Do you still like Will Smith?

that's not really my question, but I thought it was a funny question. Really, I want to know how you feel about movies remaking old television shows, old movies, and just rehashing stories with different actors?

Jawbreaker-- Heathers, Cruel Intentions-- Dangerous Liasons, 10 Things I Hate About You-- Taming of the Shrew, Idle Hands-- Evil Dead 2.

Do you think the teen remakes should have stopped with Clueless (Emma)?

Or are you really excited about Jim Carey's Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Mike Myers' Scooby Doo?

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Answers

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

I was really liking Will Smith even when I heard about Wild Wild West and then I saw the preview and... ugh... I predict this movie will crash and burn not unlike a 50 foot tall spider. It just looks gawdawful and I don't know a single person that's excited about seeing it (unlike ID4 and MIB, which were pretty much guaranteed to succeed just on the strength of the previews).

But that's not even why I'm pissed at Will right now. I'm mad because on the MTV Movie Awards they played the stupid ass WWW song (which isn't even as good at the 80s version) and then they trot out poor Stevie "get me a decent gig" Wonder! Whatthefuck!? Stevie's singing along and these dunderheaded looking guys in leather vests (like hip hop Funboys) are prancing around. I kept wishing Stevie had done an Artist Formerly Known as Prince and had "SLAVE" sketched into his cheek. Or at least "CAST OF RENT: HELP ME." I don't want to be mean, but if Stevie could have seen what was dancing around him... sigh... poor Stevie Wonder...

As for remakes, some haven't been too bad (I liked Addams Family Values: Paul Rudnick rocks), and at this point, I'd pay to see Mike Myers do a remake of Heathcliffe and Marmaduke if that's what he felt compelled to throw his talent toward. Props on AP2: I nearly wet myself laughing.

o.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

Will Smith still gives props to my beloved Philly, and roots for the Sixers, so how could I not love the guy?? I'm not terribly upset about Wild Wild West not getting the good reception so far. It'll be moderately enjoyable, but not a disaster. I'll keep on liking The Fresh Prince anyway. But what I really can't wait to see is Dj Jazzy Jeff team up with the "Other Guy from WHAM" and Art Garfunkel.

I like some of the remakes out there, so I don't mind if people try it. Well, one exception -- Kevin Smith wrote a really good script for Superman that will never be produced, and the studio is now butchering the thing by letting Tim Burton get his dark-Batman mits on it, and letting Nick Cage wiggle his way into possibly getting the role of Superman!! God forbid -- a nasal, dopey, balding, skinny Superman. All I can think of is the SNL skit where John Belushi is the Hulk and someone says, "Boy, the Hulk really let himself go..."

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

Blech. I can't stand those teen re-makes like "10 Things..." I mean-READ! If you want a good story - READ ONE. Go to an actual play and force yourself to actually pay attention. Stop the madness of this MTV regurgitation of everything sacred! (The one exception here, of course, is Clueless which was truly hilarious.)

I am suprised you guys were so blown away by AP2. I went in expecting greatness and was slighly disappointed, I have to admit. There were definitely times when I was doubled over laughing but, then there were times when I wasn't laughing at all. Fat Bastard's toilet talk - too much. Gross in every way.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

I wasn't a big fan of Fat Bastard... although Chuy thought he was hilarious. What I thought was interesting were the moments with the full on bathroom humor-- everyone was quiet in the audience. Then they'd come back with some "Exorcist" joke and Myers had won the audience back. It was like we'd sit quietly through the "dumber" parts to get to the good stuff.

And there was enough good stuff in there that I didn't mind. Just like in the first one... I'd sit patiently through the three minute urination scene and the five minute "that's not my Swedish Penis Enlarger, baby" scene because it's worth it to me to hear Dr. Evil pissed about the sharks with "laser" beams attatched to their heads.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

I, too, found the AP2 extremely humourous. Except for Heather Graham. She got on my nerves with all her I'm-Roller-Girl-I'm-trying-not-to-laugh-at-funny-Mike-Myers. She had neat-o retro gear though.

Anyway, Dr. Evil and MiniMe were so hilarious that the movie was totally redeemed. I've gone to see it twice since it came out. (I know, I'm such a loser. Don't remind me.)

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

They're really doing a remake of WildWildWest? I saw that thing on the MTV awards and coudn't figure out what was going on... a bunch of black guys wearing cowboy outfits and one of them looked like Will Smith and then there was Stevie Wonder (who I always think of as "Little Stevie Wonder" of course) and I just stood there wondering what's up with that?

I think that the movie will probably be dumb, most remakes of old movies or movies based on old tv shows are lame... Addams family was a rare exception... But nothing can be as bad as "The Defenders"... what a turkey! I watched in horrified but bored fascination, a prisoner... trapped in economy seats on a flight from Hawaii to Chicago and they showed us The Defenders without collecting the $5 charge to make up for being late leaving the gate at Honolulu... I felt that I didn't get my money's worth...

My 14 yr old son saw Austin Powers last night and says it is so funny he wants to go again...

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

http://www.panix.com/~dangelo/aust.html is almost identical to what I thought about the Austin Powers sequel... it was certainly funny, mainly when Dr. Evil was on (Myers' one and only brilliant character) and one day Will Farrell will get a real vehicle to shine in, but it seemed like almost every joke or gag was present in some form in the original movie.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

Will Smith: can't dislike the guy but hate what he puts out. I was a huge fan of the WWW tv show (it came on the local station on Saturday afternoons when the only other thing on was golf and war movies) despite, and in a way because of, how cheesey it was. When I first heard about the movie and then heard the song I was horrified. But then I saw the end of his performance on the MTV awards and there's Jada in the audience clapping so hard and looking all proud and I thought, "Wow, they're such a great couple. Oh, Will's such a nice guy who cares what his music sounds like?" But then there's the movie. Now I like Kevin Kline and I think he'll do a fine job as Artemis. Will I'm not too sure about. My main problem is with Dr. Loveless. They've got Kenneth "Me and My Ego" Branagh. He might be able to do the refined side of the bad doctor, but (and imagine me yelling this) LOVELESS IS A MIDGET! Imagine Mini-Me in the 1880's and you've got Loveless. While he appreciated the finer things in life, he was always just a crazed dwarf.

That brings me to Austin Powers. What amazed me is that some people were offended by the language or certain jokes, but everybody loves the midget. Didn't anybody think "My god! That is meanest thing I've ever seen anyone do to a midget!"? Granted, I still thought it was funny as hell, but you have to admit that it doesn't give the best representation of the little people. Even wrestling gave them a tiny bit of dignity. I just wish people who are disgusted at the sight of liquid poo would think of that when they laugh their hiney's off at Mini-Me. It's all in bad taste, but that's part of what comedy is about. Trust me, the Monks have and will continue to do worse.

As for remakes, the concept itself isn't that bad. It just depends on the product. Some remakes (The Fly, for example) are really good (just don't get me started on the sequel, the best bad movie ever). A whole lot of them suck. But the idea of rehashing old stories itself is a remake. Even Shakespeare took old stories, legends and historical events and turned them into plays. The problem is that Shakespeare was a genius, most writers in Hollywood aren't. Either that or what good ideas they do have are hatcheted by the studio execs who think it won't sell as well as a tried-and-true formula. So what happens is you have to cast Keanu in a role and change the ending so the hero doesn't die, throw in some good PC messages, and add some chase scenes and montages so the Chemical Brothers and Blink 182 songs that were "inspired" by the movie can make the soundtrack. In the words of one of Mike Meyers' other characters "It's all crap!" The fact that some of it is original crap and some is recycled makes little difference.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

Ooh. Someone's mentioned Heather Graham. I just have to say that she totally seemed out of place with the rest of the cast. Mike Myers et al were hilarious and then there was Heather being... dull. Elizabeth Hurley was a lot more exciting.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 1999

Response to Will Smith, what will he do next?

In general I would prefer that movie people ignore old stories and be creative for a change, and barring that that they do it well when they rehash old stories.

I like most movies based on things, even if you have to completely ignore the fact that they are based on that something else (like dune, the four hour was pretty good, if you ignored the fact that it was supposed to be dune).

Although I really didn't like Austin powers 1 so I doubt I'll see the second one. I just didn't feel that that funny parts were worth the parts I found to be disgusting, but then I guess I am abnormal.

Although it is just a bit late, Miss Pamie, I thought I would pass this on anyways. Avon Skin So Soft will take gum right out of hair without having to cut it out.

-- Anonymous, June 15, 1999