What’s Ruining Remakes?
Despite a lackluster reception from critics, 2019’s The Lion King earned over 1.6 million dollars at the box office, making it the highest grossing computer animated movie of all time PHOTO COURTSEY Manuel Franco
December 2, 2022
No matter what enterainment medium you’re a fan of, remakes and reboots are almost impossible to escape.
In the film world, remake announcements have become as predictable as yearly summer action blockbusters. Disney’s animated movies Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella are a few that have been made into live action and CGI (computer-generated imagery) films.
It’s a similar case for video games. Just this year, we’ve seen remake announcements for games such as Lollipop Chainsaw, and Resident Evil 4.
While there are some genuinely good remakes that improve upon the original, those are few and far between. Most remakes are unnecessary at best and actively bad at worse.
The problem? An emphasis on hyper-realistic graphics over everything else.
Disney’s 2019 The Lion King is one of the most prominent cases of a remake suffering from an over-emphasis on realism. The exaggerated expressions and lively art style that made the original film so memorable were replaced by CGI animals that, while impressive and incredibly detailed on a technical level, lack the same charm and energy of its iconic predecessor. The end product is ultimately deprived of a real personality.
“As someone that grew up with a love for the 2D Disney films, watching the ‘realistic’ version on the big screen never gave me that same happiness that I found in the originals,” says COMPASS senior Alexandra Talavara, the Executive Director of the Millikan Gallery. “I’ve been an artist for my whole life, so seeing the emotion and artistic qualities disappear in the transformation was something that I was particularly unfond of, especially in The Lion King.”
Video game remakes often fall into the same trap. The last decade has seen many remakes of early 3D games, primarily from the Playstation 1 and 2 as well as the original Xbox. An upcoming one, Silent Hill 2, has stirred controversy online regarding its graphics and lighting choices. This shot in particular has people complaining that while the graphics are impressive, it lacks the same weight and horror aesthetic of the original game.
“The entire artistry has been taken down a level,” said one anonymous student when shown a comparison.
“The old one is a lot scarier,” said another. “It has a more haunted vibe with the shadows covering the eyes.”
Again, this isn’t to say that all remakes are bad or even unnecessary. There are legitimate reasons for remakes to be made: for video games, the original game controls may have aged poorly or purchasing the old console system is too expensive. For movies, the original film may have been lost overtime. The problem is not the existence of remakes, but the way that they’ve been made to prioritize realism over everything else.
It’s almost certain that we’ll be getting more and more remakes in the coming years both in film and in video games. Only time will tell whether this trend of realism over everything will continue to bring down the genre.
Isabella Torres • Feb 1, 2023 at 9:13 am
This article talks about remakes of 2D animated movies, such as the live action remakes of Beauty and Beast, Mulan, The Lion King, which are unnecessary and not needed in the world today. There are many pros and cons to live action remakes of the iconic Disney movies. One pro is that it gives us a sight of what these stories look like in real life and it brings life into the story. However, just as Wilson states in her article, the producers and makers of these remakes rely heavily on CGI and computers for these movies. This takes away the magic that these tales give and takes away the magic from watching them. When people say, you can’t beat the original, it is true. You never get the feeling of excitement and happiness of the remakes like how the original 2D animated movies gave. These movies were our childhood and it is pretty upsetting seeing these movies that we love get ruined. For example, the movie Mulan. Mulan has to be the worst remake that Disney could have made. It was nothing like the original. And although there are some decent remakes, such Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. They will never be as good as the originals. To add to Wilson’s argument, another thing that makes these remakes bad is the unoriginality, the loss of uniqueness. It shows how Disney is running out of story ideas, therefore they decide to remake old movies instead, movies that are unnecessary. In general, I agree with Wilson’s argument that live action remakes of Disney movies are unnecessary and just ruins the story.
Elijah • Dec 16, 2022 at 8:46 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article focuses on the growing production of remakes of classic movies and video games, and with that the loss of charm that the originals gave to all of us. The article mentions that a lot of these movies and media are being brought out by Disney, with their recent remakes of Beauty and the Beast, CInderella, and Mulan, and this new trend of using hyper-realistic graphics and CGI for live action remakes of originally animated movies. I have a few questions about recent video game remakes, as I’m not as familiar with video games as I am with movies. Are there any recent remakes that have completely ruined the charm of the original game? Have there been any that have improved the quality of the original? When did these remakes with hyper-realistic graphics start to become a new trend in media? Has there ever been a situation where the fan base has complained about the change in style and the production company alters it to appease the fans? Thank you for this article, it is very interesting and it informed me about this new situation with hyper-realistic graphics and CGI that I wasn’t aware of before.
Jacob Hirdler • Dec 15, 2022 at 1:14 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining
Remakes?” The article mentions how most modern remakes of both old movies and video games are only prioritizing realism at the expense of everything else. Prior to reading the article, my opinions of remakes of movies and video games have been the same as what you said about prioritizing realism. Most of the remakes of both video games and movies have lost the charm that people originally went to see it for. But, I would like to say this, I do agree with your stance on remakes, but I do think that it also introduces people to the thing that the remake is based on. People that saw the original would be the most frustrated with the remakes since they feel like it doesn’t live up to the original. Although the originals are better, remakes do fix a lot of what the original couldn’t, and it introduces new people to the franchise. The movie and video game would have modern tools to make it look better than the original, but they should also focus more on what made the franchise popular. Remakes are proven that they can succeed at expanding on the original. An example of this is the It movies, both chapter one and two showed that they can expand on the original and improve on the visual and storytelling.
Kaylee Monrroy • Dec 15, 2022 at 12:54 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article entitled , “ What’s Ruining Remakes”. She explains how over the years, there has been an increase in the number of remakes of various movies. Majority of these movies are iconic masterpieces that many individuals have grown up watching. However, as technology has improved, many producers want to remake these movies to have higher quality and make them more realistic. Although the quality of the movies are better, most of these remakes tend to lack the facial expressions and mannerisms that the audience adores so much. The live action Lion King is a great example. The characters didn’t have facial expressions and the characters simply looked unnatural and weird. This problem also has been occurring in the remaking of video games. There have been many complaints about how the remaking of video games has increased the graphics of the games, however they lack the same intensity that the games once had. It seems as if game makers and producers believe that higher graphics will make the movies and video games better than they had been. However they fail to realize that when they only focus on making these games and movies more realistic, it does not compensate for the fun and emotion that was now taken out of the film. I think it is great that Rebecca is talking about this because I believe that it was an underlying issue that many people had. Great job Rebecca!
Nina Mungcal • Dec 15, 2022 at 12:46 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article talks about how in recent years in the film world, remakes of classic animated movies have taken over. Companies like Disney have put out many remakes of classic movies within the past few years. I found it interesting how Disney’s 2019 The Lion King greatly profited despite having received so much criticism regarding its hyper-realism. It is interesting to read about different perspectives on CGI in today’s day and age. While some feel that we should make use of the advancements made in film technology, others feel that it shouldn’t be done to classics. While I do agree that some of the newer remakes of the classics with the best CGI have taken away from some of the nostalgia, I’m not completely against it. The live-action Disney movies such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella are great examples of adding modern technology to classic stories. The issue with incorporating new technology in the film world is that not everyone is going to like it. The opinions stated in the article are subjective and highlight the debate over whether or not hyper-realism is good. After reading this article, I’m more informed about the different perspectives on live-action remakes.
Angelika • Dec 12, 2022 at 1:15 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article entitled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article points out a common issue everyone deals with. Remakes of your favorite movie is just asking for disaster. There is not much that can go well. The issue, Wilson points out, is the emphasis on realistic imagery. She brings up Lion King. The cute animation that many found a connection with, was no longer present. These diminish in graphics is what solely doomed the movie for failure. Other than this good take, the author does a good job at bringing up the other side of things. It is possible to have good remakes, or at least remakes that are necessary. Wilson points out a good, unique reason why remakes are beneficial. Video games could be recreated due to the aging of consoles. This was a new, interesting take I would have never thought about, but it is very true. This author consistently does a good job of bringing up an argument, showing how both sides could be true, choosing a side, and then supporting that side. This topic was very interesting and it was something that I have thought about, but never this in depth. This article was very informative and entertaining.
Adrian Cheong • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:40 pm
On December 2 of 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article called “What’s Ruining Remakes?”. The article talks about remakes of things like movies and video games, and states that it is not the idea of remakes, but how companies are going about remaking these things which is causing much discontent within audiences and fans. I agree with the popular opinion of most fans, where I believe that remakes that go from very cartoony and kid-friendly to ultra-realistic 3 dimensional movies are very unnecessary, and take the fun and appeal out of the characters and art style. However, my belief really only applies to such kid movies like Disney movies, whereas things like remakes of horror games, I think, might have an extra layer of horror applied when it is more realistic. It is also nice to have access to old games on newer technologies with newer graphics and software, because it might better the experience of the player and enable them to enjoy the experience to the fullest. Even though most of these remakes are pointless and I could go on living without them, I still appreciate their attempt at trying something new and different. Thank you for writing an interesting topic.
Levi Diniakos • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:29 pm
December 9, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article mentions how classic movie remakes may be ruined. In the past, Disney has made lots of classic 2D movies, and many years later they have been remade into live action and CGI films. The article also states that the main problem is the use of hyper-realistic graphics in these movies. Wilson does a good job of providing convincing evidence to support her argument. As an example, she states that in the 2019 remake of The Lion King, the animals created by CGI didn’t have the same energy or charm as the original movie. This is a perfect example of a classic movie that was remade into an impressive CGI-based film, but was not nearly as good as the original movie. Wilson adds that video games experience downgrades too. She provides an example by stating that while the graphics in the remake of the horror game Silent Hill are impressive, it lacks the horror aesthetic of the original game. I also love how Wilson not only states her own opinion on the ruining of these remakes on classic movies and video games, but also includes the opinions of other people as well. Thank you for revealing what is the downside to CGI-based movies in the present era.
Sincerely,
Levi Diniakos, Grade 11
Natalie Ceja • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:24 pm
December 9, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article explains that most remakes aren’t as good as the original. But she also explains that not all are bad and some remakes have legitimate reasons. She goes on and explains the legitimate reasons and says for video games, it’s possible that the original game controls have degraded or that buying an outdated console system is too pricey. While for movies she explains that over time, it’s possible that the original movie was lost. Then she states that the issue with remakes is not their existence, but rather the method in which realism has been made to take precedence over all other factors. Movies and video games nowadays, unlike their cartoon forebears, want to include hyper-realism into their scenes as we develop more sophisticated technologies. She gives an example by mentioning Disney’s 2019 remake of The Lion King and explains that even though CGI creatures are remarkable and exceedingly realistic on a technical level, they just don’t have that same charm and vitality as the film’s legendary precursor due to their exaggerated expressions and colorful visual style. I like how you got a quote from a student to help support your evidence about the remake of The Lion King but I also think you should have gotten a quote from someone who liked the remake so we can get both perspectives. But I did like how you explained that not all remakes are bad and informed us on the topic so we can make our own opinions. Do you think that the number of remakes of tv shows, movies and video games are going to be increasing each year and do you think that most of the remakes are going to be hyper realistic?
Sincerely,
Natalie Ceja, Grade 11
Armando • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:19 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article mentions how some of the remakes of movies are good but most of them are pretty bad and made way differently whether its visuals or even the characters. Also compares how that the remakes are not only in movies but also very popular video games. I also liked how they gave an example of a movie such as ¨The Lion King¨ where they did a lot of the same things and also improved it but it just didn’t have the same energy or the excitement as the originals. They also provided feedback from other students that support what they said about ¨The Lion King¨ such as not being able to get the same emotion watching the remake than what they felt watching the original movie. This also goes for the same in their perspective on video game remakes are also getting made worse than the originals. They also get their feedback to support it from people that actually play the game so they give an actual opinion or fact. They give examples such as the game getting remade but making it worse because of art level not being the same or even the game not being as scary as when they first played the original. Thank you for providing this information because it is something I never thought about deeply but now I can see the differences they are talking about.
Yoseline Poveda • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:18 pm
I agree completely with your opinion and I’m glad that this is getting talked about because it is one of the many things I think about when it comes to the entertainment industry and its changes throughout the years. Although I do commend the usage of CGI because of how realistic it has become, I do think that we should leave iconic animations like Lion King alone because it’s the original that audiences know and love for their ability to portray emotions. It’s just not as comedic to see Pumbaa and Timon in their realistic, non-expressive character rather than in the animated original. Though I don’t mind the other types of remakes like the Disney princesses, they do not compare to the original because of the connection we all have to those. Especially to children, who are often the targeted audience, they would much rather watch animated versions of these movies because of the lack of realism and more animated approach. The inclusion of others students agreeing leads me to the conclusion that this opinion is more common than I thought, as I didn’t think that too many people would be so connected to the animations and possibly even enjoy realism over animated characteristics. Great article!
Yoseline Poveda • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:13 pm
I agree completely with your opinion and I’m glad that this is getting talked about because it is one of the many things I think about when it comes to the entertainment industry and its changes throughout the years. Although I do commend the usage of CGI because of how realistic it has become, I do think that we should leave iconic animations like Lion King alone because it’s the original that audiences know and love for their ability to portray emotions. It’s just not as comedic to see Pumbaa and Timon in their realistic, non-expressive character rather than in the animated original. Though I don’t mind the other types of remakes like the Disney princesses, they do not compare to the original because of the connection we all have to those. Especially to children, who are often the targeted audience, they would much rather watch animated versions of these movies because of the lack of realism and more animated approach. The inclusion of others students agreeing leads me to the conclusion that this opinion is more common than I thought, as I didn’t think that too many people would be so connected to the animations and possibly even enjoy realism over animated characteristics. Great article!
Chris Benitez • Dec 9, 2022 at 1:02 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article about “What’s Ruining Remakes?” Her article dives into why remakes don’t seem to be as good as the original. She explains that the implementation of CGI that looks amazing but seemingly takes away from the personality of the original. She references the new Lion King remake that looks ultra realistic and great but has some expressions and details that seem somewhat lifeless. Furthermore, she expresses another field that attempts remakes that often do not so well. She discusses the remake of the video game “Silent Hill 2” that sparked much controversy amongst gamers about the new graphical and lighting choices with many saying the game lacks the same weight and horror as the original. I think that this has become a consistent pattern in new-age media and most of these remakes are cash grabs as the passion and creativity are gone nowadays. Moreover, corporations seem to rush their creators into making incomplete project finishes quicker and less polished leading to bad movies or games that leave a bad taste in the audience’s mouth. Overall, this article is great and is a great article idea with some great examples.
Sofia Gonzalez • Dec 9, 2022 at 12:56 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” Her article explains that remakes of popular media, from movies to video games, tend to fall flat. They tend to focus too much on realism and incorporating the latest technology into their remake, and lose what made the original so enjoyable to begin with. One of the best examples that she used was Disney’s 2019 The Lion King. The film clearly was trying to showcase the technological advancements in a remake of one of their classic movies, but ultimately fell short. The original’s traditional animation allowed for much more expressiveness and exaggerations, and looking back, was better than its remake. I like how she noted that not all remakes were inherently bad, just that the majority of them tend to lose their focus on continuing the story in a creative way to make it as realistic as possible. I agree with Wilson in that any remake or reboot isn’t automatically terrible, it’s the way that it’s executed that makes the difference. Hyper-realism in media is good when the media they are trying to make calls for or benefits from it, but the problem comes from when hyper-realism is incorporated into media that didn’t need it in the first place.
Benjamin Truong • Dec 9, 2022 at 12:53 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled, “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The fact that movie/video game reboots and remakes are going for a more realistic approach is quite unfortunate. I find that more unique approaches, rather than overused concepts such as realism, should be practiced more. It would make the game/film feel more like a new product rather than just a copy and paste. While I must say that there are some good remakes such as The Jungle Book in 2016, I feel like most reboots are turning up to be rather dry. I totally agree with this article and believe that the media should push for more new and original ideas rather than remake them. Even sequels would probably be more fulfilling. What I found great about his article was that people were interviewed for their opinions on the matter which made this feel like it was a common interest. I also found the examples of movies and games to really serve their purpose and explain why this is an issue in the media industry. I believe that the creators behind these reboots probably have more interesting ideas and I’d like to see them be brought forth. Thank you for this interesting topic and an amazing article overall.
Angelique Rios • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:58 am
On December 2 of 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article mentions that sometimes remakes can be good and even better than the original, but the reality is, remakes are unnecessary and worse than the first movie. Even before reading this article I have always thought that most remakes are unnecessary. I understand why studios want to have a remake for certain movies but at the same time it doesn’t mean they should. An example of this is, the live action Mulan movie that came out in 2020. At first, I was so excited that they remade one of my favorite childhood movies but after watching it, I absolutely hated it and regretted wasting my time on it. I didn’t like how Disney changed the whole story line. Yes, she still was a female warrior but it was stupid how they changed the romance portion and that Shang Li wasnt even in the movie. I also despise the fact that in the live action, the falcon became a witch. If Disney truly wanted to make this movie then they should have called it something else because this movie is nothing like the movie I grew up with. This remake could have been good if they kept the same plot, instead I feel as if the script writers let us all down because they were lazy and didn’t care for the story of Mulan. In the end I truly believe original movies should be left alone, that almost all remakes are unnecessary. My one request for a remake is, if there is going to be one, at least keep the same plot.
jackson harney • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:20 am
You make a good point on how realism is over-hyping the computer generated imagery, but does it also make the movie more appealing to this new generation? Don´t get me wrong, I totally agree with the argument you are making, but is it the same for everyone? I feel like a lot of the younger kids are a lot more mature than when we were growing up, and this might be the reason why the movie industry is making these remakes, but in a more realistic fashion. Some statistics and a few more reviews would definitely help a lot in understanding the argument for why CGI is ruining remakes. Unfortunately, your point about the joy from watching the first movie and it not being matched by the remake, is true. The industries like Disney and Universal are just action-packing great movies, and it’s just not the same as the originals. They are doing this just for the money, and it’s ultimately ruining the genre. You made a great article regarding this flaw in the movie making industry, and I’m glad you´re bringing awareness to it.
Luis Chavez • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:16 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article called “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article points out the reasons why a lot of remakes of movies and video games aren’t as good or better than the originals. She also gives the reader the differences between remakes and the originals to prove her point. I wanted to say that when I was about to click on this article, I expected it to only be about movie remakes, but the writer also brought up video game remakes. It was a good idea to use video games as well because it shows how the problems that are addressed that cause remakes to disappoint are also found in video games. A big thing that contrasts the remakes and originals is the deep focus on realism. Wilson wrote about how the developers or producers of these remakes are prioritizing the realism in their works above everything else. So much focus on realism leads to the lack of other pieces of the films or games, like the feeling it is supposed to send to viewers, and the author did a good job pointing this out because it is one of the biggest reasons for the remakes being ruined. The writer did a good job overall answering the question that all movie watchers ask about why some remakes disappoint. It was also a good idea to show visuals of multiple remade Disney movies because it shows the readers exactly how realistic these live action and CGI remakes are like. Lastly, I would like to make a suggestion. I think that a picture of one of the original movies or video games should be put on there to let the readers compare and contrast them from each other. Thank you for explaining how remakes differ from their original versions and why they don’t live up to the originals too, this was an interesting article to read.
Estrella Rosaliano • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:13 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” Wilson states her opinion, not entirely in favor of movie and game remakes as it takes away the artistry and magic of the originals. Movies such as The Lion King, have been remade to be hyper-realistic with so much CGI, and while I agree it is incredibly impressive that technology has made it so far as to completely change the visuals of The Lion King, it is also incredibly unnecessary. While I myself can’t say I’ve seen the remake, let alone any of them, I believe it takes away from whatever Disney magic the original movie had when we first saw it and re-watched it. Of course at that point we were children, however now as a teenager I occasionally re-watch Mulan, finding it not only intriguing each time but also comforting and nostalgic. Something that the remakes can never achieve. Aside from all this, many of these remakes bring controversy to the original movie names, like the most recent The Little Mermaid remake, which brought about a lot of controversy on social media regarding Ariel’s skin color. While the POC representation in this remake is something to be proud of, as well as in many others, this debate wouldn’t have been brought about when it came to the original. As a child, I adored the movie and never thought once about the color of Ariel’s skin and quite frankly was okay with it. Growing up there was never a debate about it either. There are tons of issues regarding remakes ranging from the excessive hyper-realism to its controversies.
Lily Palmer • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:07 am
I immediately found the title of this article intriguing, especially since Disney has been making so many live-action remakes recently with varying degrees of success. I was interested to hear this writer’s opinion on why these remakes are so often worse than the originals, since it is hard to pinpoint one reason and many people disagree on this. I appreciated the insight that the emphasis on realism takes away from the charm of classic Disney animation, or the horror aspect of video games such as Silent Hill 2. I do believe that hyper-realism is a detriment, especially to Disney stories which are inherently unrealistic. However, I would disagree that this is the main reason as to why remakes fail to live up to the originals. While the realism of movies such as The Lion King may not be the best choice, it is still quite impressive and interesting to watch. I would argue that what makes these remakes worse is a combination of bad plot and a serious tone. The original Disney animated movies, while sometimes adhering to tropes, often break the mold in surprising ways and were new and interesting for their time. Disney live-action remakes make little effort to improve the plot, but when they do, such as in Mulan, it is not executed well and is met with poor reception. Additionally, the tone of the original animated movies is comedic, despite having serious elements. The live-action remakes have for the most part failed to live up to the comedy of the originals, and have taken on a more serious tone that is less enjoyable and entertaining to watch. However, I appreciate the perspective that this article takes, as it made me consider another possible reason for why remakes are worse than the originals. I also learned that this is an issue for video games as well as movies, which I was previously unaware of.
Rylee Noel • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:05 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The author talks about her opinion on the remake of movies but also about video games. She expresses how she isn’t fond of most remakes. She goes on to explain how the remakes don’t give the same effect as the originals. With the factors that come with the remakes she got multiple peoples opinions on how it affects the art industry and how its being “taken down a level”. Personally I also feel that remakes are never really as good as the originals, most of the time it feels as if it’s a separate movie being created. I understand when making a remake not all of the original actors want to be in the new version and I feel that is one of the biggest reasons why remakes aren’t as good. I feel as if you’re messing with the originality of something loved just to make a profit. Another thing is I feel as if the remake isn’t taken as seriously as the first that it just becomes neglected and corny. Lastly I don’t have too much knowledge about video games so I wouldn’t know how those compare but if they are anything like movies they probably just seem like knock offs.
Amelia Guzman • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:00 am
Your text regards the recent trend of remaking and rebooting various forms of media through a modern perspective. While the time invested does show in some films and video games, most of the time the original is far better than the remake. As you stated, these remakes truly lack personality and authenticity. With so many coming out in recent years, many have blended together in my mind because of the absence of cartoony expressions that defined the media before. Plenty of what are considered to be classic Disney movies have been reenacted with little true success because of the emphasis in hyper-realistic graphics. Before the start of the pandemic, my friends and I anticipated watching the Mulan remake together. Unfortunately, our schools shut down the Friday before our plans but when we got around to watching the movie at home, we were all frankly disappointed in how such a transformative movie seemed so dull. Embracing technology has become important in our everyday lives but the overuse of CGI bores many. I agree with the statement that remakes are not the problem but the prioritization in the remakes themselves is. Phenomenal article and good job!
Jamie Do • Dec 9, 2022 at 11:00 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article states her opinions on issues surrounding movie and game remakes. She mentions how there are good remakes out there that show genuine improvement, however most remakes fail to capture the art and emotions of the original. This is mainly caused by CGI and hyper-realistic graphics. For example, Disney’s 2019 The Lion King was faced with harsh criticism because the original art style and exaggerated emotions were replaced with realistic and CGI animals that lacked its original charm. I completely agree with your opinion because when I first watched the live-action version, I thought it was quite boring. Though it followed the same plot, it just didn’t have the same nostalgic feeling as the original. Though there are some Disney remakes that I like, I think that The Lion King was a great example of how some remakes will fail to live up to its expectations. Your article helped me to widen my knowledge and perspective about CGI in both movies and video games because it shows how there are both positives and negatives to it. In newer games and movies CGI has become a very important factor in developing it, but especially in remakes, it can definitely take away some of its original charm and beauty. Thank you for providing more information and awareness about this issue.
Ness Outler • Dec 9, 2022 at 10:58 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article talks about how a lot of the remakes of older movies are not that good compared to the original, and I completely agree with this. One thing I really like is that you brought up how the remakes of these older movies are focusing too much on trying to make it look as realistic as possible. I also like that you pointed out that the reason we liked a lot of these older movies, specifically Disney’s “The Lion King” was because of their fun and colorful art style. I like the idea of making a live action remake of these older movies, but like you said in the article, a lot of the remakes don’t have the same feel as the original. I also agree with you that there are definitely some good remakes, but they aren’t that common. I think that they should continue to keep making reboots and remakes of movies because some people really enjoy them, and if you don’t like the movie you can just keep watching the original. Thank you for writing about this topic and getting me to think more about it.
Thomas Kao • Dec 9, 2022 at 10:46 am
I highly enjoyed reading this article, the subject matter has been on many peoples’ minds over the past 5 or so years. I have participated in numerous conversations similarly bashing the lack of creativity that is put in by movie producers, too lazy to come up with an original script. Perhaps they are afraid of something new, and want to stick to a formula they know will work, and though it does, it really isn’t as good and loses some of its grandeur. I never thought to go into the graphic aspect of remakes. I tend to observe the similarities between plotlines rather than the artistic effects, but I now see the remakes in a new light. The different graphic styles between different movies is really what gives them their character and nostalgia. The reason we find them so fascinating is because they do not look like we see something in our day to day lives. I agree that the media really is making us more appreciative of the larger effects rather than the story behind. I believe in the future you could expand upon another nostalgic money grab, reboots. These remake adjacent money grabs try to continue a storyline and reinvigorate the nostalgia that is ingrained in our minds from the memory from the previous film. A popular example, Star Wars, that really went downhill after movie 7. This really does need to stop, I applaud your article.
Justin Kawamoto • Dec 9, 2022 at 10:45 am
On December 2, 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote the article ¨What’s Ruining Remakes?¨. This article talks about how the entertainment industry has now shifted its focus from old lively films to hyper realistic movies. She mentions The Lion King as an example showcasing how the animators took the old movie full of expression and removed many of the features due to the focus of the film being realistic. Another example of this was Beauty and the Beast where the movie took a turn from its predecessor and decided to go through with a more realistic route. While the movie was good, you could tell differences in how expressing each character was in comparison to the animated film. While I do agree that the film’s personality changes due to a new focus on realism, I wonder if nostalgia has anything to play with the opinions about the quality of the new films seen today. It is likely that most people now who have seen the older movies will carry some form of nostalgia for the old animation style and won’t be as receptive to the newer movies since it is vastly different from what they used to see in their childhood. Thank you for bringing this discussion to light about how the direction of newer movies and games could end up losing its personality with focus on realistic aspects.
Ryan Worden • Dec 9, 2022 at 10:45 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article discusses the topic of the remakes of old movies and video games. While some remakes improve upon the original, many fall short. In striving for realism, movies and video games are losing what makes them special, their character and quirks. The Lion King was one of my favorite movies when I was little because of how expressive and funny the characters were, but in the remake, while it was visually very appealing, it lost what I loved most about it. I can understand why they are made, especially movies that made a great deal of money, but I wonder if there is another style they could remake movies in that aren’t hyper realism. I appreciated that Wilson added both movies and video games into her argument, and backed it up by using student quotes. The Jungle Book was yet another movie that made their remake with CGI which took away a lot of the movie’s charm yet again. However, I do think that the combination of old movies with new technology is very interesting. I agree with this article completely that, in most cases, movie and video game remakes will never have the same charm that the originals do.
Maya Ng • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:48 am
On December 2, 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled, ¨What’s ruining Remakes?¨. It discusses how the rise of most film and video game remakes focus too much on the realism that it ruins the experience portrayed by the original copy. Two popular ones stated were The Lion King and Silent Hill 2, and how the artistry and graphics dropped a level. This fascinated me because I didn´t realize this was a controversial topic. I enjoy watching how 2D films would look in real life, but I do agree that the overall story line is better depicted in animation. They tend to lose the magical effect and characters tend to lose their personality. However, it’s kind of understandable why this happens because filmmakers can only do so much with CGI and since the film is a real life version, their options are more limited compared to the fluidity of animation. From what I saw in Mulan, the Mushu character was completely taken out and he was such an admirable addition to the film. As said in the article, there are legitimate reasons for remakes. I believe Mulan and Lion King live actions were made to better portray the true story that it was based on. Mulan was based on a popular Chinese legend and the Lion King on African history. For this to happen, I think they needed to get rid of some artistic qualities to focus more on the story and cultural aspects. Thank you, this was a great article.
Haley Evans • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:46 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s running remakes?” This article talks about how different movies, shows, and video games get remakes all the time. Some examples are Disney movies being remade into live-action films. Personally, I agree with Alexandra Talavara about the live-action films not being the same. The original will always hold a special place in my heart. It is a good addition that the editor added an outside view on this topic with someone who has experience with art. There is also a lot of good information that is presented, allowing the reader to understand the topic in further depth. I enjoy the examples presented to help the reader understand what the author is trying to say. This article is especially related to those who play video games or enjoy Disney films. The article also states that the new remakes don’t show the same emotions or feelings as the originals and how it is sometimes changed too much. I wonder if a lot of other people feel the same way about the new remakes being not as good as the originals. I also wonder if more people like the new realism of the remakes.
Aaniyah Pizarro • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:27 am
On December 9, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining remakes?” The article mentions the problem with hyper realistic graphics that remove the style and exaggerated expressions of the characters that make the movie likable, to an unreal personality. I agree that although the CGI is impressive, to make realistic animals however it takes away from the fun and somewhat goofiness of the movie. Along with other films such as Cinderella and her mice friends they took the funny personality out of them. I think Rebecca makes a good point, that the remakes aren’t bad, they’re just prioritizing realism over everything else. I agree that movies and video games should be marked if their controllers and systems have aged or the original movies have been lost over time and need revival. I believe it is because filmmakers are running out of ideas, so they look to the great movies in the past and remake them. Overall I agree with you again, that not all remakes are bad, there are just some that take too much realism. Thanks Rebecca for sharing your thoughts about the remake of movies and video games, this was a well written post.
Ryan Cuffaro • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:23 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article describes the recent trend of remaking old movies or video games into new live-action or CGI films. She mentions that the problem is not the remaking of the movies itself, but instead that film directors have prioritized realism. I have to agree with this because as someone who’s watched all of the original Disney cartoon movies such as Lion King or Beauty and the Beast, they easily are way better than the newer versions. Although hyper-realistic graphics may be visually appealing and a new innovative feature to have, most people think that the old iconic graphics were better when it comes to remakes. This is because of a decrease in emotion and charm that were seen in the original movies. I also liked how you mentioned that not all remakes are bad and that some actually improve because it shows that remakes have the potential to be really good. I thought this article was a very interesting topic and should be talked about more often so that in the future, film directors will keep more similar graphics to appeal to the people. Overall, thank you for writing this article, and can’t wait to see what film remakes look like in the future.
Ethan Marasigan • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:22 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled, “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article touches upon her opinion on modern remakes of old films and video games. She brings up how this new age of “realism” in these remakes does not bring the same happiness as the old 2D versions. It is said that it may actually be making these video games and movies downgrade. I found the pictures to help demonstrate how these films are different from their counterparts. I feel like the example of the Lion King shows exactly what you were trying to say. In my opinion, I think that people could’ve done without the new film being made and that it does not bring nostalgia like the original one. One question that sparked my interest is if original films will ever take priority in the industry again, or has the modern way taken over forever? Also, what had even led to people prioritizing these CGI/3D remakes? There are some times when I hope that 3D versions of something are made, but there are other times when I think something should just be left as it is or just give a better feeling in the original 2D version. Thank you for spreading information about this topic.
Lucian Rankin • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:21 am
On December 9th, 2022, Rebeca Wilson wrote an article named “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article talks alot about the various new remakes and I can agree wholeheartedly that the new animation style just lacks the same feel. I remember in particular in the lion king movie, when Mufasa falls to his death Simba does his yell screaming “No!” but his face is completely unchanged and emotionless. Another good example is the new IT movies, really good movies, but just not scary at all. I was watching it at a halloween party and I was laughing at half of the scenes, it was like a joke, not tense at all. They try to make things hyper realistic to engage the audience, but really, it just doesn’t work at all. Sometimes simple images or non realistic looks can remain in the audience’s mind. It reminds me of a controversy in the Halo show on paramount. They gave Master Chief, easily one of the most iconic looks in gaming with his signature helmet, a face. They had him act without his helmet on for large portions of the show, and people disliked this greatly. When asked why, the producers claimed that major characters need to have a face to become recognizable to the audience. Big movie companies just take original characters and IP’s and alter them for the worse. But maybe it’s intentional? Think about all the crap remakes out there, and all the attention they receive? Interesting thoughts. Anyway, very good article. Nice job.
Ricardo Guzman • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:17 am
On December 2nd, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” In the article, Ms. Wilson goes in-depth into a specific reason why remakes haven’t been done well; realism. She describes that, simply, many remakes focus too much on the “visuals” aspect, and too little on the rest. While I do agree that this is one facet holding remakes from their full potential, I must say, there is an unreachable height that many want remakes to hit. The nostalgia given from when children first watched the stories/video games made so long ago is something that can never be remade. Case in point, The Lion King, as well as its adaptation. There is no possibility, no matter what the movie turned out to be, that the feeling many got as children could be remade. When many first watched the animated movie, they were simply kids, amazed at what was being presented to them. It was a different time. We all had different lives. While we should hold movies to a certain standard, we shouldn’t feel the need to compare them to their original versions. Instead, we should simply enjoy the movie for what it truly is, an adaptation just trying to give a fun spin on an old movie. Once we forget about the feelings attached to the old movie, we can just have fun.
Amelia Haberland • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:16 am
I had never thought of this being the reason why the characters produced by CGI looked so dead or drained of life. I can’t speak on video games and their quality since I’ve never taken the time to play them but with movies or tv shows the realism that producers try to achieve and the emotion that they lose on the way really does negatively affect the quality of the film. The example that you focused on, Lion King, is a really great instance where this idea is put into effect. When Mufasa talks to Simba, the emotion in their eyes and bodily or facial expressions just aren’t the same. However, I think an instance where this isn’t true is in The Jungle Book remake. Of course, Mowgli wasn’t CGI, he was the only real-life actor, but in my opinion, the rest of the animals, like the wolves, Baloo, and especially King Louie looked pretty alive and expressive. All in all, though, I see the point. Films like Sonic, and as you mentioned, Lion King were a bad use of CGI in live-action remakes.
Ryan Cuffaro • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:16 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article describes the recent trend of remaking old movies or video games into new live action or CGI films. She mentions that the problem is not the remaking of the movies itself, but instead that film directors have prioritized realism. I have to agree with this because as someone who’s watched all of the original Disney cartoon movies such as Lion King or Beauty and the Beast, they easily are way better than the newer versions. Although hyper-realistic graphics may be visually appealing and a new innovative feature to have, most people think that the old iconic graphics were better when it comes to remakes. This is because of a decrease in emotion and charm that were clearly seen in the original movies. I also liked how you mentioned that not all remakes are bad and that some actually improve because it shows that remakes have the potential to be really good. I thought this article was a very interesting topic and should be talked about more often so that in the future, film directors will keep more similar graphics to appeal to the people. Overall, thank you for writing this article and can’t wait to see what film remakes look like in the future.
Ashley Oelmann • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:10 am
More into the 21st century, with technology advancing and getting more ‘futuristic,’ it really seems to be depriving the original personality and excitement of the iconic films. In my opinion, I think many big companies like Disney are switching to turning the late 1900’s films to realism because it is really hard to not accidentally copyright something, and everything you think of probably already exists. In short, they ran out of ideas. It is really shocking how far we are going filmwise in the past few decades, but it would honestly be better if disney stuck to 2D art, and not be like Paramount and Universal pictures. I would have to agree that we have become so focused on creating realism, that it takes away from the big picture of the shows we once knew. The uniqueness of the 2D art with both the film and video game industries are degraded by the futuristic realism CGI animals that the future generations will grow up with. It’s very sad knowing that what we know now will most likely fade into the void of the realistic internet until some generation stumbles upon it and it becomes “The Latest Trend.”
Karen Coca • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:08 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article talks about how realism is ruining remakes. Although I do agree that remakes are not a bad thing, sometimes it really isn’t necessary, since they are either much worse than the original or they just don’t have the same feel or charm as the original. The need for realism in all remakes just completely ruins the whole feel of the original movie. Since 2D animation made it possible to be more expressive and wacky, the switch to 3D or live action just does not let them have a charm to the characters. They seem more like lifeless puppets more than anything. The same could be said for games. I have played many games in my time and I have always enjoyed 2D games more than 3D ones. The 3D models, if done incorrectly, look very lifeless and stiff. While with 2D, they look more alive and expressive. Overall, I really enjoy how this was written since it takes a look at both sides of the picture. Although there are a few grammatical errors here and there, I personally enjoyed reading the article and would recommend it to others.
Emarie Garcia • Dec 8, 2022 at 2:03 pm
December 8th, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On the 2nd of December 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?”, where the article goes over how remakes on iconic films take away from the charm of the original film/video game. Though I partially agree with the statement made by Rebecca, another part of me believes that remakes revive the recognition/vitality of films. An example I would like to make for my belief is the remake for the anime known as One Piece. Yes, I will admit that it wasn’t nearly as iconic as the authentic version, but the part about it that really stuck with me was the fact that the film reached an audience that was vastly unlike those who watch Anime, which gives everyone some sort of chance to give that form of subculture a shot. However, I do agree that there are some examples of remakes that do not highlight the original well at all; as there are a majority of remakes that try to modernize the film in a way that diminishes the life of the original/non-modernized film. Thank you Rebecca Wilson for writing such an article, as I enjoyed reading and writing about this topic!
Emarie Garcia, Grade 11
Chris • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:55 pm
The article mentions how the remaking or rebooting of movies are being ruined because of the change in main ideas, emotion/quality, etc. Overall the realism is also what is ruining the remakes, to summarize the paper. In my opinion the remakes or reboots prioritizing realism is okay. It gives a sense of new and of course nothing beats the original film. So you can’t have every aspect of the movie the same, and adding a sense of realism to a 2D Disney Film can be awesome. My reaction to watching “ The Lion King” in its remake was thinking the movie was good because of the realism. Again it brings a sense of new, still had aspects of the original movie that most people love, and it brings back memories to the past from the original. You can relate the movies to each other and see how advanced everything has gotten over time, as well as the progression and changes over time too. I like how you give a piece of argument to having a remake or reboot done can be good but overall I believe it comes down to an opinion based argument.
Aaron Mata • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:54 pm
On December 2, 2022 Rebecca Wilson wrote an article entitled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article focuses on the common theme of old blockbusters and video games being remade with modern technology. I think the article makes a good point about a remake sometimes being needed to bring a lost media back into modern times. However, the article is all too accurate when mentioning most remakes being actively bad at their worst. Wilson takes an interesting stance on the issue saying that this is due to the studio’s focus on hyper realism. After reading her article, I am convinced that too much emphasis on using modern techniques to make a more realistic version of an old movie is what kills the magic that the original version had. I do have to disagree, however, that this is also true for video games. I think adding a hyper realistic feel to games makes for a more immersive experience. I do like how Wilson interviewed an artist from the Millikan Gallery when going over evolving art styles. I think that interviewing a student with some form of credibility and experience adds to the effectiveness of the piece. However, I don’t like the use of anonymous sources and think that an overall survey or providing background on the students would have proven more effective. Overall, I think Wilson wrote an extremely interesting article with good student input and had an interesting take on the issue.
Jewel Kennedy • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:54 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson published an article titled, “What’s Ruining Remakes?” To begin, the title is eye-catching and immediately drew my attention. As a watcher of movies, I have seen many remakes. While I have my own opinion on the topic, I was interested in hearing another stance on it. The piece gets straight to the point behind why remakes fail, which is from an overemphasis on realism. While technology is advancing, the new graphics and CGI lack a certain characteristic. The article explains that new adaptations do not possess the charisma of originals. Following this, a different individual’s opinion on the topic was obtained and that was from the Executive Director of the Millikan Gallery was interviewed. Alexandra Talavara made a comment in agreement that producers focus on realism at the expense of the story’s emotional aspect. By sharing another source’s take on the matter, the article’s argument sounds more valid and the author comes across as trustworthy. The piece progresses with a statement that essentially says not all remakes are a failure, which is completely reasonable. I applaud the article for taking a realistic stance and not stating that all remakes are terrible. Additionally, I appreciate how this complex topic was broken down in a way that makes complete sense for those who are uneducated on the topic. Overall, I found this piece a good read and I hope to read an updated opinion on how the trend of remakes has progressed.
Andrew Mena • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:47 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” In the article, she expresses her opinion on the recent surge of both movie and video game remakes over the past few years and how most seem to inevitably fail when trying to live up to its predecessor. Her main reason involves the improved graphical quality of the remakes and the creators tendency to go with a hyper-realistic approach to take full advantage of modern-day technology and give a fresh coat of paint on an old project. However, judging from Rebecca’s perspective, the “fresh coat of paint” is actually an unpleasant rehaul, as she claims that giving movies such incredibly detailed CGI and video games hyper realistic graphics take away from the overall atmosphere and experience that the originals possessed. In her main example, the movie The Lion King, she claims that the film’s new visuals, although incredibly beautiful and detailed on a technical level, lacked the atmosphere and energy previously provided by the original film, with its vibrant colors, expressive characters, and childish charm. Although I have not seen the movie, I do share this outlook with Rebecca, and believe that movies like these if chosen to be remade should keep in mind the atmosphere that the original produced, because if the remake doesn’t capture that aspect, then it won’t feel like a remake of a classic but instead an entirely different movie, and The Lion King is a great example of that. Fortunately, Rebecca interviews someone who has watched the movie and also has a career in art, and she shares a similar opinion on the movie, which makes me feel more confident that my assumptions are correct. Although this movie seems to emanate the idea that giving movies realistic imagery is a bad thing, this is far from true, as there are several cases in which taking this route actually proved highly successful for the film’s producers/directors. A prime example of this is the 2010 movie Alice in Wonderland which was remade with real-life actors and filmed in both the outside and a cgi-studio, and was received well enough by the audience to follow up with a sequel or two. I also appreciate that Rebecca seems to be considerate for those who are less knowledgeable about films and more about video games like myself when she also covers the topic of video game remakes and includes the recently announced Silent Hill 2 remake with its heavily revamped graphics. However, in this case, I seem to take on a different opinion than those that are interviewed in the article, and actually enjoy this new look on a horror classic. I believe that including hyper-realistic graphics not only give these games new life on current-generation gaming consoles and computers, but also add even more to the fear-factor that these games were trying to encompass when they first released decades ago and were unable to fully replicate the expressions, sounds, and imagery that were present in the films produced during this same time, and for a game like Silent Hill 2 which just recently passed 20 years, I only see positive outcomes from its remake’s release. Despite all of these negatives which arise when comparing the new to the old, we also have to take into perspective one of the key marketing strategies for essentially re-releasing an old project, and that is to bring in new consumers to the franchise and give an old experience to new people. There have been numerous game remakes I have played without even touching the original, and after putting the controller down, I am left with an enjoyable experience and fond memories of the game’s story, mechanics, and graphics which may or may be the exact same as its original version which sometimes even predates myself. This is not only the case for me but also hundreds or even thousands of others, and when “OG’s” come in and criticize something that you like or enjoy because it “doesn’t feel the same”, it never ends well for either side. However, this does not mean that all remakes are better or worse than the original, sometimes they both are amazing, or sometimes they both suck. Either way, the only way to judge if something is enjoyable for you is if you experience it yourself. I appreciate Rebecca for shedding light on this topic to the school and allowing me to share my thoughts on the subject.
Jayden • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:32 pm
Rebecca Wilson discusses the prevailing negative reception towards remade films in her article “What’s Ruining Remakes?” published on December 2nd, 2022. As someone who has lost complete faith in all forms of adaptations and remakes, I appreciate the insight that Rebecca gives in her writing. The idea that hyper-realism is the fault of these films is a point that I hadn’t fully considered, yet something that I’ve subconsciously understood, and has probably led to my avoidance of remakes. I would also add that nostalgia plays a large role in the hatred towards remade films. How much of the magic of our favorite childhood movies comes simply from the fact that we were children when we watched them? We’re cynical now, we have higher standards for entertainment, and it’s natural to dislike how films so central to our childhood are being butchered and resold to a new generation. Nonetheless, Rebecca’s writing in this article is sharp and interesting all the way through, and I really enjoyed reading this piece.
Sean Ryder • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:22 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” I think this article is brilliantly executed and well written. The subject of remakes and their obsession with hyperrealism over quality of content isn’t a subject I’ve really thought much about but after reading this article it’s something I wholeheartedly agree with Wilson on. I think there’s definitely an issue within the industry when it comes to remakes of putting the quality of visuals above all else. It seems to me that today all that most filmmakers or game developers care about when it comes to remaking something is showing off our new advancements in video quality and CGI. Sure it’s cool to see my favorite characters from an old piece of media in today’s new HD graphics, but if nothing else is really being added it takes away from the charm that made people fall in love with the original. If there is nothing being added to the viewers experience what’s the point? I think those in the industry trying to remake iconic pieces of media need to shift their focus away from modern capabilities in hyperrealism and instead focus on how they can add to their audiences enjoyment of the piece.
Mya Delaney • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:18 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson, a copy editor, wrote an intriguing article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” She addresses how newer remakes lack the magic of the original movies. While I am a fan of some of Disney’s remakes, I do agree with some of the complaints that people have about them. For example, Mulan, the live action movie, was a bit of a let-down for me because Mushu, the dragon from the animated movie, never made an appearance! His commentary throughout the original film is one of my favorite parts of the entire movie. Although I appreciate the realistic, serious approach to the retelling of Mulan, I was hoping for some of the original songs to make an appearance in the remake as well. After all, I feel that Disney is so popular partially due to the fact that the majority of their movies have incredibly catchy songs. With all that said, I do appreciate Disney focusing on the theme of women empowerment and finding your inner power. There are definitely lessons to be learned from the live action remake even though it lacks the same lightheartedness and magic of the original animated film.
Claire Wilson • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:15 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes”. This article really spoke to me, because as someone who also has a love for movies, this has been on my mind. I agree with you that these live-action versions are well put together, but lack some artistic qualities. I like your example of lion-king, but I’ve never actually seen the original. However, a movie that has a very similar situation is the live-action version of Mulan. The reason why so many people loved the original version was because of its musical numbers, along with Mushu, the dragon. While this remake looked good, it got rid of one of the main reasons why people liked the original, 2D, movie. Some say that they got rid of Mushu for CGI reasons, but that cannot be the case since they added a bird-lady that wasn’t even in the 2D version to begin with.
I also like your examples of movies and video games, but this applies to books and TV shows as well. For example, while Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other books got turned into some amazing movies, Percy Jackson did not. The movies were just awful, and took away the wonder that the books had. Also, with the cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender, the live-action movie did absolutely no justice to the show and may as well be a whole different story.
Gisell Giron • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:07 pm
On December 2nd, 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote the article “What’s ruining Remakes?”. This article concentrates on what causes remakes of movies and video games to be worse than its predecessors. The author focuses on the hyperrealism that is used for most remakes of movies, and discusses that though the technology of the remakes is impressive, the plot and movie entirely lack in charm. Wilson also contributes to the idea by pointing out that the releases of these remakes are entirely predictable. It makes me wonder if big corporations are releasing bad remakes in the hopes of making extra money. This pattern continues on with video games. Some video games, the author pointed out, are outdated, and have probable cause for the remake. There is reason enough to remake the game, but the outcome often comes out worse than the original. I agree with what the author states about remakes, as the remakes never live up to the expectations I have. There is a certain image ingrained into the minds of the public after seeing the original of a movie, and when a remake comes out that doesn’t focus on the actual content of the film but rather the graphics, it can be a huge let down. In the article, Wilson mentions the 2019 remake of the Lion King as an example of a bad remake, and this example accurately fits the description. Overall, I was unaware that I disliked most remakes because of the hyperrealism used in these films, and I am glad the author was able to bring it to my attention.
Valeria Mora • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:06 pm
I have to agree that some remakes are overly corny and sometimes ruin the experience of many viewers or players. Just recently, the Disney movie “Enchanted” from 2007 had a remake called “Disenchanted” and I saw many people online unbelievably disappointed because the movie lost its charm from many years ago. The plot from the remake completely changed its course for the worse because it lost its story of how fairy tales can co exist in real life. While this is a good example of remakes being ruined, an example of how remakes are praised is in the music industry. If you take Taylor Swift for example, her remakes of her past albums have been causing quite the positive storm as millions and millions of fans await for more remakes as the years go on. Another recent example of remakes being praised is the hit indie game Bendy and the Ink Machine. Just a few weeks ago, Bendy and the Dark Revival, a remake of the old bendy series that everyone loved, was remade into this amazing game that gave more story intel on the secrets of the bendy world. Lots of people have had good reviews and even said there was a huge improvement from the first game that was out in 2017.This debate can go both ways as some people do genuinely enjoy remakes because it gives a hint of nostalgia when viewing.
Luke Demorest • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:03 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “Who’s ruining remakes?” This article describes her take on how good and effective remakes of video games and movies actually are. Her opinion on this situation is that remakes ruin and degrade the original which I fully agree with. In the article she uses the Lion King as an example of a remake not living up to the original due to it not having the same cartoon feel. The thing that causes most movies and games to make a remake is the improvement of graphics and focus on hyper detail. Make Disney films are no longer the classic 2-D that we grew up with and love, as stated in the article. This just proves that despite graphics being dramatically improved over time, remaking a movie will not fix the old one, but instead bring them both down. I think the pictures in the letter were really good showing the hyper-realism in these new movie remakes. The different examples were also nice to show the variety like in movies such as Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella, along with video game remake examples like Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil 4. This was a very good article and was very interesting to read.
Kevin Angulo • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:02 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article mentions how the new remakes of movies and video games aren’t always the best when compared to the original, if anything they’re worse and lacking the original characteristics displayed in the original. I completely agree with this topic, when I was younger I remember going to the cinema and being so excited to watch the release of new movies, as always people grow out of those things. So when I hear that there’s going to be a remake of a movie I liked when I was younger it’s a disappointment when the time comes to actually watch the movie. As stated in the article they “lack the same charm and energy of its iconic predecessor”. I like that Wilson included the opinion of an art student here at Millikan because it gives more depth when it comes from a person who really appreciates art and its originality. As for video games which I don’t really play that much, I can sympathize with how dissatisfying it may be when a video game gets a reboot and it’s not the same as it used to be. Thank you for reintroducing me back into this topic.
Wiley Stroben • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:02 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled, “What’s Ruining Remakes?” Her article explains how the original movie or game is far greater than the remake of it. In this article she uses many examples such as the Lion King and Beauty and The Beast which are all movies that we are able to relate to since we grew up watching these movies and we have also been able to see the remakes of these movies and express our own opinions on these as well. I do like how you used consoles but I think that these only get remakes so that it can better consist of new technology and the use of new games that come out that can’t be played on the old-gen consoles. I do like how you added that the new games may be better to play and have better mechanics but the new game still can be as good as the original and still has the feeling of playing it when you were younger with friends and having a great time. In my opinion I still believe that remakes bring a new type of experience to either the movies or video games. I think that most of them are well done and are very positive. Thank you for writing this great article.
Olivia Lopez • Dec 8, 2022 at 1:01 pm
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article explains what remakes are and the various issues fans of the original pieces are finding problems with. Additionally, some quotes from fans of original pieces of media that have been made into remakes are included with what they think on the topic. This article was not only incredibly informative but also rather interesting as it is a topic that is applicable to many people as remakes are now so common across nearly every genre. I agree with the many points the article makes, especially in regards to Disney movies. The originals are special and often remembered so fondly as they remind people of their childhood, and the cartoon aspect of the movies is part of that. The hyper realistic graphics now emphasized in these movies take away from the magic the originals had, which is essentially what is concluded in the article. Moreover, I appreciated the inclusion of quotes from students and fans of original pieces of media that have now been remade as they offer more points of view on the situation and include people who are fans of all different types of media, from Disney films to video games. Overall I found the article to be very well written with several good points made and quotes included.
Bennett Hreschuk • Dec 8, 2022 at 12:59 pm
On December 2nd, Rebecca Wilson wrote the article “What’s Ruining Remakes” detailing all the ways in which remakes of classic films and video games are not well received. She states more than anything that the remakes lose the original personality and in a way the “soul” of the project. When studios try to recapture lightning in a bottle by remaking a classic piece of media it rarely goes well because what made the original so great cannot be counted on for the remake, otherwise the remake will be seen as bland and lacking creativity. This means they need to take some risks and make some changes in order for the remake to stand out, but changing incredible films often leads them to becoming less than incredible. Everything she says is totally true and I completely agree. The issue seems to be that they make money. The Lion King (2019) for example is the 8th highest grossing film in history. It made upwards or 1.6 billion dollars in spite of being poorly received by both fans and critics. At the end of the day whether we like it or no remakes are here to stay unless the public loses interest.
Tanner Henderson • Dec 8, 2022 at 11:30 am
Dear Corydon Editor,
On December 8, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article entitled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article discusses how recent remakes of classic Disney movies and video games are margins worse than the original releases. For example, Wilson specifically talks about Disney’s 2019 The Lion King and how the use of CGI and an emphasis on realism took away the “charm and energy of its iconic predecessor” (Wilson). Prior to reading this article, I had heard of this remake of the classic film but never watched it. Although now after hearing what Wilson had to say about it I’m hesitant to check it out. I agree with the idea that there’s just something about the 2D animation of the old movies that provides more emotion and an overall better experience than the realism in the new movies. I will admit that the realism in the new movies is quite impressive to look at, but it’s just not the same. Wilson also talks about remakes of video games such as Lollipop Chainsaw and Resident Evil 4. I haven’t played either of these games but now I’m curious about the differences between the original games and the remakes. Thank you for bringing this idea to my attention.
Emily Temblador • Dec 8, 2022 at 11:18 am
Dear Corydon Editor,
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?”. First of all, I want to thank Rebecca Wilson for writing this article. The article brings up the idea that most remakes created today lack the same charm that the original movies had. I completely agree with this. When the creators of these films are creating these remakes, they most likely believe that viewers will much better enjoy the visuals than the progression of the story. But what is the point of having good visuals with a bad story to follow? It completely takes away from the hard work for the visuals, utterly making the movie a complete flop. You can see this with the movie Mulan, which they also made a remake of. However, most viewers did not watch it because it was stated that the film would not include Mushu, Mulan’s dragon protector. The only reason most viewers enjoyed Mulan was due to Mushu and the way he made jokes. The visuals in the live-action version of Mulan are beautiful, but due to these small factors in changing the movie, the movie turned out to be a flop. When most people are asked if they have ever seen a remake of a movie, the majority of them will say no. This is truly just because the remakes are never as special as the original; they will never have the same charm.
Chazz Brown • Dec 8, 2022 at 11:18 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article called “What’s Ruining Remakes?” This article discusses how majority of remakes of both movies and videogames are typically bad or unnecessary. One of the main reasons for this problem is because these companies are changing the visual aspect and adding CGI or changing it to a live action which, in most cases, is the main reason why people enjoyed the original more. Wilson demonstrates this by asking why people enjoyed the original more than the remake and they replied that it lost its emotion or the vibe changed. Although there are better remakes out there it is not common to keep the same vibe as the original. I noticed this trend in the movie “Enchanted”. The original movie had the romantic feel but the remake “Disenchanted” was missing it completely. Almost anytime there is a remake something changes or is missing that affects the viewers who will be comparing it by default because it will never be as good as the original. Hopefully this isn’t a trend that continues to happen and producers will pay more attention to what the viewers may be looking for in future remakes based on the original.
Sofia Arzola • Dec 8, 2022 at 11:07 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article details the pros and cons of film remakes in addition to video game remakes. Personally, I’m not a big fan of movie remakes. I don’t play many video games so I can’t comment on those remakes, but for movies I feel that the remakes take away from what made the film so special in the first place. I have many films near and dear to my heart so if there’s going to be a remake of it in theaters then I typically try to go. However, I always set my expectations too high and majority of the time they end up falling short; which is always a disappointment. Wilson briefly highlights this in her article when bringing up people’s reactions to The Lion King live action remake. Majority of the people she interviewed had the same sentiments as me regarding remakes. It’s not the same. I think we all have high standards when it comes to a film we’ve particularly enjoyed, but I honestly think we need to lower them. In truth I don’t believe many films will be able to come close to the originals. By lowering our expectations it’s more likely we’ll like what we’re watching more and be surprised if certain events in the film catches us off guard. That’s just my opinion, but overall I really liked reading Wilson’s article.
Angie Del Gaudio • Dec 8, 2022 at 11:05 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote a captivating article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?.” I am not the biggest video game fan, however, I do love a good Disney movie, so I found your article to be very interesting because movie remakes are not something I think about regularly. Although when brought to my attention, it was a fun topic to think about and analyze to see whether or not I enjoyed remakes I have watched over the years. When I began reading your article I thought you were going to comment on how remakes do not do the original film justice, or should not be competing against the classics, although you went in a different direction about over enhanced visual quality I would have never thought of. Oftentimes I would think that a live action version may show more detail and emotions than animation can, however, when you brought up the argument of The Lion King I completely agreed that when an animated character is brought to life in a way that makes them too realistic and serious they can lose their classic charm that these characters are known for. Why do you think this happens? Do you think editors make characters more realistic because they think it will enhance the film for viewers and make it more believable? Or do you think they do it this way just because they have the technology to do so that they did not have access to before? I would be interested to know your thoughts on how this phenomenon has happened. Thank you for spending the time to write this article and bring a new topic I would have never thought about to my attention.
Zack Eastman • Dec 8, 2022 at 10:57 am
On December 2nd, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” This article went in depth on the issues of classical movies, shows, and video games being ruined by over-realism in a new counterpart that involves live action, CGI, and more new technology. I agree that the majority of these remakes butcher the emotion and meaning of the original work. However, I want to add that this is especially done to movies more than video games, TV shows, and other re-imaginable properties. I noticed especially with new Disney movies that the new point of views that are given to these stories are washed off their original purpose and are used as a cash grab to gain a better stock for the company. A perfect example for this is the new Lion King movie, as Wilson alluded to in the article. The Lion King movie had terrible ratings, yet because it performed well in the box office the live action is now staged for a sequel in the near future. On the other hand, I personally feel that video game remakes are done very well and do justice to the original games. This is because the developers usually take steps to make the fan base satisfied with the new game by preserving original moments and enhancing the game with new, stunning visuals that aren’t outdated. This article reminded me of the growing presence of these remakes and reignited my opinions on them with even some new insight with this article. Thank you for posting about this issue.
Tyler Lao • Dec 8, 2022 at 10:54 am
On December 2, 2022 Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?”. Her main point in this article is that remakes of both movies and videogames have been decreasing in quality throughout the last couple of years. While things like poor graphics for movies or outdated consoles for games might warrant a remake, there are still many things that can’t be ignored. In the case of movies, they often get dragged down by things like rushed production or top of the line CGI. These remakes are supposed to pay homage to the original thing, and I like that you’re shedding light on this problem. For games it’s very similar. One of the most prominent examples would be the many Call of Duty games that have come out in the last decade. The companies behind this franchise know that they can simply put out one game a year and not put too much effort into it because they know that people will still buy it. This leads to a terrible experience for many as they have to suffer through the many problems that always accompany a new game. Overall, I very much like the emphasis you put into this issue. While there is not much that someone like myself can do, it is still always good to make the problem known.
Collin • Dec 8, 2022 at 10:53 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The author starts off by explaining the idea of remakes and how they are starting to become more and more popular as time goes on. She then goes on to explain the problem with this which is very good because many people might not see the problem originally so Rebecca explaining it is very helpful. Another point that is brought up is the over emphasis on the graphics of the movie. She states that some newer remakes try to make their movie so realistic that it kind of brings away from the movie and makes it feel different. She gives an example of this using the new “The Lion King,” from 2019 to support her point. They also managed to interview a student named Alexandra Talavara who is an artist and agrees with Rebecca on the topic of the graphics. Finally, I really like how she put an image in the article to support her point on graphics. She talks about a game called Silent Hill 2 which used different graphics than their first game and talks about a very controversial scene. Rebecca states that while the graphics are very impressive in the second game, it doesn’t have the same horror aesthetic as the original. Thank you for helping everyone understand this issue more clearly and for giving me a better idea of the issue.
Kaitlyn • Dec 8, 2022 at 10:50 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” which goes to elaborate on the demise of the current trend concerning reboots and remakes of old media (for example, the recent live action remakes of the films Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, etc. alongside video game remakes such as Resident Evil 4). This article makes a claim that the new hyper-realistic graphics take away from the liveliness and personality from the original piece, such as what happened with The Lion King recreation, where the live action took away the exaggerated moments that was done through animation in the original. I agree with the statement that it isn’t necessarily bad for remakes to be made, and that sometimes they’re beneficial/done with reason. However, the desire for hyper-realism that continues to trend in these remakes are what take away the personality from the classics. As someone who has a passion towards the arts and has always been enamored with the concept of animated films, I feel as though live action remakes especially limit creativity. To add on to this, I believe that some remakes are completely unnecessary and stunt new creations in the entertainment and film industry. Rather than squeezing all the content and franchise from old pieces of media, there should be creation of new pieces so that new “classics” can be created.
Nick K • Dec 8, 2022 at 10:43 am
This article has a very interesting opinion on how realism is the problem of these movies. I haven’t watched or played any of the games/movies mentioned but I wouldn’t think too much realism is the only thing holding them back. With things that we liked we have nostalgia, and to see things about the movie or game so different it doesn’t sit right. So while realism may be a problem with remakes, I think generally attempting at remaking something similarly but better will almost never work for something that has already had success. But creating an entirely new story is a better idea for the people creating these remakes, whether that is adding on the existing story or completely changing the old story, remaking something with new graphics and new actors won’t ever sit right with people’s nostalgia and people will always think the older version is better.
Scottie Wells • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:53 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article, stating her opinion on the remaking of films and video games. She believes that most remakes ruin the original, and I agree. It ruins the artistry and movie magic that came from the first version of the film or video game. The cartoony originals with so-so graphics always beat the too-realistic and CGI filled remakes. I liked how she quoted multiple peoples opinions and gave specific examples of films and video games to support her claim. One of the examples was Disney’s 2019 The Lion King. She argued that in the original movie, the animations and facial expressions of the characters added to the movie effect. But when the live action version came out and they used a bunch of CGI, it took away the fun and replaced it with too much realism. I also liked how she argued that not ALL remakes are bad. Sometimes they enhance or add to the original film. Even though she explained how this could be true, I would have liked it if she gave an example of a film or movie that was better or added to the original. But otherwise I think this was a great topic to write about because I hear about it sometimes, but this allowed for people to see the evidence clearly and develop their own opinion on these remakes.
Jordan Magdael • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:46 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article about “What’s Ruining Remakes?” Her article explains why remakes aren’t as good as the original. As we dive deeper into more advanced technology, movies and video games like to include hyper realism into their scene unlike their cartoon predecessors. Disney’s 2019 Lion King very well represents this issue as it lacks the same spark as the first film by exaggerating emotions, expressions, and details. Following movies, video games like “Silent Hill 2” have sparked controversy online about new lighting, controls, and graphics. Thank you for giving some great information on newer/current remakes. I do have some questions for you about these advanced remakes. Do you think there is a pattern, the more we advance the more movies seemingly get worse? Is there a recurring pattern regarding the cast, the directors, or CGI industry? I can understand that these remakes don’t hold up to the standards as the original. How do you think we can get these remakes to have the same charm as the original? As we’ve seen from movies in the past like “Avatar” or “Transformers.” Why don’t current films have those same graphics whilst keeping that same interest towards the film? Remakes were made to bring live-action to the movie scene and it seems like we are heading towards a world of realism. Thank you for giving us excellent information.
Angelina Keller • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:38 am
December 8, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article discusses how remakes of games and movies have been produced in the most recent years. It mentions that though some are good and have made improvements, most remakes are unnecessary and some are even worse than the original. The main reason for these comments are due to the use of hyper-realism graphics the article states. After reading this article I can see the other perspective towards the new “improvements” to CGI films and games. Although, I still believe that the use of hyper-realistic graphics are a great addition. Not only does it showcase the new uses of technology, but it also shows us how society is developing over time. Artistic taste is different to every person. Though one may dislike the hyper-realistic graphics, another may love it. For example, the Harry Potter movies showcase how CGI has developed over time and looking back we can see how much we have improved. The nostalgia received from the old cartoon movies do have its charm, but as society develops over time there may not be many cartoon movies in the near future. Remakes let people rewatch memorable movies with improved details but still maintain the heart of the original movie. Thank you for informing me about this topic.
Sincerely,
Angelina Keller, Grade 11
Cole Jordan • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:36 am
On December 2, 2022, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “Who’s Ruining Remakes?” I agree heavily with this article as remakes can never be the same as the original. Watching a great movie for the first time can never be matched with replicas. This also applies to many sequels of movies. The first movie is wonderful and does great in terms of popularity. Movie makers acknowledge this and continue with a follow-up that is sometimes unnecessary and unnatural in trying to replicate the publicity of the first movie. This usually comes out ingenuity. Well done explaining the problem of most new modern movies as I didn’t realize that hyper realistic graphics made the quality of the film worse overall. Hyper realistic graphics make the fantasy of the film feel fake. It doesn’t really feel real when they try to make it similar to real life. The Lion King is a great example of this that the author chose. The original version was animated which made it feel like it was a different world. They try to make the animals lifelike so that when they spoke and complete abnormal actions it unconsciously feels synthetic. In addition to this, the nostalgia of the original movie can never truly be matched when replicated.
Kenzie Copeland • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:27 am
December 8, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?”. This article is an opinion piece that focuses on remakes of popular movies and video games and how they tend to have a goal of hyper realistic graphics instead of actual re-creation of the same impact. I’ve always wondered why these remakes are so unsuccessful and this article definitely helped me understand the controversy of some of these newer versions. I wanted to thank the writer for shedding light on the issue and describing people’s reactions to it. However I was wondering, if remakes are so unsuccessful and bad, why do they continue to be made? I also wonder what could be the goal of these realistic remakes. I think the ideology behind them is to try to make them modern, try to bring a new life to the characters who might have previously been seen as unrealistic or even unreachable. Maybe they are to bring fantasies to life for a new generation or try to revive the spirit of the many childhoods that these movies and video games touched. I think it is undeniable, even if these remakes are unsuccessful in the big picture, they end up keeping these stories alive. It is true that only time will tell if the trend of hyper-realism will continue to make the majority of remakes unpopular.
Sincerely,
Kenzie Copeland, Grade 11
Mia Iovine • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:14 am
On December 20, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article dives into the good and bad of remakes. Prior to the article, I had never liked live action remakes that much. I always thought that CGI, while cool to look at, did not have the same magic as the cartoon animations. Although I have always had this feeling, I could never put my finger on exactly why, but I believe the article explained it perfectly. When the animators try to have a realistic looking movie, you lose the charm and magic of the original animation. Looking at a realistic CGI animal dance along to a musical number can become almost uncanny valley and uncomfortable compared to the fun cartoons with big smiles that can be made to look unrealistic. Even the humans in these CGI/live action remakes can only do so much. They cannot compare to the wild exaggerated emotions of cartoon characters. This article also did an amazing job of highlighting the good of remakes and how they can benefit the consumer. Overall I thought this was an outstanding article and I really enjoyed reading it.
emma crocker • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:11 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article explained the current complaints being made against the remakes of both movies and games. Specifically, the argument targets the use of hyper-realistic graphics being used in the recreations. For the most part, I do agree with the argument being made in the piece. I do think that the usage of hyper-realistic graphics have become an annoyance for me when watching the newer remakes of movies I previously loved. I also agree with the point made by Alexandra Talavara that the more realistic remakes take away from the magic of the original cartoons. Even in sequel movies, CGI has proven to worsen some films for me. For example, the overuse of CGI on the faces of the actors in It Chapter 2 genuinely looked terrible and definitely made the movie laughable at times. While I do not know much about the video game aspect of remakes, I found it interesting that this debate on the newer trend of remakes has also taken place within other artistic communities. Overall, I think this article was a well-written, insightful piece that did a good job of explaining the current issue surrounding remakes.
Catia Gass • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:07 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” The article mentions how many remakes, though expected, are not worthy in the film industry. With examples ranging from Disney live action remakes, to video game remakes, this article offers a very common perspective on the quality of remakes. I enjoyed reading about this topic, since I don’t often see people writing about why remakes are worse than the original. I know there are articles out there with this topic but none of those ever truly go into depth about the draining presence of remakes. What I love most about the article is the personal quote from a COMPASS senior who mentioned how she felt about certain remakes, like the Lion King. I also really enjoyed the last sentence which mentioned how there will be more remakes to come, but “only time will tell whether this trend of realism over everything will continue to bring down the genre.” I absolutely loved that the article mentioned what the actual problem with remakes is, (emphasis on realistic graphics over everything else). I would like to thank you for writing such an honest and entertaining piece, which I completely agree with.
Dahlia Hardy • Dec 8, 2022 at 9:06 am
On December 2, Rebecca Wilson wrote an article titled “What’s Ruining Remakes?” This article commented on a growing phenomenon that I have also noticed in the past few years. The author focuses on how the focus on hyperrealism in modern remakes of old games and movies has negatively impacted their content, which I think is an interesting take on the matter that I haven’t really thought of before. In my own consumption of movie remakes, I have noticed how this appears to be linked to another issue with them, being that the reasoning behind the creation of most remakes today is more motivated by money than a passion for the actual stories or games. Remakes and sequels provide companies with the ability to easily take advantage of a pre-existing fanbase instead of building up fans for something new. This focus on trying to get the most people to pay for their product likely leads to the dedication to hyperrealistic visuals to draw people in, while disregarding most of the aspects that made people love the original properties. I think that the author of this article makes a good point in explaining that remakes themselves aren’t a bad thing, but they should be made to enhance the original properties to better fit the modern era while still retaining the spirit and energy that made the original games or movies so interesting in the first place.