MovieChat Forums > Altered States (1980) Discussion > Questionaire: To Remake? Or Not to Remak...

Questionaire: To Remake? Or Not to Remake???

posted 19 years ago by tomcat69w
4 replies | jump to latest

I was on another thread and got off on a rant about how Hollywood is steamrollin' right along in their quest for the almighty D$llar to remake every movie that was ever made! If we could set up a direct-link to some studio exec's,...have weekly questionaire sent to us via e-mail as to which & which NOT movies to remake, let's say out of 10-20 movies,...you click on the one you'd like to see remade and ignore the one u don't. For Example;...

(1) Alien: Remake_____? or not_____?
(2) Gone with the Wind: Remake_______? or not____?
(3)The Days of Wine & Roses: Remake_____? or not_____?
You get the idea right???? I mean since Hollywood is investing so much time and money to remake every damn movie in sight,...they could save themselves $$$$ and us fans grief by taking polls on certain movies to remake,...or to leave alone. NOW,...let's see everyone join in and let's see your list of movies you do NOT want Hollywood to mess with and then a list of what you would LIKE to see remade. OK? The clock's ticking,...get in there and Vote!
Love & Peace T' p.s. If they ever do try to remake Alien, I'll have to drop a massive cow-pattie over Hollywood! HA!

[–] adam_alexander_smith 19 years ago

Yeah, this re-make trend is getting absurd. They remade The Omen (1976) recently. What a pointless exercise. The original is perfectly fine. If they ever try to re-make altered states, I wont be happy. I don't think they'll be able to find a cast who could act with as much convincing passion as William Hurt, Bob Balaban, and Charles Haid did in this movie.

[–] tomcat69w 19 years ago

Totally agree Bro. Those 3 'made' this movie as intense as it was. I can't think of any Actor's today that could do those part's justice. Unless of course an 'Update' and not a remake was done. Am pretty sure Hurt & Balaban are still kickin',...ain't too sure about Haid tho'. Will look it up. Yes;...and what a waste of time to 'redo' The Omen! That was about as perfect a movie of the genre that the masses could hope for. I am sure I will catch it (the remake) when it runs on HBO or whatever, but am not running out to watch OR rent. Rock On!

The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get!

[–] atyson 19 years ago

Is my memory playing tricks on me ? Was there not an earlier version of Altered States ? Different title, not so trippy but a more prosaic account of using a sensory deprivation tank. This would of course make Altered States a re-make. Perhaps I am hallucinating.

[–] atyson 18 years ago

I am replying to my own post here in the interests of public information. My mind was not playing tricks - the movie I was thinking of is 'The Mindbenders' a British movie made in 1963 and starring Dirk Bogarde. I have just found out about another sensory deprivation tank movie called 'Simon' released in 1980 and directed by Marshall Brickman (who co-wrote 'Annie Hall' I think) and starred Alan Arkin but I haven't seen it. So, in a way I suppose you could regard Altered States as a remake of 'The Mind Benders'. Dont know whether Ken Russell was aware of 'The Mind Benders' but I saw it in double-bill with Altered States not long after it came out.