Yet even more usless 80's remakes...Ughh

[CommanderRaytas]

I want to see a remake of Steve McQueen's The Blob. That's a classic movie if there ever was one.

Oddly enough, that was actually remade in the Eighties.

If that was a play on "useless 80's remakes," then I salute you, sir. Very meta.

It was. Thank you for getting the reference.

Oh, and like Janeway, I prefer to be called "ma'am".

 

[Goliath]

My apologies, ma'am.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I didn't think the '80s version of The Blob was that bad. Then again, I have no taste.

 

[barnaclelapse]

I look at remakes this way these days: I just don't care about the majority of them. If I see a trailer for something, and it looks good, I might think about giving it a shot. I just don't see the sense in getting depressed about them. We're going to get them no matter what, so I may as well just shrug, ignore what doesn't appeal to me and move on.

 

[Sean Aaron]

People freak out over one minor edit of an obvious error in the original... *sigh*

Assuming you're being serious, I think the reason most people freak out is it looks like ASS (at least I hope that's why).

I don't really give a toss about remakes as long as the previous film is available. I prefer the John Carpenter film to the original Thing from Another World and I prefer the 1970s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (but will they release an anamorphic DVD of it already? Maybe I should check iTunes) over the 1950s original (though the original film is also technically brilliant and well-written/acted).

I'm no longer in the targeted demographic for this stuff so whatever, they can do what they like. I don't bother with the cinema unless the film has the words "Star" and "Trek" in the title, so it's not like anyone is missing my money...

 

[RandyS]

Of course, the whole idea that every movie should be available on home video is a fairly new one. I'm old enough to remember when the only time when you could see a classic old movie was when it showed up on the late, late show, or maybe at a college or revival theater.

Well, THAT brings back memories! I remember when my local community college did that in the late 1970's. I was in grade school at the time, a decade before I attended that same college as a student, and on Saturdays, in the summer of 1977-1979, they used to show the "old" sci-fi classics. The students had to pay admission, but my age group at the time (7-9) got in for free. It was my first time seeing Forbidden Planet, War of the Worlds, the original Day the Earth Stood Still and at least half a dozen others. This was during the height of the popularity of the original Star Wars (whose making of special was also screened).

 

[Sean Aaron]

It's surprising how many people assume all films will be on DVD eventually - hell all LPs haven't had a digital release and there's been an extra decade for that!

Re: Star Wars (again) at least that king-sized wanker released the theatrical version on DVD, even if it was only letterboxed. Zoomed-in on my plasma it still looks smashing.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

In the 70's our public library screened Space Seed on film. I was one of about five people in the city who came to see it, and by far the youngest. (Mom drove!) Most of the people there were old (lol, i.e. in their 30's, or even older!).

This of course was an important thing to go see, because Star Trek was not on TV at the time.

 

[Sean Aaron]

I also remember going to regular revival screenings of things like Star Wars, Yellow Submarine and other flickers. There were a few theatres in Chicago that specialised in such things.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

We also have one of those anyway. And I saw Yellow Submarine there too.

 

[Greg Cox]

I didn't think the '80s version of The Blob was that bad. Then again, I have no taste.

Agreed. I think the remake is underrated.

 

[Nerys Myk]

My College would show various films. I first saw Let It Be at one of their movie nights. Also a seemingly neverending compilation of Beatles concert footage from their last tour. Kentucky Fried Movie and the Groove Tube were popular on campus as well.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

You know, as dismaying as it may be to realize, it's probably worth remembering that the 80's are going on thirty years ago.

A whole new generation has grown up since we watched the original versions of these movies.

(FYI: there's an article about 80's nostalgia in USA TODAY this morning.)

You beat me to the punch on this comment. I remember how old a film from the 50s and 60s felt when I was a kid. I think the problem might feel worse now since we have such an increase in our ability to hang on to those movies these days with DVD, streaming and 200 channels.

 

[Greg Cox]

We also have one of those anyway. And I saw Yellow Submarine there too.

I remember seeing a double bill of Yellow Submarine and Fearless Vampire Killers back in the sixties. And, no, I don't understand that pairing either.

When I was a movie-obsessed kid, I was constantly bugging my dad to drive me to some distant library or downtown art theater so I could catch some obscure old Karloff film. I mean, how else was I ever going to see them if they weren't being aired on tv? The idea that someday you could just order The Old Dark House or The Ghoul on-line would have boggled my mind.

Years later, I actually scheduled some scifi film festivals at my college. My budget was limited so all I could afford was older films like Barbarella, This Island Earth, and 20 Million Miles to Earth. As I recall, Barbarella actually turned a profit . . . .

 

[Goliath]

I didn't think the '80s version of The Blob was that bad. Then again, I have no taste.

Agreed. I think the remake is underrated.

I remember liking it at the time. I also remember anticipating it keenly, after reading about it in Fangoria. Not sure what I'd make of it today.

 

[the G-man]

In the 70's our public library screened Space Seed on film...This of course was an important thing to go see, because Star Trek was not on TV at the time.

Star Trek reruns were syndicated and shown daily in many markets back in the 70s.

In fact, those 70s-era reruns are probably the major basis for Trek fandom to this date. The vast majority of fans of TOS grew up watching the syndicated reruns and the success of the reruns is what led to both the movies and TNG.

 

[Harvey]

I prefer the 1970s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (but will they release an anamorphic DVD of it already? Maybe I should check iTunes)

I'm pretty sure the special edition DVD release was anamorphic. The Blu-Ray release (which looks pretty spiffy) certainly was.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

In the 70's our public library screened Space Seed on film...This of course was an important thing to go see, because Star Trek was not on TV at the time.

Star Trek reruns were syndicated and shown daily in many markets back in the 70s.

In fact, those 70s-era reruns are probably the major basis for Trek fandom to this date. The vast majority of fans of TOS grew up watching the syndicated reruns and the success of the reruns is what led to both the movies and TNG.

Yes I know this. I was aware of every time it was on. We only had four channels to keep track of. I meant it was not on TV in my part of the state. Unfortunately, we didn't have an aerial.

I even went door-to-door with a petition to get our NBC station to bring back syndicated Star Trek. I was quite the little idealist. It actually worked.

When it was shown, it usually aired 1AM Sunday morning, but sometimes it aired Saturday afternoons. For a while it aired every weekday but that didn't last long.

 

[Sean Aaron]

In fact, those 70s-era reruns are probably the major basis for Trek fandom to this date. The vast majority of fans of TOS grew up watching the syndicated reruns and the success of the reruns is what led to both the movies and TNG.

Yep, watched them on the B&W tv as a kid. Loved it.

I prefer the 1970s version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (but will they release an anamorphic DVD of it already? Maybe I should check iTunes)

I'm pretty sure the special edition DVD release was anamorphic. The Blu-Ray release (which looks pretty spiffy) certainly was.

Ah there's been a special edition? I have the one from the late 90s. I'll have to have another look, though if it is on iTunes in the UK I'll just get that since I've decided to gradually go pure digital as my DVDs need replacing.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

My apologies, ma'am.

People tend to get distracted by the hunky men in my avatars.