The unnecessary reboot/remake of the week thread

[137th Gebirg]

Remember when journalists used to do research before writing things down and publishing them?

 

[Captaindemotion]

Not sure of Superman or Fantastic Four count as a reboot. More like a remake. Jurassic Park though is very much a reboot. It's all still taking place in the same universe as the very first movie. They are now basically on their 3rd wave of main characters.

I would’ve said the other way round - as @UssGlenn said Superman and FF are fresh new takes, someone starting the respective franchises from start. Definitely hard reboots, in the strict sense.

But the word reboot has really now been widened, by media at least, to mean any sort of revival. Language changes (the word literally literally doesn’t mean literally anymore, for example) and the word reboot has only been in widespread in this sort of context for 20 years or so (I first remember it being used about Batman Begins - funny enough, many in the media were wrongly describing it as a prequel, as that was a buzzword in the wake of the Star Wars ones).

And while JP is a sequel within the same continuity as the previous films, it features a mostly, if not entirely, different cast from the original and a lot of the sequels (I’m subject to correction, as I don’t think I’ve seen a full movie in the series since the third one) and AFAIK is set on a different island. So, yeah, it’s in the same continuity but it’s not like one needs to have seen the original to follow it.

Either way, it seems pretty clear that brand name recognition sells. I’m sure *some*, possibly *many* people are fed up with sequels, remakes, reboots, revivals, spinoffs, etc, but just as many seem to view them as a pair of comfortable shoes they can slip back into.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Basic Instinct 3: Keep The Granny Legs Closed, Please

 

[UssGlenn]

And while JP is a sequel within the same continuity as the previous films, it features a mostly, if not entirely, different cast from the original and a lot of the sequels (I’m subject to correction, as I don’t think I’ve seen a full movie in the series since the third one) and AFAIK is set on a different island. So, yeah, it’s in the same continuity but it’s not like one needs to have seen the original to follow it.

That's a fair analysis, so that makes it a spinoff.

 

[Set Harth]

I would’ve said the other way round - as @UssGlenn said Superman and FF are fresh new takes, someone starting the respective franchises from start. Definitely hard reboots, in the strict sense.

To be even more pedantic, FF is only a reboot in the sense that it's not in the continuity of any previous FF film. Arguably it's a sequel, not to any previous FF effort, of course, but in terms of being a continuation of the long-running MCU.

I first remember it being used about Batman Begins - funny enough, many in the media were wrongly describing it as a prequel, as that was a buzzword in the wake of the Star Wars ones

Those types seemed crucially unaware of the relevant content of the film: namely, that the Waynes are killed by Joe Chill as opposed to the Joker.

 

[Aragorn]

I remember watching Batman Begins on DVD with roommates and at the end they were all, "How is it NOT a prequel?"

 

[Captaindemotion]

Leaving aside what happens onscreen, how would anyone buy Bale as a younger version of Keaton, Caine as a younger Michael Gough or Gary Oldman as a younger Pat Hingle?

 

[tharpdevenport]

His friends found a way.

 

[Set Harth]

I remember watching Batman Begins on DVD with roommates and at the end they were all, "How is it NOT a prequel?"

 

[DarrenTR1970]

The Godzilla Minus One sequel has officially begun production.
Expect it to hit theaters in late 2026, early 2027.

 

[CorporalClegg]

A remakes and is always a reboot, but a reboot isn't always a remake. A sequel can be and often is a reboot.

Star Trek The Motion Picture is a reboot.
Star Trek The Wrath of Khan is also a reboot.
Star Trek The Search for Spock is not a reboot.

And understanding the difference in the nuance isn't that fucking complicated.

 

[Aragorn]

I remember Katie Holmes miscalling Batman Begins a prequel during talk show interviews.

 

[Jayson1]

you've got your terminology all mixed up.

Superman/F4: Reboot. no connection to earlier incarnations. The term is meant to evoke "start fresh".
Jurassic World: Sequel, all the previous movies happened in their past.
A remake is a reboot that keeps largely the same plot, not just the basics.

I don't care how journalists misuse the terms, that's what they mean.

I feel like reboot has replaced sequel in peoples minds because lots of sequels are only sort of connected to the original movie. Like Jurassic World had all new characters except the science guy from the the first movie but it was still set in that same universe. They did eventually bring back the old characters but the new ones were still the main focus. When people think of sequels they think of stories were you bring back old characters to tell More stories with those old characters.

 

[Jayson1]

I would’ve said the other way round - as @UssGlenn said Superman and FF are fresh new takes, someone starting the respective franchises from start. Definitely hard reboots, in the strict sense.

But the word reboot has really now been widened, by media at least, to mean any sort of revival. Language changes (the word literally literally doesn’t mean literally anymore, for example) and the word reboot has only been in widespread in this sort of context for 20 years or so (I first remember it being used about Batman Begins - funny enough, many in the media were wrongly describing it as a prequel, as that was a buzzword in the wake of the Star Wars ones).

And while JP is a sequel within the same continuity as the previous films, it features a mostly, if not entirely, different cast from the original and a lot of the sequels (I’m subject to correction, as I don’t think I’ve seen a full movie in the series since the third one) and AFAIK is set on a different island. So, yeah, it’s in the same continuity but it’s not like one needs to have seen the original to follow it.

Either way, it seems pretty clear that brand name recognition sells. I’m sure *some*, possibly *many* people are fed up with sequels, remakes, reboots, revivals, spinoffs, etc, but just as many seem to view them as a pair of comfortable shoes they can slip back into.

You know I didn't think of it but one could sort of call the new Superman movie a sequel since it is a sequel to stuff already established in this universe like, Suicide Squad,Creature Commandos.Peacemaker and I think they even said Blue Beetle will be brought over as well.

 

[Aragorn]

Taylor Russell bails on The Thomas Crown Affair after two weeks of shooting where she is the female lead, citing creative differences. Later she will star in another remake, Single White Female.