Leave the Classics Alone – The Cinephile v. Remakes
The news of a remake of the film Harvey has made me very angry. Very angry indeed, and has me wondering why remakes are tolerated and why big shot directors think they can get away with it. So, what’s the deal with remakes? It’s not like they are any good at all. All they are is a bastardized version of a classic film, some are worse than others but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be looked upon with disdain. The reason why remakes are never up to par with the original is, the magic that made the original film so wonderful cannot be recaptured. You cannot recapture the director’s vision, the actor’s performance, the style or even the nuances of the time the film was made that add to its greatness and make it special. It’s just not the same.
Now, it’s no surprise that originality is rare in Hollywood with the plethora of remakes and sequels to films that should remain as singles, and when each one if these hits the screens it signals yet another step towards the decline of cinema. Thank goodness for those films with spark, that keep cinema alive with uniqueness and eccentricity – for it is the independent, foreign, documentary, avant-garde and other films that keep people interested and entertained. The populist Hollywood cinema of remakes just goes to show how some producers and directors cannot overcome the notion that in cinema, everything has been done – to them, everything can be redone. I have no problem with a film borrowing elements from another film because it is inevitable in the world of cinema. But to remake, shows that the producer or director cannot be bothered to think of an original idea – they are going for the cash cow and that’s that. They let their money and egos do the thinking for them and that’s pretty low.
Classic Hollywood films are classics for a reason. They were made during the height of the studio system with directors and actors who were true movie stars (a far cry from the majority of “celebrities” today), making films for the love of film, not for the money or notoriety. These films are genuine works of cinematic art and have shown they stand the test of time because they are still watched and loved by many, which is more than I can say for some films nowadays. How many films in recent decades can stand the test of time like these old Hollywood classics?
Harvey is just one of those classic films that I for one adore. The overall film is simply whimsical, and full of joy. It stands as James Stewart’s finest performance because he is so perfect in Harvey, you actually believe he can see a six foot rabbit (or rather a pooka). Harvey is a product of its time and that can’t be replicated nor should it be. Movie studios should let classics be classics and be appreciated for what they are. I have no hopes for Mr. Spielberg’s version of Harvey. He’ll probably butcher it and have it set in the present time, which would make no sense at all because society in 1950 and society now are extremely different, and people would definitely react worse today to a man who can see a pooka than people in 1950. If it is set in the present time, then all is lost – I mean, look what he did to War of the Worlds, yet another classic horribly adapted.
In the past few years, Spielberg hasn’t had a great track record, which makes me very upset at his newest endeavor. We all saw Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the whatever, so you know what I’m talking about, and you should be afraid (especially if George Lucas gets his grubby hands on the project). Unfortunately, Spielberg seems keen on ruining cinematic history and I cringe at the thought of someone else attempting to fill James Stewart’s shoes, but what’s done is done and Spielberg’s money can accomplish anything (like Jurassic Park 4). Oh, and I refuse to buy the ever so lame reasoning most people give when they remake a classic: they are doing it only to bring the story to a new audience. Ever hear of a DVD? If people today want to watch Harvey all they have to do is get the DVD. It’s not like it’s some obscure film lost to the ages that Spielberg wants to bring back. No, Mr. Spielberg, your ego has finally gotten the best of you, influencing you to make films only for financial gain, which makes me wonder when was the last time you made a film just for the love of film? And if you refute that notion, then God help us viewers.