It’s common knowledge and opinion across the pop-culture space that majorstudio remakes of classic films are never as good as the originals.There are countless reasons for these being considered failures. Studios always manage to do remakes of films that were perfect before and had absolutely no reason to be remade whatsoever.The studio most infamous for doing this at the moment is Walt Disney Studios,but they’re not the only guilty party when it comes to the issue of terrible remakes.
Too often, though, the poor quality of the remakes is focused on far more than the stellar quality of the originals that came before. Rather than discussing how bad the remakes of films are,it’s time to take things in a more positive direction and talk about how great the originals of said remakes are.
Directed by Sam Raimi
The film that not only startedone of the best horror franchisesout there, but also helped kick-start the legendarySam Raimi’s career.The Evil Deadwas groundbreaking when it released in 1983 and continues to be to this day. For very good reason, too. It’s the definition of a cult classic andmanages to be the perfect combination of scary, genuine and silly all at once.It spawned an entire, well-reviewed franchise, which takes quality to do.
Compared to the 2013 reboot,Evil Dead, the original shines far brighter and that is mostly thanks to the genius mind of Sam Raimi. His inherent style and ability to balance tones is what madeThe Evil Deadso special in the first place. His creative touch is something that cannot be replicated and all it takes is one viewing of the film to see why. It’s his directorial debut, and he defines everything that would come to be tropes of the series.Evil Deadsimply lacks the sincerity thatThe Evil Deadcarries thanks to Raimi’s writing and directing.It’s one thing to follow up a classic with a sequel, but to remake it and try to capture that magic is a much harder task. For those looking for a good horror experience, returning toThe Evil Deadis the perfect choice.
The Evil Dead
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video
9’Ben-Hur' (1959)
Directed by William Wyler
Ben-Hurhas the best of both worlds when it comes to what makes a great film.It has grand and admirable spectacle while maintaining incredibly compelling charactersand a plot that keeps viewers engaged. The film depicts Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) as his family is taken into slavery due to him actively acting against the tyranny of the Roman Empire. Everything changes for him, though, when he has a chance encounter with Jesus Christ (Claude Heater), everything changes for him.
The comparison betweenBen-Hurand its 2016 reboot is astounding.The immense charm and tangibility of the completely practical sets makes the original film feel so much more genuineand real compared to the reboot, which was made in an era with far more visual effects and CGI. It’s said all the time in the modern day, but practical sets, stunts and effects just can’t be beaten in comparison to CGI.Ben-Huris one of the greatest examples of spectacle done well at such an early time in cinema history.
After a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend in 1st-century Jerusalem, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
8’The Karate Kid' (1984)
Directed by John G. Avildsen
Everyone, especially now (thanks toCobra Kai),knows the legend ofThe Karate Kid. Upon release,The Karate Kidtook over the worldand became an absolute staple of the 80s.Whether it be the masterfully choreographed and executed action or wonderful performances by the likes ofRalph Macchio,Pat MoritaandWilliam Zabka,The Karate Kidhas something for everyone. It went on to get a reboot starringJaden Smithand the legendaryJackie Chanin 2010. The reboot actually wasn’t bad and executed pretty well, which is a given if a film is going to have Jackie Chan. But one can only get so close to passing up a legend.
While the reboot actually has a lot of good changes (like the character of Dre Parker moving to China rather than Southern California), the original telling of this legend was simply too good to be passed up. The original’s choreography and character relationships are killer.The relationship between Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi is unbeatableand while Dre Parker and Mr. Han’s connection is great, it’s nothing compared to the original mentor and mentee.
The Next Karate Kid
7’Hellboy' (2004)
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Industry titan Guillermo del Torois, well, an industry titan. Bringing incredible films to life, likePacific Rim,The Shape of Waterand, of course,Hellboy. While it’s not a perfect film and certainly not one of Guillermo del Toro’s best, it’s a project that truly changed the landscape of superhero cinema when it was released in 2004. In short,Hellboywas a big risk for Sony Pictures and Dark Horse Entertainment.It was quite unlike the films surrounding it at the time, likeX-MenandSpider-Man.
But, against all odds, the film came out and critics praised del Toro’s commitment to the source material, his distinctly unique vision andRon Perlman’s engaging performance. It felt refreshing and while it wasn’t up to par with the likes ofSpider-Man 2(which came out the same year), it set itself apart and that allowed it to make a large, memorable impression on audiences.Which isn’t easy to do. Especially when it comes to the superhero genre.
A demon raised from infancy after being conjured by and rescued from the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness.
6’The Mummy' (1999)
Directed by Stephen Sommers
Everyone loves a goodBrendan Fraserfilm andThe Mummyis no exception.The Mummymay have opened to somewhat mixed reviews in 1999, butover time it’s become a certified cult classic.People’s views on the film also significantly increased in popularity when the 2017 reboot was released, starringTom Cruise. It’s arguable that the poor quality of the reboot helped people see the good aspects of the 1999 film (itself a re-imagining of a 1930s Universal monster movie, though still notable for clearly inspiring the inferior, charmless 2017 film).
The best part ofThe Mummyis, obviously, Brendan Fraser.Everyone loves him, especially now, after his incredible performance inThe Whaleand lost performance in the canceledBatgirlfilm. As people go back to reminisce on his career, they’ve found themselves finding more and more love for his past work.The Mummyalso has some great visuals that give a greatIndiana Jonesvibe. The action is exciting and engaging, making it a fun ride for everyone. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the reboot.
At an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.
5’The Lion King' (1994)
Directed by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff
The 2019 remake may be one of the highest grossing films of all time, but it’s nearly impossible to beat the original iteration ofThe Lion King. The 1994 film is an all-time classic and beloved by many.The songs are some of Disney’s best, the voice acting is phenomenal and the animation still holds up to this day.The characters are expressive and convey emotions in a convincing and captivating way. Everything sells well and keeps audiences invested.
This isn’t to say the remake isn’t good. Of the unnecessary remakes Disney has made,The Lion Kingis the best. But the original simplyholds the crown of beingone of the best Disney animated filmsof all time.Matthew Broderickportrays Simba so well that he simply disappears into the role. So much so that some people didn’t even realize it was him voicing Simba. He didn’t even change his voice much, but the emotion he puts into the future king makes him feel genuine and real in a way many voice actors haven’t.
The Lion King
Lion prince Simba and his father are targeted by his bitter uncle, who wants to ascend the throne himself.
4’A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984)
Directed by Wes Craven
Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) isone of the most iconic horror characters of all time.Alongside the likes of Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger cemented himself as a terrifying and iconic figure immediately with the release of his first film,A Nightmare on Elm Street.The film introduced concepts that had never really been done in the horror genre beforeand set a new standard for what would come in the future of the genre.
The design of the legendary villain is also incredibly well done.It’s unique and memorable, carving him into the memories of viewers everywhere.His burned and corroded skin paired with his deadly knife glove makes him something out of, well, a horror movie. He’s terrifying and gross, which made audiences both fear and fall in love with his design.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Teenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer with a bladed glove in their dreams, in which if they die, it kills them in real life.
3’Psycho' (1960)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcockis, by far, one of the most influential and popular directors of all time and his most iconic work is, arguably, the filmPsychois his best work. It’s one of the cornerstones of the horror genre and unforgettable in every way. It was remade in 1998, but it was always going to be an uphill battle to try and surpass and honor the legacy of the original.There’s a certain charm to the old filmmaking techniques and style of Hitchcock that is simply irreplaceable.
The biggest highlight ofPsychois the astonishing performances byAnthony PerkinsandJanet Leigh. Perkins' performance inPsychois often noted as one of the best performances of that generation. The film is a masterclass in filmmaking andis often featured in film schools as a must-watch for students,as it’s truly that good.
A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer’s client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
2’Oldboy' (2003)
Directed by Park Chan-wook
There is so much to love aboutPark Chan-wook’sOldboy. After being imprisoned for years, the protagonist, Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik) is freed and has five days to track down the man that kidnapped him in the first place. While, yes, there is plenty to love aboutOldboy, there’s one specific aspect of the film that stands out among the rest. The action within the project is some of the best there is in the genre.There’s one fight scene in specific that, to this day, is hailed as one of the greatest fight scenes in all cinema.
The action scene in the corridor, a “oner” (one continuous shot seemingly without cuts), is something of legend. It’s highly regarded across the entire film community and an absolute masterclass in fight choreography and execution. The sad truth is that the remake couldn’t recapture this masterpiece even if it had the biggest budget there is.Park Chan-wook’s directorial hand is something that can’t just be copied or replaced.
Not to mention, Choi Min-sik’s performance shakes the ground beneath the film and blows audiences away.
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days.
1’Ghost in the Shell' (1995)
Directed by Mizuho Nishikubo & Mamoru Oshii
Everyone knows it:Ghost in the Shellis one of the greatest animated films of the century.The commentary it provides on AI and how easily the line between human and sentient robots can blur is not only topical, butincredibly thought-provoking.While the live-action remake does touch on this a bit, it simply can’t capture the tasteful touch that directorsMizuho NishikuboandMamoru Oshiimanaged to in 1995. The writing of the film is very smart and genuine. It challenges the viewer’s mind and thoughts on technology, which is prevalent now more than ever.
The animation and overall production done by Bandai Visual, Production I.G and Manga Entertainment still holds up to this day and could easily go head-to-head with the animated films coming out in 2024.Ghost in the Shellis one of those films that is special and could easily be considered lightning in a bottle.What does it mean to be human?Ghost in the Shellleaves viewers to ponder the question,cementing the film and its message into their heads forever.
