MovieChat Forums > The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) Discussion > It pains me the remake gets a higher pro...

It pains me the remake gets a higher profile

posted 13 years ago by spotlightne
11 replies | jump to latest

The original Flight of the Phoenix is in my top ten movies of all time. In fact, it could be in the top five.

It is an excellent film, superbly acted with a brilliant script. Stewart and Attenborough excell, as do the rest of the cast.

However, the 2004 version is a pile of dog poo. I wouldn't wipe my bottom with it. It is awful in every sense, right down to the bad script, weak characters and the changing of the Dorfman character to the damned awful weasel that is Elliott.

Sadly it seems the original is becoming forgotten and the remake nearly always comes top of any search or movie engine when the title is typed in. I was shocked when someone told me he had seen the FOTP and he loved it. 'Elliott was so funny.'

I almost cried.

[–] Fingaroo 13 years ago

Don't worry. In a hundred years nobody will even know there was a remake, and people will still be watching this version.

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

👍

[–] drystyx 13 years ago

Yeah, what fingaroo said. It's only been 7 years and already the remake is forgotten. I saw it on utube, expecting at least something a little better. I thought I'd watch it for its own merits, without comparing it to the original. Even so, it had to be an embarrassment to anyone involved. Very sad. Laughably bad. Maybe one of those "so bad it's good" movies, but I think it was just too lame to even fit in that category.

The original is still the obvious classic. I really hope no one does a good remake of it, cause I'd like to leave it unblemished.

we have the holy handgrendade

[–] asgard-5 13 years ago

I didn't know there even was the original 1965 movie until recently. Starring Jimmy Stewart? Directed by Robert Aldrich, the guy behind Whatever happened to Baby Jane? Well it's a nobrainer, I watched this. And absolutely loved it, I've no intention of watching the remake.

[–] SpiltPersonality 11 years ago

There was a remake???

Seriously though, I feel the same way with 'the Day the Earth Stood Still' and some steaming pile of poo with the same name. It really doesn't matter in the long run. Consider it a test. If you talk to someone about 'the Flight of the Phoenix' and they say 'yeah, the scene where they have a rave party in the middle of the desert was AWESOME'... well, you know not to waste any more time or effort :)

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

👍

[–] JP2005 8 years ago

The original is classic, something the remake will never achieve. The '65 one rates higher now.

-In my mind, Christopher Reeve will always be Superman.-

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

"The original Flight of the Phoenix is in my top ten movies of all time. In fact, it could be in the top five."

One of my favorites, too, from childhood. I've watched it many, many times. I think the reason I've avoided the remake is that I might've read a review of it, though it's just as likely because I know I'd be disappointed. Hollywood is annoying in that it lately insists on remaking movies, sometimes classic ones, just to save money and because they have no new ideas. Rarely is the remake even interesting.

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

As for the IMDb ratings, older people who are familiar with the original don't spend much time online rating movies. We're too busy figuring out how to use email.

[–] McQueen1980 8 years ago

the 2004 remake is fantastic with dennis quaid perfectly cast in the lead role, at least it was much better than i expected given i heard morons like u spew about it

[–] pedroburbankado 8 years ago

I saw the original at the Cornell in Burbak in 1965, I was glued to the screen, I loved it! ... When i saw a poster for the remake, I marked my calendar ... I took both my kids, and saw the single most dissappointing movie ever ... when i saw them dancing in the sun, with their shirts off, I cringed in embarrassment!