I have watched a lot of movies and can only think of a few that need to be remade. I really even thought of bad movies that are good somehow. Or just bad movies, but I could only come up with a few that had the script that was strong enough to be remade. That’s the key. If the story and words aren’t good, it doesn’t matter what else is going on. Bad costumes, score, acting, special effects, none of it matters if the story and script are good. So, with all that, I have decided to make a short list of the movies I feel need to be remade. Since that list ended up so small I added a few books I want to see made into a movie, or movies.

The Philadelphia Story (1937) I know this is one of my favorite movies, but that’s why it’s on the list. You can see previous posts if you want the extra info on the movie. Hear me out on this one. I feel this one is due for an update. I would prefer to see the cast from the Jumanjii reboots to play the core characters. I can see Kevin Hart being a Jimmy Stewart. Dwayne, to some, plays the same character, like many feel Cary Grant did, so that’s a gimme. Karen Gillan is a perfect Katharine Hepburn type. Awkwafina. Jack Black, and Nick Jonas could easily fill in the other spots. Jack could be the Uncle or an older brother. Awkwafina would be great as the photographer. Nick could be a brother or the other love interest. As much as I’d like to see the kids be in the movie, there are no other core parts. Maybe a cameo at the engagement party? Or wedding? Either way, the chemistry the “in game” cast has makes me want to see them in more than just Jumanjii movies.

Highlander (!986- Thorn EMI) The original was Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, and Clancy Brown. They were brilliant and I cannot say anything bad about it other than being an American-Scot and truly offended at a Frenchman playing a Highlander with his thick French accent. I am all to aware that to most of the world there is no difference in a Scotsman and an Irishman, I call it Scirish. I’m off topic. I felt the acting and the script were good. This is one that could use an update due to the special effects. I’d like to see an actual Scotsman play Connor. They have most of the cast from the Outlander series to pick from. If Sam Heughan doesn’t want to be typecast, Richard Rankin, John Bell, or Steven Cree wouldn’t be a bad start. Of course Ramirez should be Antonio Banderas. I feel for the man who has to fill Clancy Brown’s shoes. I hear rumors of Hanry Cavill playing Connor, and I hate it. Henry is a good actor, but Connor MacLeod isn’t a Connan the Barbarian type character. He doesn’t need to be a big buff guy, just a believable swordsman. GI being what it is now, a flashback scene would be amazing, if done right.

This is all I have for movies that I’d like to see remade. My first choice for a book being made into a movie fits into the other category but since no one has done justice to the actual book, it’s going in the Book to Movie list

Frankenstein: Or a Modern Prometheus- Mary Shelley (originally printed in 1818) – When people make this book into something that is visible, and I refer to the plays that were done in the early years, they missed the point of the story. As the alternate name of the book suggests, this is about a man that created life only to turn his back on it after deeming it a creature. The Creature is more complex than anything I’ve seen so far. One version came close, but they like most people got caught up on how the Creature is made and not why. Mary Shelley hints at experiments. Gives names of scientists that were inspiration. She spends, and I’m being generous, three, yes, that’s 3, paragraphs on the creature being made and waking up. They were short enough paragraphs they could have been one long one. It may have even only been two, I’m in the mood to reread the book. She spends a good portion of the book on Victor’s life and why he became obsessed with death then life. Mary knows something about abandoned children, especially with the parent within reach. So, this is a book that needs a script by someone who understands the material and respects the work.

The Dark Angel Trilogy Meredith Ann Pierce (1982, 1984, 1990)- This is one that would probably be better animated. I think more of Dreamworks Animation, Disney would change too much. It’s a typical fantasy story for tweens, but it kept my attention enough that when I started with book 2, A Gathering of Gargoyles, I had to find the first book. I only mean typical on how it plays out, but not the story itself. She mixed mythology, science fiction, and fantasy really well. I put it as animated due to the skin tones and creatures in the story. The Chronicles of Narnia and Star War come to mind, but I don’t want to see people painted or a lot of CGI mixed with people. This will be better as an animated feature, or three.

I hope you agree or are curious to see the same. As for the books they are all available at every book outlet you want to find or purchase your book. The library should have Frankenstein, not sure about The Dark Angel, A Gathering of Gargoyles, and The Pearl of the Soul of the World. Good luck, they are worth the read. To get on my “high horse” or “soapbox” again, I cannot tell you how many times Irishmen play Scotsmen and Scotsmen play Irishmen. Liam Neeson and Gerald Butler come to mind. Look up their filmography, you’ll be surprised, or maybe not now.