MovieChat Forums > Hairspray (1988) Discussion > The new version is awful....

The new version is awful....

posted 17 years ago by ethereal_twinkletoes
23 replies | jump to latest

As someone who loved the first movie as a child, admittedly it would have been hard to beat. However the 07 version has to be one of the lamest remakes I've ever seen. The attempt to make it into some form of catchy musical failed on so many levels. The songs were forgettable, the Corny Collins set was poor and the script changes were all disastrous. John Revolta has been in some howlers, but his muffled lines completely ruined the comical nature of the character he was supposed to be portraying. His delivery was dire. Michelle was also totally below par too. Turnblad was the best of a bad bunch.

To say it was disappointing would be the understatement of the year

[–] ANightToRemember 17 years ago

It's spelled "Travolta" not Revolta.

And I think you may be lying. Everyone on here either hates the new version or loves it, and the majority loves it. I saw this version first, and I loved it! It was great! I then saw the new version, and it was also great! The songs are not forgettable, considering I have then stuck in my head all day. They are all on my Ipod and Limewire. Michelle was not horrible, people are saying (including the academy itself) she needs a Golden Globe or even an oscar! Please, don't make up lame lies.

Welcome onto the S.S. Poseidon

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ANightToRemember 17 years ago

Well ain't you a little bowl of sugar.

Look, not trying to be rude with that, but come on, I don't understand how can you hate the new one!

John Waters stated he loved it and the fact his own story has carried on so much.

Rikki Lake loved it, and she's also happy that they included her in the film. The rating for the new one is higher, but that really doesn't matter. If anyone hates the new one and loves the original one, well mate, I really don't understand it. Everyone involved with the Broadway and Original film loves it, why don't some of yall?

Welcome onto the S.S. Poseidon

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ethereal_twinkletoes 17 years ago

And I don't really understand how you can brand someone a liar for stating an opinion???

Nothing about this trash was original. An iconic classic was thoroughly gutted and fed to the dogs. I'm not really interested in Water's opinion, in mine, it did a total disservice to his original work.

They may as well have renamed it 'Hairballs'

[–] Racerg 17 years ago

I don't hate the new version a lot. ""Good Morning Baltimore and "I Can Hear The Bells." are good songs. However,nobody sings the song "Hairspray" at all during any part of the movie. I seriously want to learn,record and make a music video of the song "Hairspray." Tomorrow I'll rent the 1988 Hairspray and learn which lady/ban sings:My Mama told me not to use it,now.Hairspray."

[–] ethereal_twinkletoes 17 years ago

"Hairspray" by Rachel Sweet with Deborah Harry

Agreed, it was a great song and as the 07' version was below par, adding it would have saved some face

[–] perorewen 17 years ago

I must say I prefered the original. The reason is I love the trash-genre, and the John Waters-films appeals to my sense of humor. I think this film is hillarious, brilliant and Divine is so great!!

When it comes to the remake, I must say I was not impressed. But I wasn't disappointed either. It was to me just plain insignifcant. I could see it was well made, I appriciated the nods to the original (Ricki Lake and Jerry Stiller amongst other). It had some charm, and a couple of songs were good. But it turned out to be too cute for me. Where the original had the trashy, black humor; the remake was too pink and was filled with to much suger. Which just doesn't get to me. But then again, I understand people liking it.
And I thought John Travolta was well worth the ticket. As I mentioned in another thread here, I think he treated Edna with lots of love. Which made the film a lot better to me.

But still; the original is the thing to me! Always!

**********
Hugs...

[–] mallorysauntcher 17 years ago

It was NOT A REMAKE... they are two different movies based on the same thing. I like the 1988 version but I loved the 2007 version. You are crazy. Travolta was great.

You are like in a league of your own saying it was a disappointment because honestly the review were great.

Link Larkin: [bumping into Tracy] Sorry little darlin. Hope I didn't dent your 'do.

[–] scissorhands17 17 years ago

Um, the 2007 version was biased off the musical, which was biased off the 1988 version. So, technically, they're not biased off the same thing. I personally like both. I'm a big fan of musicals, and I refuse to believe that you forgot the songs like you said you did. I'm also a big fan of the original, which was funny and better for teens who want to spend the evening with a group of friends. I am a teenager, so I personally like it. Say what you like, but I'll continue to watch both. You can be snooty about your 'elite' movie taste being desecrated, or that the original being crap, but get over it. If you don't like the new movie, complain in that section. If you don't like this one, have actual reasons, not just an "OMG, this is an awful movie. The other one had Zac Efron!" or some thing about John Travolta. That is not insulting this movie, but boosting the other one. Do that in the other section too.

Also, if you don't like a movie, avoid it, don't get into a flame war.

"But does he like me like me like I like him?" - Avenue Q

[–] PurpleFudge22 17 years ago

I have to agree, I preferred the 1988 version. I thought Ricki Lake and Divine were better in their roles, and I thought the lines were funny and wittier.

HOWEVER....I still think the actors in the new version gave it their all and delivered a good performance.

It's a matter of two things. One is a musical. The other was just a movie. But I preferred the movie much better, with all the original music from the 60's.

[–] LilMissThunderkiss-65 17 years ago

I totally got the Revolta :) I have used that term as well. I stole it from Stephen King's book Christine.

And thank you for your post. "The original is cheesy, badly acted, blah... blah... blah..."

You have to "get" John Waters. This is a Waters movie.

I'll call it a remake all I want to. You take a title, characters names, and basic plot lines and you have a remake. I don't care if singing was thrown in.

Look at the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The remake kept Leatherface as the villian but changed almost everything else. And yet that is still called a remake.

"Family" is just another word for "Censorship"

[–] ANightToRemember 17 years ago

Yeah.

Hairspray was the most sucessful musical of the year and recieved 3 Golden Globe nominations (to cute for the oscars, but it was shortlisted in a few catagoreys)

This Hairspray is wonderful. John Waters turned a cheesy plot into pure entertainment I can watch over and over again. The Remake is the same with me. Both were wonderful.

John Waters and Rikki Lake both have said they loved the remake, John Waters was involved with the making of the remake, and let's not forget Jerry Stiller! He was a great Mr. Pinky and a great Mr. Turnblad.

Welcome onto the S.S. Poseidon

[–] MayaMacabre 17 years ago

I completely agree with all you said! I hate remakes specially on movies that were already great!

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[–] qme4good 17 years ago

the music in the remake was just plain awful. it sounded like lawrence welk. kids in the 60s would have scoffed at this music. STRIKEN CHICKEN?! What the hell were they thinking?! and what was up with john travolta's voice? it didn't sound feminine at all. it sounded more like a teenaged boy. like if you close your eyes and listen to his voice it sounds just like a teenaged boy. and his fatsuit wasn't even big enough. edna was supposed to be really big not just sort of big.

All natural forests should be turned into housing developments!

[–] ethereal_twinkletoes 17 years ago

Agreed, those who appreciate the 60's in any which way would scoff at this version

Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities, truth isn't

[–] giabella 17 years ago

Saw the new one last night.It's dreadful. John Travolta sounded as if he had something in his mouth through the whole film.
All the singing got on my nerves too. The original is MUCH better.

[–] TheatreGeek421 17 years ago

OMG YOU SHOULDN'T COMPARE THESE MOVIES BECAUSE THERE 2 COMPETELY DIFFERENT THINGS! ONE IS JUST A MOVIE AND ONE IS BASED OF THE MUSICAL THERE SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERNT YOU FREAKIN RETARDS I LOVE BOTH MOVIES!@

life's a stage
we're the actors
wether the play is a drama or a comedy,
god is the director

[–] luckyducky5390 16 years ago

i have to agree with you.i found the new version too frilly and kind of annoying.divine's performance of edna is funnier than travolta's in my opinion.i didnt understand why travolta chose to do his voice that way...it was weird.i thought the whole purpose of the movie was supposed to be a corny and sarcastic look at the sixties like this one, not some happy, cheery musical.i guess i could understand why musical fans would like the newer version though.

to each his own.

[–] jrsl88 16 years ago

I read that there will be a sequel to that film, which is wrong!

I like Mickey Gubitosi, Billy "Froggy" Laughlin, and Janet Burston in Our Gang!

[–] scissorhands__emily 16 years ago

Well, I do prefer the original version, but I wouldn't say the musical is awful. I did like the musical, but not nearly as much. I've watched it a few times and I actually get kind of bored by it. I do think Nikki Blonsky turned out a great performance though and put her all into her portrayal of Tracey. Some of the songs were really good. I think the musical did attempt to portray some cheesy moments still and still have a tiny Waters feel to it, but it just wasn't there like in the 88 version. I mean the song about hearing the bells where she's walking down the hall singing about Link is totally cheesy but fun and I love that part (mainly for when she sticks her head in the boy's bathroom window and is just singing). But the original was way better IMO and much funnier.