Top 5 Movie Remakes - Which Hollywood Remake Outclasses the Original?

In Hollywood jargon, a remake is considered a success if it does well at the box office, but personally I consider a remake to be successful, only if it has equaled or improved on the magic created by it's predecessor.

If you think about it, we go to the cinema to be entertained, carried away to fantastic worlds and forget about the daily humdrum. Old Hollywood movies had great productions and glamorous actors that managed to enthrall millions and deeply affected the dreams of movie goers. Contemporary casts have big shoes to fill when they embark on a remake.

Here is a short list of my top five movie remakes, where thanks to great director's skills, mind blowing actor performances, and a touch of cgi effects, the modern version rightfully challenges and sometimes even outclasses the oldie.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Johnny Depp versus Gene Wilder. 1971 animation versus 2005 cgi effects. Who could possibly win? Though the 1971 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory will remain a classic favorite for many years to come, thanks to its poetic take on childhood fantasy, the mind blowing 2005 remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory transports the viewers to a totally different level. In the remake, the eccentric genius of director Tim Burton meets Johnny Depp's crazy interpretation of the eccentric Willy Wonka and mesmerizing computer generated imagery, to create an out of this world experience that is simply awe-inspiring.

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Sabrina

The 1954 movie directed by Billy Wilder with Humphrey Bogart, William Holden and the unforgettable Audrey Hepburn was one of my favorite movies as a teen and the turning point that made me fall in love with the glamorous Hollywood diva. The 1995 remake of this classic directed by Sydney Pollack with Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford as Sabrina Fairchild and Linus Larrabee had big shoes to fill, but did not disappoint. Though I still prefer the 1954 version to the 1995 Sabrina, both Sydney Pollack and the talented actors did a good job in recreating the magic of a modern Cinderella story where a stern millionaire falls in love with the chauffeur's daughter. I particularly liked Julia Ormond's interpretation of the sweet, wide eyed Sabrina and I was also sold on the love story between the young photographer (Sabrina) and the mature millionaire (Linus Larrabee). Finally I also appreciated the screen writers' slight tweaks to make the plot more contemporary, such as Sabrina becoming a photographer and the couple going for a helicopter ride.

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The Italian Job

The 1969 The Italian Job directed by Peter Collison with Michael Caine and Noel Coward, was an action packed caper movie about a plan to steal a gold shipment using mini coopers , jaguars and a bus, which soon became a classic. In the 2003 remake, the scenario moves from Italy to LA, where Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) and his gang of criminals (Charlize Theron , Jason Statham and Donald Sutherland) create the perfect plan to steal a gold bullion. I found the 2003 remake to be a fresh and exciting take on the older movie. The new Italian Job captured the intensity of the legendary mini cooper chase, and actors Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg gave a believable interpretation. In this case I definitely prefer the 2003 Italian Job as the adrenaline packed sequences literally make you jump on your seat and bite your nails, as you watch the cars chasing through the jam packed streets.

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Clash of the Titans

The new version of this 80's classic grossed well over $110 million at the box office in just a few days. In an era where Greek mythology and cgi effects are the new trend with hits like Percy Jackson and the lightening thief and Avatar, this action movie is sure to please the millions of moviegoers around the world. Thanks to the tremendous improvements in computer technology, the 2010's Clash of the Titans is light years away from the awkward looking animatronics of the 80's. Though I cannot say I am a big fan of the deficiencies in the script and Sam Wortington's interpretation of Persus, I don't regret the money spent to watch this movie as it can be considered a true visual masterpiece when compared to the original.

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Ocean's Eleven

Directed by Steven Soderberg with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts, the 2001 remake of the 60's classic with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin is a fun filled action packed remake that rapidly became a modern classic with a stash of sequels following the success of the original. Apart from the captivating plot and Soderberg's clever direction, what really compels me to see this movie over and over, is the great interpretation of the cast of stars and the palpable chemistry between the actors. In an era where computer technology seems to be dominating the movie world, it is great to dig out modern classics and see award winning actors giving an awesome interpretation.

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Works cited

www. en.wikipedia.org