The majority of movies have always been remakes, sequels, or adaptations. Back in the days of silent movies and early talkies, most films were adaptations of novels or plays, and the same films got remade over and over quite frequently (the Judy Garland
Wizard of Oz was something like the seventh screen version of that tale). If you look at the American Film Institute's list of the
hundred greatest American movies, focusing just on the top ten, four (
The Godfather, Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, The Graduate) are adaptations of novels, one (
Casablanca) is an adaptation of a play, one (
Schindler's List) is based on a novel based on a true story, one (
Lawrence of Arabia) is based on a real person's life, one (
Citizen Kane) is a fictionalized version of a real person's life, one (
On the Waterfront) is based on a series of nonfiction newspaper articles, and one (
Singin' in the Rain) is an original story, but one that was constructed around a pre-selected set of songs. So every one of those great classic films is a derivative work in some way. And there are plenty more on the Top 100 list.
People are always reacting to the abundance of adaptations, remakes, and sequels in Hollywood as if it were some shocking departure from the way it used to be, but the fact is that it's always been that way, and people have always reacted as though it were something shocking and new. I know I've been reading articles complaining about the "recent" Hollywood trend of constant remakes and sequels for at least the past quarter-century, and I'm certain you could find equivalent complaints in articles going back to the '40s or '30s, if not sooner.
So anyway, any more casting suggestions for TNG? Anyone have any actual French actors in mind for Picard, say? Or someone Russian to play Tasha Yar? Or would you rather bring back to the original idea of Macha Hernandez as the security chief?
