Original vs. Remake: Which is better?

[Godsgirl1983]

Taking a big, deep breath here, as this is the first poll style I've ever created (and I've got no idea what I'm doing with it )

I have recently been thinking about this topic in terms of music and was thinking of doing something with this in the music forums. But, after reading through @seoulsearch's Thunderous Throwback thread I realized that it goes so much further than just the music.

They do it to our music!
They do it to our movies!
And yes, they even do it to our video games!
(And I'm sure there's things they do this to that aren't even listed and if you think of them then please share).

The original of something ... or the remake?
Which version do you prefer?

Or maybe you are more inclined or peeved over movies that come out, then release a 2nd, 3rd 4th part to the story (Like Toy Story)?

I know, I know, most of us are inclined to say "The original of course!"
But every now and then a remake comes out that is done just as well or better than the original (or so I've heard a few people say).


So, in this thread, please share with us the original version (as far as you know it to be) and a remake of it and tell us which of the 2 you like better.
Then the rest of us will get the chance to (if we want to reply to it) tell you if we agree or disagree, and those of us who feel real adventurous (and so inclined to do so) can also talk about why we agree or disagree to which is better.

So, I'll start with this one.
This was actually what recently got me thinking about this topic.
I was driving along, listening to the Christian radio station one day and heard this older, familiar song.
And I was like "Hey! I remember this song!" But as it kept playing, I was like "No.. just no! This ISN'T my old familiar song! What did they do to it!!!!???" (In this case, I much prefer the original)

Original:

Remake:

 

[passion84god]

I prefer originals because they show creativity. Remakes, in my opinion, are for those with no creativity of their own.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness." - Oscar Wilde​

 

[seoulsearch]

AWESOME thread, GG, and GOOD JOB on putting up the poll!!

Many kudos to you!!!

I wrote about this in the other thread, but I hate the movie remakes they've come out with. From the "live-action" Disney slop to the butchering of some of my own favorite "classics," the result is just bland, boring slop.




And maybe this is just me, but you'd think anyone with a brain would know that trying to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger is a BAD idea right off the bat. Who on earth could compare to the personality and mad charisma he brings to most any character??!!!




Now, the scene where Alex Murphy is tortured and killed absolutely traumatized me in the original RoboCop, but I was never sorry for watching it. I loved the humanity they put into the story at the end where the company president says, "Nice shootin', kid! What's your name?"

And RoboCop, coming full circle with the humanity that never left him, says -- "Murphy." Even as a kid, that made me smile.

It's little touches like that, the things that pulled at your heartstrings, that I really miss from the movies I grew up with.

I don't know what it is about today's actors, but no one seems to have a personality or anything that really makes them stand out.




Christopher Reeve will always be "my" Superman. Yeah, today's movies have a lot better special effects and whatnot, but he played the role with heart and integrity (and refused to wear fake muscles, going to the gym and building up his physique on his own.)

I loved the way Mr. Reeve portrayed Clark Kent in such a humble manner. As a kid, I had a bigger crush on his Clark Kent than I did on Superman (because Clark, as a bumbling nerd, was so much more relatable to me.)

Now I do think Henry Cavill is very talented -- and of course, he's not exactly tough to look at -- but it just wasn't quite the same as Mr. Reeve.

I've been hearing lately that Mr. Cavill is slated to star in a remake of The Highlander:



I try to be optimistic but...

I'm pretty sure another one is about the bite the dust.

Le Sigh.

(I also gave up on movies and entertainment a long time ago. There just isn't anything worth watching.)

 

[seoulsearch]

And now we come to the example I'm most passionate about!!

When I started listening to the radio in the 80's, synthesizers were just starting to be used in a lot of mainstream pop music. I remember a lot of people hated it and said it was the end of "real" music, but I wasinstantly drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

MTV (Music Television) and music videos were also quite new, and since my family couldn't afford cable, the only time I could watch it was when I babysat for other families who had it.

In the fall of 1985, a song and its video hit the airwaves that would stay with me the rest of my life.

A-Ha's "Take On Me":





Not only did it have the synthesizer beat that captivated my ears, but I have loved comics and animation all my life, which is a major part of this video. In it, a young woman is reading a comic book in a coffee shop -- and the handsome lead character (and leader of the band, who is still cute to this day,) while still in the comic book, reaches out his animated hand and draws her into his world.

They run into some bad guys and he sends her back to her (our) world while fighting them off, but in the end -- he comes out of the comic to the real world to be with her. *SWOON*

Now THAT was my idea of a fairytale, and I was hooked!!! Forty-one years later, and I still have this song as my ringtone on my phone (and have for every phone I have ever owned.)

At that time, the technique for this style of animation was considered ground-breaking -- now I see YouTube videos of high school kids makin their own version of this video as their class projects.

Of course there have been remakes and remixes galore, but the one I like almost as much as the original is this:




It came out in the 90's, and the two songs sound almost identical.

And though they tried to do their own thing in their video with the brand-new computer animation that was available, it had the band saving the world from a virus, ignoring the romantic tone of the original.


I'm the type of person who relies on entertainment as an escape from the real world. In most cases, I want it to portray the version of life as we wish it all would be, not the way it really is.

I just want to see the bad guys get their due, and the hero of the story getting the girl and riding off into the sunset!!

Is that really too much to ask???

Le sigh.

 

[seoulsearch]

Quick correction: The second version of the song I mentioned actually came out in 2000.

I know it's kind of splitting hairs, since I said it came out in the '90s. But it was my fault for not looking it up specifically before posting.

I try very hard to make everything in my posts accurate to my own knowledge, even if it's just the year a song came out.

 

[passion84god]

In the fall of 1985, a song and its video hit the airwaves that would stay with me the rest of my life.

A-Ha's "Take On Me":

This is one of my favorite songs of all time! I don't know if you know this or not, but they did a slower acoustic remake of this song in the "Deadpool 2" movie. I like that version too, but the original is still better.​

This song contains probably my favorite lyric of all time from any secular song:

"Say after me, it's no better to be safe than sorry."

I definitely agree, but specifically when it comes to love.

 

[seoulsearch]

This is one of my favorite songs of all time! I don't know if you know this or not, but they did a slower acoustic remake of this song in the "Deadpool 2" movie. I like that version too, but the original is still better.​

This song contains probably my favorite lyric of all time from any secular song:

"Say after me, it's no better to be safe than sorry."

I definitely agree, but specifically when it comes to love.

I think I saw the movie but honestly can't remember it... But I have heard that version of that song, and for some reason, couldn't get into it.

There is a specific remix with the original band that adds a strong reggae vibe, and it's my favorite next to the original (the best version of this that I've heard is live on YouTube.)




I loved this band's early music, and collected about 4 of their albums (back when they were on cassettes, of course!) Unfortunately, they didn't take off in the USA, but had a big career in other countries. After a few years, I couldn't find their music here in the States (and this was before we could order things online.)

When the internet came into full swing, I looked them up again, but couldn't get into their later music. As expected, it grew with their experiences, and much of it was sad (the lead singer went through a bitter divorce, reflected in lyrics such as, "This is How It Has to Be -- No More Us, and No More We.")

Even after "Take On Me," most people don't realize they had a follow-up song as a sequel -- "The Sun Always Shines On Tv."




As a paraphrase to what I found on Wiki:

"The song and video explores the illusion of perfection by the media, continuing the 'Take On Me' storyline.

Shattered Fantasy: The video opens with the animated couple escaping into the real world. But rather than experiencing a happily-ever-after, the male lead begins to revert back to his hand-drawn form, forcing him to go back to the animated world while leaving her behind.

I was heartbroken when I found this video, even though we all know that's how real life works.

Since you liked "Take On Me" so much, you might also like their song, "Love Is Reason," which was on the same album. I don't know if it's on Spotify, but you can easily find it on YouTube.

It's great to meet another fan of this classic song!!

 

[Magenta]

I generally prefer the original, but in some cases, such as with this song, I heard Eric Clapton with
Derek and the Dominos' version of "Little Wing" before I ever heard the writer Jimi Hendrix's version
recorded in 1967, and always liked Eric's version better. Lyrically, it is one of several of Hendrix's songs
that reference an idealized feminine or guardian angel-like figure, and it is called one of his most
concise and melodically focused pieces. Eric's Derek and the Dominos' version was released in 1970.

The whole double LP Eric put out with Derek and the Dominos
was a favourite of mine for many years from my mid teens.

The 1960s: The modern synthesizer was revolutionized independently by Robert Moog (who developed
the legendary modular systems) and Don Buchla. These became the foundation for electronic music as
we know it. Founding Moody Blues keyboardist Mike Pinder used a modular Moog starting on their 1968
album In Search of the Lost Chord, followed by a very early Minimoog on A Question of Balance. Later
keyboardist Patrick Moraz utilized a custom Moog Double D and Polymoog. <- from a search @seoulsearch

Loved the Moody Blues. Just over the moon with them for a long time, especially during my guitar playing years.

 

[passion84god]

But I have heard that version of that song, and for some reason, couldn't get into it.​

Honestly, it didn't sound great when I listened to it before sending it to you. I am pretty sure that there is a live version of it that is much more moving. But, yea, the original is definitely one of my favorite songs of all time.

My phone is dying again, and I keep losing my signal too. I might stop by the library tomorrow to fully charge my phone and to catch up on some things online. I am definitely not a fan of power outages, but I probably have a few more days of it to endure.

Good night.​

 

[Lanolin]

You mean post an original song and it's remake/cover and we listen to it , and decide which one is better?

Regarding movies -- The most recent remake I saw, (not a sequel) was Mean Girls. Mean Girls 2004 twenty years later became Mean Girls 2024 and it was the same story sort of but had music added as it was a filmed broadway version of it.
Some original cast members made cameos in the movie and even played the same characters.
They sort of updated it to todays teens.

I didn't enjoy it as the remake Plastic girls were just pale shadows of the original and the remake Queen Bee wasn't sneaky mean but just rude and obnoxious.

Most remakes I don't like. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches...all got remade. They got embellished. I think when there's too much of that going on it loses it's original charm.

So yea that's what I think of movies remakes ---BOO.

Music I think it really depends. I can think of loads of covers and some I didn't even know were covers. Some are covers are great and leave the others for dust, but they don't make quite the same impact as the original. I will post a few but you'll have to look them up on youtube otherwise my posts are going to take up pages and pages.

 

[Magenta]

Some may think of a remake as something being done by another artist or band, but I think of
it also in terms of studio vs live. For many years many years ago, I did not want to listen to live
recordings so much as I wanted to hear what I had already heard and was used to. Of course
I went to concerts and enjoyed the live experience immensely; there was something we used
to call a "contact high" from the experience of being in a large crowd all gathered together to
groove to the sounds of one of our fave bands. I just looked it up to see what was said of such
an experience: A non-drug "contact high" is a natural, psychological, and physiological rush.
Also known as "vibrational resonance" or "frisson," it happens when a massive live crowd
shares an intense emotional peak—triggered by synchronized bass, collective euphoria, and
the sheer energy of the music. Eh, I got the feeling long before the music started. Anyways,
one of my favourite artists to watch now is Mark Knopfler in concert, doing some of his songs
from his many years as one of the founding member of Dire Straits. Each one is different and
I love them all, but Making Movies may be my favourite album of his, so some of those songs
especially... but this one has also really caught my attention, from his break-out debut LP of 1978.
And, of course? One of the things that make these recordings so great is that they are so different
from the originals, as the band members really jam out together on stage.

 

[Lanolin]

I will always Love you - Dolly Parton (OG) or Whitney Houston (cover?)
I can't help falling in love - Elvis or UB40?
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland or Eva Cassidy?
I think we're alone now - Tommy James and the Shondells or Tiffany?
The Locomotion - Little Eva or Kylie Minogue?
Will you still love me tomorrow - Shirelles or Amy Winehouse?
Ticket to Ride - The Beatles or Carpenters?
Papa Don't Preach - Madonna or Kelly Osbourne?
Killing me Softly - Roberta Flack or Lauryn Hill?

I'm sorry these are not really Christian songs, I don't listen to a lot of Christian radio, sadly. The one time I heard the 'updated' version of Amazing Grace with an extra verse in it, I was kind of...NOOOO. Again it was embellished and not quite in keeping with the original hymn. Then we had to sing in church and I didn't really like singing the modern version. lol

 

[Mem]

The OT Bible teacher I used to listen to a lot did a podcast about remakes and explained why there's so many of them. He said that imagination has suffered as successive generations take losses to their creative faculties (and I'm paraphrasing him because his vocabulary is much more developed than mine) because the ratio of the numbers of movies watch to the number of books read is heavily weighted toward movie watching, and he broke down the meaning of the word "amusement" to mean an activity we engage in which we don't have to think as "a-muse' literal translation, 'without think'. So, it's no wonder they now just take something someone else created, put a new hat on it and call it their own.

I did like Thomas Jane's Punisher though, but I haven't seen Dolf Lundgren's version. I figure it'd seem redundant if I watched it now.
With that said, I watched A Long Way Down exclusively because I'd read the book and wondered if the producer imagined it as I did, and came out of it thinking it was okay, but the book was better.

 

[Mem]

I forgot to mention the most important takeaway form the lesson. The distinction was made between watching movies and reading books where reading was explained as an exercise of spiritual faculties, the mind, comparing reading to hearing, while movies manipulate your emotions, your natural faculties, through your eyes and 'seeing' (and the tendency to believe what you see and thus more likely to be fooled).

 

[Lynx]

You mentioned video games. Video game remakes are a completely different topic.

Song and movie remakes are just repeats repeats repeats repeats rep... They can't think of anything new to do, so they do the old thing again and hope you will buy it. And they usually lose the aspect that made the original popular, so everybody hates the remake.

With video games though, now the technology is BETTER so we can (hopefully) make the game the way we wanted to make it back when technology was not so good. Back when we made the original game we had to work within such tight limitations that we couldn't make the level designs and show the graphics that we planned. And a lot of what we wanted include had to be cut out. But this time we can do it the way we intended.

Of course there are some totally soulless remakes that are obvious cash grabs, trying to milk gamer nostalgia for a few more bucks. But some - I'm thinking System Shock and Gothic I - really do make the game much better than the original ever was.

There are also fans who remake old games in a new game mod base. Skyblivion is attempting to use Skyrim's engine to remake the entire Oblivion game. I hope they succeed, because I tried Oblivion and it was even more janky than Skyrim.

 

[Lynx]

I mean yeah, I could complain about the game remakes that sucked... But tons of people, all over YouTube, are already complaining about those. And they are complaining about them better than I ever could. No way I can compete.

 

[JohnDB]

The latest pieces of productions named Superman and Super Girl belong in the cesspool they came out of.

Both are time and money you will never get back. Had to watch "Man of Steel " just to bleach my eyes.

I'm hopeful about Highlander.....

But no longer interested in anything Star Trek or Star Wars....they have absolutely destroyed those franchises....
Same with Justice League, Avengers, and since they killed Logan....no more X-men.

We need a hero....
Another Batman is NOT going to work.
Neither is another multiverse spiderman.
Tired of superheroes.
Tired of Zendia....
From Dune to everywhere.....find a new girl please!

Hail Mary was a nice change of pace.
A guy gets forced into a job and screwed over by his employers....because its believability is over the top.

Young Washington seems hopeful. Two more movies to go for that low budget series. We shall see if money messes it up. But they can literally AI the next two movies for $200k each and no one will be the wiser for it.

If I had money to invest in movies....I would rather put my money on low budget POS movies than big budget/A-list. The low budgets have a better return than the name brands.

 

[Lynx]

Y'all certainly should be aware that the Highlander remake will definitely be a flop. Everybody knows there can only be one...

 

[Lanolin]

I forgot to mention the most important takeaway form the lesson. The distinction was made between watching movies and reading books where reading was explained as an exercise of spiritual faculties, the mind, comparing reading to hearing, while movies manipulate your emotions, your natural faculties, through your eyes and 'seeing' (and the tendency to believe what you see and thus more likely to be fooled).

Suspending disbelief?

What about the New King James Bible, or the New Improved Version of the Holy Bible?

There's Bibles, then there's BUYbles!

 

[Lanolin]

I've heard the original english version of the Bible (sanctioned and authorized by King James himself!) was first published in 1611.

Since it's copyright has expired, and it's in the public domain, anyone can remake it.

There's AV and then there's TV....