So, word just broke that Warner Brothers and Joel Silver are looking to reboot the Lethal Weapon franchise... or re-imagine... or re-tool... or re-make... or whatever you want to call it, and I only have one thing to say to that:
Dear God, why?
Why are Hollywood execs insisting on retreading ground that has already been covered? Everyday, news breaks about a reboot or a sequel or a prequel to some, usually 80's, property. As of right now, off the top of my head, I can think of a number of reboots that are in the works: Lethal Weapon, Point Break, Beverly Hills Cop, Power Rangers, Dirty Dancing, Flash Gordon, Police Academy, Scarface, Terminator... and then of course there are the ones that have already been released: Robocop, Dredd, Total Recall, Footloose... The list goes on and on and on...
It's getting to the point of ridiculousness. So, please, Hollywood... Please, just STOP ALREADY!!!!
I get it, it's easy to get behind something that already has brand recognition going for it. It's way easier to market something that is already identifiable to part of the market, and throwing in the nostalgic factor is just icing on the cake. And I understand wanting to bring these stories and characters to life for a generation that may not know who or what they are. To that last one I say, isn't that the point of DVD and Blu-Ray? I don't know that I want an entire generation of people not knowing the pain and heartache, with a little side of crazy, that Mel Gibson brought to the character of Martin Rigg's. Of not falling in love with Patrick Swayze's Johnny Castle as he swept Baby off her feet in the Catskills in 1963. Of not witnessing the beauty of Kathryn Bigelow's foray into surfing and the genius of casting Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze against type.
There are so many talented writers and directors out there, with their own stories and visions to tell, that it's a shame when we get recycled crap thrown at us because the big Hollywood execs think that that's what we want to see. It's lazy and disappointing on so many levels. There are thousands of scripts out there, just waiting to land across the desk of someone that matters in the business. It drives me crazy when, instead of taking a chance, they turn to something that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, other than the fact that it's easy.
Now, don't get me wrong. I understand that reboots and remakes make sense, in certain circumstances, and that some great movies have been remakes of previous films. It's just that, it seems like everywhere you turn, Hollywood is trying to cash in on the "nostalgia" factor and is rebooting things left, right and centre, with little or no regard to the actual property itself. Or the market place today. It was successful 30 years ago, so why wouldn't it be successful now? The list of reasons would be far too long for this little blog to handle... And it's that short-sightedness that is dooming them to fail miserably.
They say that Hollywood has "run out of ideas". To that I say, bull-shit. There's no such thing as "out of ideas" when you're dealing with art... and make no mistake about it, writing is an art form. There's a lot that goes into telling a good story, whether it be through prose, a screenplay or a novel, and it takes a great deal of time, effort and courage to actually get to a place where you can say you're finished and it's ready for public scrutiny and consumption. (I should know, I finished my first novel a few weeks ago, and I'm still not at a place where I am ready for anyone else to read it!). The fact that these stories don't get any consideration, get turned aside or ignored as studios rush to try and recreate magic from decades ago is really frustrating. If they just opened their eyes, and their minds, to what is in front of them, they would be able to see the possibilities that they already hold. Instead of trying to create new magical moments, however, they are choosing to try and relive their glory days. Like that middle aged guy, with the beer gut and receding hairline, who talks about nothing but his triumphs on the football field decades ago...
It's time to grow up, Hollywood, and leave the past in the past. Embrace the opportunity to build something new, make something fresh and original. You never really know when magic is going to happen, but I can tell you one thing, it won't happen if you don't believe in it.
So, I beg of you... stop shelling out the $12 to go and see these abominations in the theatre, making the Hollywood bigwigs think that this is actually what we want to see them spend their resources on. Pop in a DVD or cue them up on demand instead. Watch them just as they are, and enjoy them like you did the first time that you saw them. The really good ones hold up against the passage of time... and even if they don't, appreciate them for what they are. And remember, at one time, they were the new and fresh ideas that we, as film fans, are clamouring for today.
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