a piece of crap. At least compared to the original. (Which most people thought was a piece of crap when it was released.)

So sitting there last night with my oldest, cringing every time Jim Carey did (or didn't) do something like the original, reminded me that rarely is remake better than the original.

Any remakes you really hate?

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1 comment:

Dr Zibbs said...

I refuse to watch that new Grinch.