Welcome to the
This blogfest comes to us courtesy of the Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh, with co-hosts Al Diaz, Livia Peterson, and Stephen Tremp.
My first movie remake qualifies as a Best and a Worst.
The Best goes to the 1954 version of A Star is Born staring Judy Garland.
This was a remake of the 1937 version which starred Janet Gaynor.
But a Worst goes to the 1976 version starring Barbra Streisand.
My second Best remake goes to Ocean's 11.
I'm awarding this one not because the 1960 original was bad - it wasn't. In fact, I really like the Rat Pack version.
But it's a lot harder for a remake to top a good original than a stinker and I think the 2001version did just that.
My second Worst remake award goes to Sabrina.
The 1954 original was a delightful romantic comedy starring
Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden
It was nominated for several Academy Awards and remains a favorite classic.
The 1995 version starred Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, and Greg Kinnear.
I really expected to like this movie. I love romantic comedy and...well, it was Harrison Ford. But the movie was flat, there was no chemistry between Ford and Ormond, and the whole thing was just a waste of two hours.
This last one isn't exactly a movie remake but I'm including it anyway. .
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a wonderful animated Christmas show based on the book by Dr. Seuss and perfectly narrated by the great Boris Karloff.
It happens to be my favorite Christmas special and I watch it every year.
It DID NOT need to be made into a feature film vehicle for Jim Carrey.
Okay, those are my picks. What do you think? Agree? Disagree? What would be yours?
Hop around today and check out some of the other choices.
To see the list of participating blogs, click here.
Joke of the Day:
My
neighbor was working in his yard when a late model car came crashing through his hedge and ended up in his front
lawn.
He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a lawn chair.
"Ma'am, forgive me, but you appear quite elderly to be driving."
"Well, yes, I am," she replied proudly. "I'll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough that I don't even need a driver's license anymore."
He rushed to help an elderly lady driver out of the car and sat her down on a lawn chair.
"Ma'am, forgive me, but you appear quite elderly to be driving."
"Well, yes, I am," she replied proudly. "I'll be 97 next month, and I am now old enough that I don't even need a driver's license anymore."
"You don't need one?"
"Nope. The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver's license. I told him yes and handed it to him. He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the license into pieces, and threw them in the waste basket. Then he told me, 'You won't need this anymore.' So I thanked him and I left!"
"Nope. The last time I went to my doctor, he examined me and asked if I had a driver's license. I told him yes and handed it to him. He took scissors out of the drawer, cut the license into pieces, and threw them in the waste basket. Then he told me, 'You won't need this anymore.' So I thanked him and I left!"
45 comments:
Great movie picks and I completely forgot about the Grinch! Also, I really enjoyed your joke. Thanks for the laugh and I am a new follower.
Rhonda from Laugh Quotes
Yeah the remake of Sabrina didn't work for me either.
The Grinch remake was horrible!!! The original cartoon was a childhood classic.
Ocean's 11 was almost my top pick. Agree with you on the Grinch. Most of the recent Dr. Seuss films have been awful.
Thanks for participating in our blogfest!
I wouldn't have put Sabrina as the WORST. Maybe it wasn't as good, but I still enjoyed the remake (of course, I saw it before the original, so there's that). But Grinch? Heck, yeah. I hated the movie.
Remaking a good movie is hard, so I guess your choice of Oceans 11 is a good one. Again, I saw the remake first, but it MADE me want to watch the original (which I thought was just as fun).
I'm no fan of A Star is Born--any version. I don't remember any of them much, but that's probably because I didn't like them.
Making a film version of a Seuss book is like making a movie of Webster's Dictionary. Why would you do it?
Lee
A Faraway View
An A to Z Co-host blog
Oh yes....the Grinch was terrible...we both agree there :)
Ocean's 11 was on my best list, too!
Somebody put Sabrina on their best list :). Not me, but this is so subjective.
Completely agree with the Grinch!
Hey, I think I saw that old lady driving the other day.
I only like the new grinch because of the music.
Great one on Sabrina and Oceans.
Love the funny!
I agree about the remake of Sabrina. But I like both versions of the Grinch.
Happy Weekend!
Fun joke!
Although I like Sabrina (both films), I agree with all your other picks!
Ha! Great Joke of the Day. And I agree with your Best and Worst choices.
haha. thanks for the laugh! I think everyone loved the Ocean's 11 remake!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I didn't realize they'd even made a remake of "Sabrina". Not that I would've gone to see it. I liked the original too much to want to risk seeing it ruined.
Good joke!
Have a super weekend.
Wasn't "The Rose" with Bette Midler kinda of a remake of "A Star is Born," too? I don't remember it well, but love Bette Midler!
I liked your other picks, too, and really like the joke! :-)
I don't like the Grinch, which is just plain irony since everybody says I'm the personification of the Grinch during Christmas time. But yes, Carrey just seemed like the Mask in Santa's suit to me.
Sorry to be so slow responding to everyone. I had to be away from my computer much of the day.
Rhonda - Well, the Grinch wasn't exactly a movie remake. Thanks for following me. I think I've returned the favor (Networked Blogs hates me.)
Lynda - Sad, because I usually love anything with Harrison Ford.
Diane - Thank you! Exactly how I feel.
Alex - There was something about the pairing of Dr. Seuss and Boris Karloff.
Stacy - I had loved the original Sabrina forever so I was truly disappointed in the remake.
Lee - I thought Judy Garland was perfect in that role. I doubt Seuss ever intended his books to be made into films.
Mark - I think Ocean's 11 has popped up on a lot of lists.
Isis - I wonder if that person ever saw the original?
Susan G/K - Really? I think she lives in my area. She's usually on the road in front of me.
Carol - Glad you enjoyed it. Happy weekend to you, too.
Tyrean - Thanks for stopping by. I popped over to your blog as well.
Linda G. - Ah, you're easy. You always enjoy my jokes. (Obviously you have an excellent sense of humor.)
nutschell - Yeah, Ocean's 11 is everywhere today.
Susan F S - If you appreciated the charm of the original, the remake would have disappointed. And a super weekend to you, as well.
Lexa - The Rose was a bit similar but a different story.
Al - Hmm. I can see a grinch not enjoying THE Grinch. Actually, it's the dog Max that cracks me up. Perhaps if he'd used a dragon...
I totally agree with you on all your picks. We should go to the movies together - such similar tastes! I think that was Harrison Ford's worst movie...or was it that totally stupid one with Anne Heche...again, no chemistry. Don't they do screen tests anymore????
Tina @ Life is Good
I'm with you on the Grinch. Jim Carrey didn't do anything for me in that role.
As for Sabrina, the film was very well done but I never got into Bogie in that roll. I loved Harrison though.
Oceans 11 seems to be a popular one today :)
Loved the joke... didn't think anyone knew my Grandma had crashed :)
PS. Boston Strong all over the U.S. right :)
Carrey's GRINCH was entirely unnecessary, I agree. All of the OCEANS movies are fun ones.
I remember enjoying the Grinch remake, although I'd never consider it a favorite or anything. It's been years since I've seen it!
The joke of the day made me giggle!
FIRST - great joke of the day.
'A Star is Born' - they did kind of remake that one to death, din't they.
I never saw the original Sabrina, guess I need to rent it - Your not the first to mention it here.
AND, the Grinch, well it's the Grinch - what can you say?
Tina - Sure, come on over and we'll go catch a flick. Seriously, I don't think Harrison is a romantic comedy kinda guy. But he's fantastic in action films.
Donna - Carrey doesn't do much for me in general but definitely not as the Grinch. Bogie was an odd choice but I think Audrey Hepburn made it work. Now maybe Harrison and Audrey...
Mark - Yup, Ocean's is everywhere.
Your Grandma? I thought that was my Grandma. Oh, wait...I am a Grandma. (Boston Strong!)
Milo - Entirely unnecessary. Yup, that about sums it up.
Heather - Ah, but the original is a classic. Glad I gave you a giggle.
farawayeyes - Glad you liked the joke. And, yes, they made two Star is Born too many. Try the original Sabrina. Let me know if you like it.
Great point about the Grinch. Didn't need to be remade no matter how funny Jim Carrey is.
Ocean's 11, like you said, very good.
Heather
Hi, L.D.
I COULD'T AGREE MORE on EVERYTHING YOU posted .. ESPECIALLY the Grinch! MY ALL TIME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS feature.
I HATED the movie version!
Have a great weekend!
Heather - And since I'm not a big Jim Carrey fan, it REALLY didn't have to be made. *grin*
Michael - Hey, great minds and all that. You have a great weekend, too.
Ah yes, the Sabrina remake was dismal! That was fun--a good read! Smiling, Tara :)
Well, there's something wrong with me 'cause I liked the Sabrina remake. Greg Kinnear was the best thing in it, though.
I thought I was the only person around who's seen the Judy Garland version of A Star Is Born! I still love the way she sings "The Man that Got Away." Such a torch song.
I haven't seen Ormond's version of Sabrina, but nor do I feel the need to. I am not really a big fan of hers anyway, and how could she do better than Audrey?
Haven't seen the original of Ocean's 11, but it looks like it's got some smokin' dudes in it. :D
Interesting picks. There was an even earlier version of Star is Born called What Price Hollywood, which is a pretty good movie.
I liked the original Ocean's more. the 11 remake was okay, but the sequels left a bad taste over the whole series for me.
mood
Great joke. Thanks for sharing your choices. I actually enjoyed Jim's Grinch as well as the animated.
These were some truly excellent choices, LD. And I have no idea why but it made me think of the two King Kongs. The black and white and the one with Jessica Lange. (It's very early on a Saturday morning. Girl may need coffee.)
Have a great weekend!
Sabrina and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are great picks!! You can't beat Audrey. :) And Jim Carey should leave beloved classics alone. :P
Fantastic movie picks. I forgot all about the Grinch. I completely agree it didn't need to be made into a live version. The cartoon is a classic. And loved your joke! *LOL*
I only ever saw the 1976 version of A Star Is Born... and I LOVED the soundtrack! Barbara Streisand's voice moves me to tears... such an awesome talent! (I can't remember much about the actual movie though...)
And that joke was priceless! ROTFL!
Writer In Transit
Tara - Dismal is a good word for it. And thanks. Glad you stopped by.
Helena - I think that was the problem. Greg shouldn't have been the best part. Judy Garland singing "The Man That Got Away" is perfection.
Trisha F - Very few could replace Audrey. Watch the original Ocean's 11 sometime. Bet you'll like it.
Mood - I never saw What Price Hollywood. Have to check it out. I'm with you on the sequels. Most sequels are unnecessary at best.
Sheena-kay - Thanks. And you're not alone. I know the Jm Carrey Grinch has lots of fans. I'm just not among them.
Suze - Hey, several people mentioned King Kong. Maybe you were thinking of the B&W vs. color thing. Hope you're having a great weekend, too.
Rachel - Ah, a woman after my own heart.
Christine - Well, I was stretching a little since the original wasn't a movie. Glad you liked the joke.
michelle - Exactly. Even Steisand's voice couldn't make that movie anything but forgetable. (better get up before someone trips over you)
Oceans Eleven made a lot of peoples lists...and for good reason! :)
Good choices, I forgot about the Grinch and Sabrina. I chose Oceans Eleven, too. That movie is one of my all time favorites.
Never saw either Sabrina. I liked the Jim Carrey version of the Grinch but I am a big Jim Carrey fan.
Ooh! Thanks for the tip. I love older films. We own the Sabrina remake and enjoy it. From your comments, that must mean that the original really is great. I can't wait to see it!
-Jimmy
DL - Yup. It was a good one.
Melanie - Technically, the Grinch wasn't a movie makeover but I just had to mention it.
Powdered Toast Man - Makes a difference, I'm not so much.
Jimmy - Let me know what you think.
Totally agree about Ocean's 11 and the Grinch. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about Sabrina ;)
i agree about The Grinch. and i like the jokes.
J.A. - I'm good with that. You're not the only one who disagreed with me.
Michelle - Thanks. Glad you liked 'em.
Post a Comment