Movie ReMake Challenge Part II: AND THE WINNER IS...

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THE WIZARD OF OZ Grover original Produced by JOHN LASSETER Directed by PETER DOCTER Budget: $190 MILLION ANNE HATHAWAY as Dorothy ERIC IDLE as The Scarecrow NEIL PATRICK-HARRIS as The Tin Man SUSAN SARANDON as The Wicked Witch This Film is ANIMATED by PIXAR Criticized early on for my 1.1 budget pick of $190 million with the three higher above it, including Blockbuster, despite my steadfast assurance I was making the right move. It proved to be correct. This is the first animated entry in the FOFC Move ReMake drafts. It is a bold attempt of creating a Pixar version of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. The budget plays in to any recent Pixar films costing $170-$200m. $190 is perfect. John Lasseter who has produced every Pixar film ever was the easy choice as Producer. Docter directed Up and Monster's Inc, as well as having written several Pixar films. It felt the right choice for a Pixar film to go with a veteran Pixar writer/director, just as it did with Lasseter as producer. For the score, I chose Alan Menkin who has done work for numerous Disney movies including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Tangled. Very strong choice with song heavy Disney animated features. While recreating Oz in a fantastic animated world, it will still remain part musical, requiring all of the actors to have some singing ability. Anne Hathaway was my top choice for Dorothy from the start. She has the vocal range to do 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' and has the sound I'm looking for in a Dorothy. Eric Idle was my first choice for The Scarecrow. Can you picture anybody else singing 'If I Only Had a Brain'? Neither can I. I took Neil Patrick Harris as the Tin Man because he's a vet on Broadway and in television and has proved he can sing, check out Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. Susan Sarandon as the Wicked Witch. Doesn't she just look like a witch? And sound like a witch. She's the perfect voice and attitude for our Wicked Witch. This is meant to be a fairly true adaptation, the Pixar version of the land of Oz would be fantastic, colorful almost hypnotic and trippy. It would be Pixar's finest feat in animation. Score and Musical Arrangement by ALAN MENKEN

NATURAL BORN KILLERS NorvTurnerOverdrive original Produced by DAVID LYNCH Directed by QUENTIN TARANTINO Budget: $90 MILLION CHARLIZE THERON as Mickey Knox ROONEY MARA as Mallory Knox MERYL STREEP as Gale Wayne WILLEM DAFOE as Det. Jack Scagnetti Music from JACK WHITE Yep. Lesbian killers on the loose. Sexy. Violent. Ethereal. Comedically uncomfortable The staples easy button would have been to cast the two most attractive women possible. That didn't interest me The Wayne Gale (Geraldo Rivera) character has been changed to Gale Wayne (Nancy Grace) an in-studio tv personality You could make a strong case that David Lynch's "Wild at Heart" is directly responsible for 30-70% of Tarantino's career Depending on which story you believe either Tarantino hated the original so much he took his name off it or Oliver Stone changed the script so much he couldn't receive WGA credit for it. Either way, he sold it for peanuts ($10,000) and they raped it Willem Dafoe as Det. Jack Scagnetti is another nod to "Wild at Heart" Ennio Morricone (Kill Bill Vol. I &II) and Jack White seemed logical choices Score and Musical Arrangement by ENNIO MORRICONE

THE UNTOUCHABLES Carman Bulldog original Produced by ARNON MILCHAN Directed by MARTIN SCORSESE Budget: $80 MILLION MATT DAMON as Elliot Ness LIAM NEESON as Jim Malone JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT as Agent George Stone PAUL GIAMATTI as Al Capone Cinematography on this Film done by ROBERT RICHARDSON Martin Scorsese, the director of Goodfellas, Casino, and The Departed joins with Arnon Milchan, the producer who brought you L.A. Confidential, Heat and Once Upon a Time in America to re-tell one of America's most famous real life mob stories. Three-time Academy Award winner and frequent Scorsese collaborator Robert Richardson has signed on as the Director of Photography (cinematographer). The vision is to capture Chicago in the Prohibition era in the same way that L.A. Confidential captured Los Angeles in the early 1950's. The story and dialogue will stay quite similar to the original although with Scorsese's touch, it will be a bit darker and grittier. Matt Damon's ability to portray both brains and brawn make him a perfect fit for the lead role of Elliot Ness, the Bureau of Prohibition agent intent on taking down Al Capone. Liam Neeson plays the incorruptible Irish-American veteran officer Jim Malone, a role which helped earn Sean Connery his lone Academy Award in the original movie. Hollywood rising star Joseph Gordon-Levitt has signed on to play Agent George Stone, the sharpshooting intelligent recruit fresh out of the Academy, a role that gave Andy Garcia his big break in 1987. Paul Giamatti has been tagged for the role of Al Capone. A somewhat surprising selection, Giamatti fits both the physical description and has the Italian roots. Furthermore, Giamatti's versatility and range as an actor will allow him to play both sides of Capone's personality, the jovial public image he portrayed and the darker gangster behind the scenes. Academy Award winning composer Elliot Goldenthal, the man behind the soundtracks for both Heat and Public Enemies, composes the score. Random movie trivia: Three of the lead actors attended either Harvard, Yale or Colombia University. Score and Musical Arrangement by ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL

BACK TO THE FUTURE JediKooter original Produced by HARVEY WEINSTEIN Directed by RIDLEY SCOTT Budget: $110 MILLION JESSE EISENBERG as Marty McFly MORGAN FREEMAN as Doc Brown ZOOEY DESCHANEL as Lorraine McFly CHANNING TATUM as Biff Tannen CILLIAN MURPHY as George McFly Harvey Weinstein pulls in his resources to help update Back to the Future (a 2013 release), allowing Ridely Scott to apply his superior cinematic skills to this timeless classic and his veteran sci-fi directing ability to bring Marty, Doc Brown, Biff Tannen, Lorraine and George McFly, into the present. Morgan Freeman plays the role of eccentric, but, affable scientist, Doc Brown. Marty McFly, is played by actor Jesse Eisengberg, star of such hits as Zombieland and The Social Network. Lorraine and George McFly are played by Zooey Deschanel and Cillian Murphy, Marty's parents that are destined for a love that not even time can stop. Playing the equine scataphobic bully, Biff Tannen, is Channing Tatum. Rounding out this paradoxical cinematic event, is the music of Marc Streitenfeld, composer for movies such as Prometheus & American Gangster. Set in 2009, so the movie has a more contemporary look and feel to it, though the story follows along mostly with the original, with some changes here and there for relevance. The DeLorean stays and as Doc Brown says, "It's a DeLorean. Who's going to steal a piece of shit car?". Instead of Libyan terrorists, it will be the Taliban that is after Doc Brown and ambush him and Marty the night Marty goes back in time, 30 years into the past to 1979. Marty's dad remains a nerdy kind of guy, but, Lorraine is more of a punk rocker girl. Disco is alive, no one has shot JR, Jimmy Carter is president, and there's no internet to be found. Score and Musical Arrangement by MARC STREITENFELD

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ROCKY tarcone original Produced by SAM RAIMI Directed by JOHN AVILDSEN Budget: $70 MILLION MARK WAHLBERG as Rocky CHRISTOPHER WALKEN as Mick JULIETTE LEWIS as Adrian JAMES GANDOLFINI as Paulie WESLEY SNIPES as Apollo Creed $70 million budget seemed about right. There isnt any big special effects. Extras and locations are the big expense. Producer Sam Raimi will share the directors chair with Avildsen. He is a good person to bein charge of an action/romance type movie. John Avildsen directed the original Rocky. He is back mainly to bring the feel of the original. He will so-direct with Raimi. This is a cheesy use of Producer/Director. But I like how this will work out. Mark Wahlberg can play the uneducated, tough guy character. He has played a fighter and a guy from Philly. He was the no-brain choice for Rocky. Christopher Walken as Mickey. I like this choice, especially after my first choice was dead. Walken can bring a tough guy mentality and mentor type ability to this character. Wesley Snipes has been allowed out of prison to shoot this film. The warden is a huge fan of Rocky and a native Philadelphian. Snipes will make a great aging fighter near the ned of his career. Juliette Lewis makes for a great Adrienne. I see a less outgoing Kalifornia character. Not as dumb. But in the same vein. James Gandolfini will make a great paulie. Tough, abrasive, no-nonsense. Slightly off. I really like this pick. Bill Conti has done all the Rocky movies, no reason he doesnt continue with this project. This was a tough draft. But I liked casting Rocky. It was exciting and I feel I did a much better job. Im hoping for some love from the fans. This is a timeless classic. It has romance, action, an underdog story, inspiration. This is a great movie. And my team will make it even greater. Score and Musical Arrangement by BILL CONTI

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS Surtt original Produced by RONALD D. MOORE Directed by GUILLERMO DEL TORO Budget: $300+ MILLION ELLEN PAGE as Harriet Potter CHLOE MORETZ as Hermione JAVIER BARDEM as Lord Voldermort EDWARD JAMES OLMOS as Albus Dumbledore MICHAEL CERA as Ron Weasley This is a radical reimaging, bringing in Ronald D. Moore (of BSG fame) to produce it. The story (or series if there are more movies) will be streamlined with the emphasis placed on the lead up and siege of Hogwarts along with Harry tracking down and destroying the Horcruxes. I want it to have a claustrophobic "war movie" feel. I decided to start with the second book since a large portion of the first consists of introducing characters and settings, at this point everyone is familiar with the HP universe so this is no longer needed. Any required plot points from Philosopher's Stone will be shown as flashback. I also think Chamber of Secrets gives Del Toro more to work with (I would really like to see what he does with Dobby) My take on Dumbledore is: not so much the kindly old wizard, as the weary headmaster, ready to retire but forced to stay on when Lord Voldemort reappears. (Obviously thinking of Adama as a model) Lord Voldermort, for the most part, will replace the Tom Riddle character. I wanted to cast Javier Bardem as Voldermort and need to work him into the story from the start. Voldermort, although he can be charming when he wants to be, will be a relentless sociopath, single minded in his pursuit of his goals. (not the same character as Anton Chigurh in No Country for for Old Men, but it showed Bardem can handle the role.) Dumbledore is content letting Harry grow up hidden among the muggles until he suspects Voldermort has returned and Harry is no longer safe. As a result Harry ends up arriving at Hogwarts much older then children normal do and is at first handicapped by not haveing the rudimentery magic training other students have, but Hermione's tutoring soon brings her up to speed. Harriet "Harry" Potter will be older, in her late teens and no longer a celebrity for being "the child who lived." She will instead be a social outcast, disliked for the favoritism show her by Dumbledore and being perceived as bringing Voldermort's wrath down on them. Ron Weasley will the same age as Harry and also be a social outcast. Although no one denies his talent or ability, he lacks focus and motivation. Being a slacker is the greatest sin you can commit at Hogwarts. Hermione will be in her early teens, but being a bit of a child prodigy, will be taking upper level courses and end up in the same classes as Ron and Harry. Neither fitting in with the kids her own age nor the ones in her classes, she too is a social outcast. Having no one else, the 3 pariahs end up being friends. I suppose the working title for this movie is Harry Potter and the Rape of Your Childhood. I initially wanted to remake the earlier HP movies to match the darker tone of the later ones, but did not see it as possible without making major changes. So I decided to go big. Score and Musical Arrangement by HANS ZIMMER

STAR WARS Suicane75 original Produced by GEORGE LUCAS Directed by ALEX PROYAS Budget: $130 MILLION JONATHAN JACKSON as Luke Skywalker RUSSELL CROWE as Han Solo JESSICA ALBA as Princess Leia ROBERT REDFORD as Obi-Wan KEVIN SPACEY as Grand Moff Tarkin While the story will hold faithful to the original for the most part, my intention is for Proyas to create a bleaker, more weathered and hostile look and feel to the film. The biggest change in my version is a slightly expanded role for Tarkin as just an insidious and evil fucker while Vader is portrayed as a killing machine. Both on the same level, but as in the original one is more verbal and ominous while the other is more straight forward about torture. Mental and Physical, it will be heightened in this version. Crowes' Solo is not so much darker than Fords, but not as airy. While Ford was made to look disheveled, Crowe actually is older than both Luke and Leia and thus creates a sort of 3 generational thing I'm looking for with the main crew. The only person he trusts is Chewbacca. Of course when he finally meets Leia, all gloves are off. I don't want to make it sappier, I want to make it realer, I want him to feel tested and pushed by Vader and fight back. Leia, well that was pretty much eye candy picking. Albas a competent actress with big dough eyes who I think can do the job. Redford as Obi-Wan was a no brainer for me when thinking of an older actor who can just pull off that Pollyanna act but still come across as intimidating when needed. I very much want him and Luke to be very pure in the beginning. Most people probably don't know or have never seen Jonathon Jackson since he's pretty much been a soap actor his entire life but when Phantom Menace was in the works, his name was thrown around in regards to playing Annakin and it gave me a boner. Dude is just awesome. He's slight, has the Luke "look" and can handle the extremes of being very naive and soft and then being angry. As far as me not casting Vader and some peoples comments on it, I don't know what to say. It's gonna be a bigger guy in the suit and it's gonna be Jones voice or a reasonable facsimile thereof. I didn't think there was a big need to specifically cast a guy we aren't gonna see or a particular voice when it's so easy to digitally manipulate exactly what I or the director want. As for the sets and the look of the film, if you seen any of Proyas' work you know what he can bring to the table when it comes to look and atmosphere. The idea of giving him reign over a revamped Death Star makes me giddy. Much more than the original I'm imagining a sci-fi construction site that will obviously have amazing technology but also be cold, sterile and efficient. The same goes with Tatooine. Lastly, as far as changes to the film go, there are really just a few things. One, Ben being struck down by Vader is not a win for the good guys, it doesn't make him stronger, it just kills him. Bens death is not the impetus for Lukes glory, it's the impetus for his revenge, fueled by his hatred of Vader. While the undertones are certainly there in the original, I want this version to end with a much clearer picture that Luke is alone. His parents are dead, Ben is dead, Han has Leia, and he has nothing. The movie will end not with Vader hurtling off into space, but Luke, presumed dead by his friends but not by Vader, who can still sense his presence. More than the original, I want the ending of this film to feel like that despite the destruction of The Death Star, The Empire is very much alive and about to go into shit kicking mode. Score and Musical Arrangement by VANGELIS

THE SEARCHERS ntndeacon original Produced by CLINT EASTWOOD Directed by TERRENCE MALICK Budget: $40 MILLION ROBERT DENIRO as Ethan Edwards JAKE GYLLENHAAL as Martin Pawley SAOIRSE RONAN as Debbie Edwards JESSICA CHASTAIN as Laurie Jorgensen Cinematography for this Film done by ROGER DEAKINS Clint Eastwood produces the remake of the classic 1956 John Ford western The Searchers. The person charged with reactualizing this classic is director Terrance Malick. To play the part John Wayne played takes a legend. Deniro plans to put his spin on the Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards. Edwards will seem darker as he spends more time out looking for his niece. Gyllenhall's Martin Pawley will be the more hopeful and seemingly naive of the two. However he becomes more jaded as he travels with Edwards. Laurie Jurgenson represents home and normality, especially for Martin. Jessica Chastain was chosen not only for her looks but I could see her changing at the Jurgenson home over the years as much as Gyllenhall. I felt we needed a big name for the captured niece Debbie, just as they had in the original..(Natalie Wood played the older Debbie in the original) Oscar nominated actress Ronan fills that role nicely. She is known for her accents as well so her Irish roots will not be a concern. Carter Burwell has shown his ability in orchestrating westerns with True Grit and No Country for Old Men as well as the recent adaptation of The Alamo. Terrance Malick's direction lends itself to sweeping vistas and bleak scenes. Roger Deakins has proven himself one of the best cinematographers working today. This picture will make more of the idea of loss that seems to run throughout the movie. The loss of innocence, the loss of family, the loss of a moral center, and the loss of hope will all be highlighted at various points. Terrance Malick seemed the perfect fit to use this theme and from pretty early in the draft was where my head was going for the director spot. I also realized early that we wouldn't need a lot of money to film this great movie. I figured that we would use some of Ford's favorite Western location... Monument Valley to film the majority of the film. Score and Musical Arrangement by CARTER BURWELL

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THE RUNNING MAN Coffee Warlord original Produced by STEVEN SPIELBERG Directed by PETER JACKSON Budget: $150 MILLION DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON as Ben Richards GENE HACKMAN as Damon Killian HAYDEN PANETTIERE as Amber ARNOLD SCWARZENEGGER as Captain Freedom Professor Sub Zero played by TROY POLAMALU Peter Jackson teams back up with Steven Spielburg, this time with roles reversed. Jackson returns to his comedy-horror roots, though this time with a much more sci-fi feel. He'll be right at home designing some nice awe inspiring sets to populate a distopian, battered world for the Rock and company to survive. He's got $150 million to build the great Running Man "arena", more than enough even for a big spender like Jackson. Spielburg, with many more Sci-Fi themes under his belt, will act as a great advisor and sounding board for Jackson's plans. This film isn't trying to be what it never was. It's campy, it's over the top, it's a film you leave the wife home for and bring the boys. It's meant to be a fun stomp, leaving you with a collection of one liners and amusement. Gene Hackman steps up as Damon Killian, bringing to the role a combination of high energy sleazy car-salesman, and larger than life persona. There's few roles one would consider The Rock as perfect for. This is one of them. Filling the shoes of Arnie is no small task, but The Rock simply playing as The Rock brings exactly what you need for the role of Richards. Of course, The Rock's own one liners are present in the film. Ben is asked during the Run who the first stalker is - The Rock quickly shrugs and wryly responds, "Does it matter what his name is?" Cameo roles by The Governator (Captain Freedom) and Troy Polamalu (Sub Zero) reinforce one very simple fact - this is not a movie to be taken overly seriously, but one made for both the audience and the actors themselves to have fun. Arnold, in his role as the retired Stalker Captain Freedom, does get his signature "I'll Be Back" line. Hayden Panetierre brings a young bit of eye candy, portraying a studio intern who gets caught up in Ben Richard's escape and eventual fight for his life. The role was cast with the thought of needing a good looking young female actress who wasn't TOO athletic looking, but would not make a complete fool out of herself once she was thrust into the Running Man. The legendary Danny Elfman composes, bringing his usual quirky mix which is perfect as the Runners make their way through the ruins. It is reported Elfman had an absolute grand time composing entrance songs for the various Stalkers. (Word is Polamalu plays Sub Zero's entrance theme before practice once he finished filming - Big Ben is considering homicide.) Peter Jackson mentioned before filming started, "If I accomplish nothing else in this film, I will ensure that the future does not look like the 80's." Score and Musical Arrangement by DANNY ELFMAN

STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE larrymcg421 original Produced by ROBERT ZEMECKIS Directed by JOSS WHEDON Budget: $250 MILLION JAMES MCAVOY as Obi-Wan Kenobi RALPH FIENNES as Qui Gonn Jinn HAILEE STEINFELD as Queen Amidala CHANDLER RIGGS as Anakin Skywalker CHIWETEL EJIOFOR as Darth Maul The aim of this remake will be to restore honor to a hallowed franchise. The story will feature the same outline as in the original with some important changes. No midichlorians. Darth Maul will have a much bigger role and will be set up to be the main villain (along with the Emperor, of course) throughout the remade trilogy. Jar Jar will only appear in a very short scene where he stupidly screws something up and gets brutally killed. Dialogue completely reworked by Whedon. Trade Federation plot completely reworked by Whedon. Chandler Riggs is a proven actor from The Walking Dead and will provide a much improved Anakin performance. Ralph Fiennes is a two time Oscar nominee with the appropriate stature and skills to play Qui Gon. James McAvoy is a talented and popular actor who has shown his ability to do serious roles (Last King of Scotland) and big budget blockbusters (X-Men: First Class) Hailee Steinfeld is an Oscar nominee for True Grit, where she showed a quick witted line delivery that will be a perfect fit for Whedon's dialogue style. Chiwetel Ejiofor previously worked with Whedon on Serenity, where he turned in a memorable villainous performance. He brings a combination of fighting skill and acting chops that will be required for the upgraded Darth Maul. John Williams has scored every previous Star Wars film and will provide another memorable theme here. Score and Musical Arrangement by JOHN WILLIAMS

WILLOW Izulde original Produced by JERRY BRUCKHEIMER Directed by ALFONSO CUARON Budget: $60 MILLION SEAN ASTIN as Willow Ufgood JOHNNY DEPP as Madmartigan CHRISTIAN BALE as General Kael GLENN CLOSE as Queen Bavmorda This Movie is FILMED IN NEW ZEALAND Firstname Cuaron and Jerry Bruckheimer team up to bring to life a darker, more disturbing Willow. Sean Astin who played Samwise to such acclaim in lord of the rings and rudy again takes on the mantle of a simple, earnest hero, the farmer awillow. johnny depp is the wisecracking yet capable swordsman madmartigan who eventually joins willow in his quest and with all the showstealing potential thus sort of deppian role provides. Willow and madmartigan travel through a dark, surreal atmospheric landscape that is a trademark of Cuaron films (see prisoner of azkaban) with bruckheimers stellar producing record and the breasts, lush on location New Zealand landscape adding to those efforts. The evil looking Christian Bale as General Karl and the talented veteran villaness actress Glenn close as queen bavmorda stand in opposition to willow and co. These proven actors lend credibility to the nenance needed for this more epic, dramatic interpretation of willow. Thus change from original camp to remake gravitas is also echoed in firstbame Powells score. As one leans heavily on percussion and disc the tracks for the Italian job and a couple bourne movies, he has the questing music genre credential and his talent is showcase by his Oscar nomination for his work in how to train a dragon. All the established genre elements are here for a grander willow with the producer and star of the box office smash pirates of the carribbean series, a perfectly rypecast major actor from the universally lauded lord of the rings trilogy, the lead actor from the darkest contemporary Batman films yet, a critically acclaimed directory who excels in the darker vein of films, and a fitting composer whose music is set against the best backdrop for a fantasy epic in new Zealand, as lord of the rings showed. Score and Musical Arrangement by JOHN POWELL

12 ANGRY MEN TRO original Produced by RON HOWARD Directed by COEN BROS Budget: $25 MILLION JEFF BRIDGES as Juror #3 ROBERT DUVALL as Juror #9 STEVE BUSCEMI as Juror #7 DENZEL WASHINGTON as Juror #8 STANLEY TUCCI as Juror #4 Ron Howard to produce the modern update to the penultimate character drama - 12 Angry Men. The budget of $25,000,000 is the equivalent of $300,000,000 for a sci-fi blockbuster. Directing will be the Coen Brothers. They focus on character development and create empathy for imperfect characters which this film is full of. They have extensive history with both Buscemi and Bridges who are key members of the cast. The Hero - Juror #8 needs to have ability to play off of each of the other jurors throughout the film. Denzel Washington's range and charisma will help lead the film. The Antagonist - Juror #3 will be played by Jeff Bridges. He remains firm in his position throughout the film and is genuinely angry. Key to his character is the turn where he reveals the reasons for his anger. This is one actor that can pull off that turn and earn the audience's compassion for his situation. The Analyzer - Juror #4 - is the other half of the antagonist role in the film. Whereas #3 is pure emotion, #4 is looking at the facts and tries to strip all emotion out of the equation. Tucci will be able to carry this role with wit and charm without getting between the major character drama going on between Washington & Bridges. Ulterior Motives - Juror #7 - Steve Buscemi just wants to get out of Jury Duty as quick as he can. There isn't a more perfect fit for "slime ball that plays both sides of the fence" than him. The Wise Old Man - Juror #9 - Robert Duvall. The character is the first to side with the hero. He commands the respect of the room. Score and Musical Arrangement by THOMAS NEWMAN

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METROPOLIS sabotai original Produced by JOEL SILVER Directed by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Budget: $220 MILLION DANIEL DAY-LEWIS as Joe Fredrickson EDWARD NORTON as Frank Fredrickson AMY ADAMS as Maria Helms MALCOLM MCDOWELL as Dr. Jeremy Rotwang PHILIP SEYMOUR-HOFFMAN as Patrick Williams Christopher Nolan directs, with Joel Silver producing, an epic remake of Fritz Lang's epic silent classic. The city of Metropolis will be dark and gritty, right up Nolan's alley. With $220 million, they have plenty of money to work with. The film is set in a dystopian future where state corporatism has run amok, resulting in a city where a single state owned corporation owns and runs everything. The city of Metropolis is also an allegory to the Late Roman Empire. The senate exists, but is virtually powerless, having long since transferred all of their real power to the Corporation. The CEO is analogous to the Emperor. It has simply come to be accepted that the CEO remains in his position until he declares his replacement. The citizens of Metropolis are, of course, the citizens of Rome, and have had many rights stripped away from them and essentially live in a caste system. Daniel Day-Lewis will take on the role of Joe Fredrickson, CEO of The Corporation. He's a cold, hard man but cares for his family. His number 1 goal is to keep the city of Metropolis running smoothly, and gets irate at every hiccup that occurs. Edward Norton plays our main protagonist, Frank Fredrickson, son of the CEO. Until now, he's lived a fairly hedonistic lifestyle as he enjoys his family's wealth, but his personality is the opposite of his father's. He cares about people, loves humor and is empathetic. But he lives his life in ignorance to what life is like for the lowers classes. The basic plot of the movie is his journey into the lower levels to discover the plight of the workers of Metropolis and his efforts to make things right. Amy Adams plays Maria Helms, a lower class worker and a community leader. She's also the main love interest of Frank Fredrickson. She pulls double duty on this film as she also plays a robot that is built in her image. Malcolm McDowell plays eccentric, mad scientist Dr. Jeremy Rotwang. He was in love with the CEO's wife and was building a robot in her image. Later in the film, he builds a robot to look like Maria Helms to go into the lower levels and sow dissent among the workers. Philip Seymour-Hoffman plays Patrick Williams, the CEO's assistant who is fired early in the movie. He helps Frank on his quest to learn about the lower levels, but his own personal goal is to turn son against father. In this most epic remake of an epic movie, I can't think of anyone better to come up with an epic score than Howard Shore. Score and Musical Arrangement by HOWARD SHORE

BULL DURHAM Chief Rum original Produced by JUDD APATOW Directed by KEVIN COSTNER Budget: $50 MILLION BRADLEY COOPER as Crash Davis ISLA FISHER as Annie Savoy JAY BARUCHEL as Calvin "Nuke" Laloosh EMMA STONE as Millie JOHN C. REILLY as Larry In 1988, our national pasttime was a glorified part of sports culture Americana, as shown in touching films like The Natural and Field of Dreams. So when the irreverent and sardonic Bull Durham was released, moviegoers were immediately attracted to the very real and not so noble world of minor league baseball, a very different view of the sports heroes of our day. Nothing captures this more than the scene where the batboy hands Kevin Costner's Crash Davis a new bat and proclaims, "Get a hit, Crash!" To which, Crash immediately sourly responds, "Shut up!" One of the funniest movies ever filmed, Bull Durham made a grizzled hero of Costner, a sex symbol of Susan Sarandon, and elevated Tim Robbins above "that guy who was Tom Cruise's RO in the finale of Top Gun". It remains one of the most quotable movies written, and its heartwarming story appealed to well beyond the young male demographic it originally targeted for. To re-do one of the best comedies in recent memory, one must have the best in the business to bring the project in fruition. And so we turned to Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Bridesmaids) to re-envision and update the story of Crash Davis and Annie Savoy and the Durham Bulls. Apatow always maintained it was important to be true to the original, so he could not have found a better director to helm his project than the original Crash himself, Kevin Costner (Dances With Wolves, Open Range). Costner is not only the original Crash himself, but is also inarguably the king of baseball movies. To lead his cast, Costner turned to the ruggedly handsome Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, Wedding Crashers, The A-Team). Cooper brings just the right amount of dry wit and sarcasm needed to recreate the character of Crash Davis, as he displays so well in the Hangover movies. Costner brought in the lovely and witty Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Definitely Maybe) to play the sultry and sly Annie Savoy, who sets her seasonal target on Crash for her love machinations. In a nod toward the goofier approach Apatow tends to take, Costner cast the seemingly naive and geekesque Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder, She's Out of My League, The Sorcerer's Apprentice) in key role of Nuke Laloosh, the brash but gullible phenom pitcher Crash takes under his wing on his inevitable way to The Show. Costner rounded out the cast with the beautiful and charming Emma Stone (Zombieland, Easy A, Crazy Stupid Love) as Annie's young sidekick Millie, and one of Apatow's acknowledged favorite funny men in John C. Reilly (Boogie Nights, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Step Brothers) as goofball Coach Larry. With a much healthier budget of $50 M, far outstripping the production costs of the original, Apatow and Costner are able to make the Southern charm of the town of Durham come alive again. To help in this cause, they turned to reknowned songwriter and composer Randy Newman (Toy Story, The Full Monty, The Natural) to do the soundtrack. Come see Apatow's vision of Bull Durham, coming soon to a theater near you, and laugh at and love again the humble underpinnings of a once and still majestic national past time. Score and Musical Arrangement by RANDY NEWMAN

DIE HARD SackAttack original Produced by JOHN MCTIERNAN Directed by KENNETH BRANAGH Budget: $170 MILLION SAMUEL JACKSON as John McClaine KENNETH BRANAGH as Hans Gruber AARON PAUL as Sgt. Al Powell JOHN TRAVOLTA as Harry Ellis GERALDO RIVERA as Richard Thornberg We're flipping the script on a couple things here. The most obvious is, by casting Samuel L. Jackson as John McClane and Aaron Paul as Al Powell, we've turned the original casting upside down, ethnically. The original Die Hard took place in Los Angeles. Consequently, even though it's a Christmas movie, nobody ever remembers that part. We're gonna fix that - the setting is Christmas in New York City (The Deutsche Bank on Wall Street, specifically). John is from LA, visiting his estranged wife to attempt reconciliation. This time, Al Powell and John McClane are both at the party - McClane to see his wife, Powell as an off-duty police officer providing private event security - when shit gets real. Each manages to elude the terrorists. They independently wage one-man efforts, and eventually discover one another's effect on the terrorist plot via pilfered radios. They don't meet face-to-face until the end of the movie. Never had a chance at Quentin Tarantino to direct, which is kind of a bummer with Jackson on board as McClane and John Travolta doing a turn as Harry "I eat Eurotrash like this for breakfast" Ellis. Would've been fun to reunite the three of them. Kenneth Branagh directs instead, and as has so often done before, will spend time in front of the camera as well. Meet Hans Gruber. John McTiernan, director of the original, produces. His job will be to give Branagh the freedom to experiment with the pacing of the story while at the same time keeping him grounded and connected to the franchise. Michael Kamen scored the original. Michael Kamen is dead. Dead men write no scales. James Horner is the next best thing, having earned a large pile of Oscar nominations for his work over the years (including such films as Aliens, Apollo 13, Braveheart and Avatar). Even better, some of his unused work from Aliens found its way into the original Die Hard, which should serve as an audible touchstone for viewers. Geraldo Rivera is gonna get punched in the face. Isn't that enough, really? Score and Musical Arrangement by JAMES HORNER

DELIVERANCE Subby original Produced by BRAD PITT Directed by BRYAN SINGER Budget: $30 MILLION TOM HARDY as Lewis JEREMY RENNER as Ed MICHAEL FASSBENDER as Bobby GEORGE CLOONEY as Drew Cinematography on this Film done by WALLY PFISTER Synopsis Deliverance is equal parts horror film, survival film, and thriller. It is about finding out who you are when all of life's conveniences are stripped away. It is about the choices we make when no one is looking and the fragile complexities of our surface relationships with others. Four Atlanta businessmen, Lewis (Hardy), Ed (Renner), Bobby (Fassbender) and Drew (Clooney), decide to canoe down the Cahulawassee River in the remote Georgia wilderness, expecting to have fun and see the glory of nature before the river valley is flooded by the construction of a dam. During the trip, each man will face a horrific event that will threaten their lives. At no time is it clear that any of the characters will make it to the end of the story. What they face and the choices they make will define who they are and change them forever. Primary Cast Tom Hard as Lewis - a cocksure man's man. Experienced outdoorsman. Jeremy Renner as Ed - an experienced outdoorsman, but without the rough exterior of Hardy. Not as sure of himself, always seems to be having a crisis of confidence. Michael Fassbender as Bobby - an effete snob...prep school, country club, through and through. Not an outdoorsman. George Clooney as Drew - older member of the group. More cautious and deliberate. More mature, but also no experience in the outdoors. Production Team Produced by Brad Pitt (The Departed, Moneyball, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford). Produces great, character driven films. Knows how to assemble talent and he has done that here with Deliverance. Directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, X-Men First Class). Singer can deliver a well-paced film that is more than just a couple of guys talking around a campfire. He can deliver tense, heart-pounding scenes that leave the viewer wanting more. Principal Photography: Wally Pfister (Memento, The Prestige, Batman Begins). Pfister can do it as big as Batman or as small as Memento. The backdrop will be sumptuous and the action tighter than the viewer was expecting. Pfister is one of the few cinematographers that can give you the full range. Score: Dave Grohl - with the Foo Fighters, Grohl delivered an album (Echoes, Silence, Patience, Grace) that is a perfect example of the type of score that works with Deliverance. Breezy country rock to hard pounding percussion, to soft a capella. Grohl will also know when to shut the fuck up and let the natural backdrop of the movie deliver the score. Score and Musical Arrangement by DAVE GROHL

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

jesus. what a calamity. why is every computer in my life a steaming pile.

anyways, have at it


edit: please bring any errors to my attention

[EagleFan]

First you say not to post, now you say to post....

[chadritt]

I liked a bunch but Grovers Wizard of Oz is the only one that made me go "wait.....why isnt that actually happening?" so I only voted for one this time.

[stevew]

natural born killers worked great before TV was a reality whore shit pile. Now we get to see them hack up teen mom cunts and the Kardashians? sign me up

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

and of course i get the days wrong and the poll ends on labor day night. :slaps head:

ah well. maybe long weekend will be good

[molson]

If I went to some fantastic movie megaplex that was playing all these movies I'd check out Back to the Future and Metropolis right away and then have to think about what I wanted to see next....so I'm voting for those two.

[Autumn]

A lot of great jobs here, I really enjoyed this one. I felt a lot of these though played close to the original - I could see the remake working, the actors in thsoe roles, but it didn't give me a compelling reason to watch it rather than the original.

I easily picked three though that I thought stood out from the rest. Perfect casting, something new and distinctive. I think it was the casting that did it: Wizard of Oz, Deliverance and 12 Angry Men, they all felt like inspired choices for casting, whereas some of the other movies felt more like plugging in big names for no reason. These three I think would come out great.

I'm surprised how often people have picked classic movies to remake though. In my mind prime targets for remakes are either A) something that was a great idea but poorly done the first time around, or B) something that was great but seems outdated now. Yet it has felt like almost every movie chosen has not fallen into those categories.

I hope one day I'll have the time to throw my hat in the ring on one of these, a ton of fun.

[Autumn]

Originally Posted by chadritt

I liked a bunch but Grovers Wizard of Oz is the only one that made me go "wait.....why isnt that actually happening?" so I only voted for one this time.

I agree, as soon as Pixar and Wizard of Oz were paired up it was just like, yes, of course. Why isn't there a fantastic animated version of this? I don't think you even need to make it a musical. It would make a great modern animated movie and you could even go back to the book more than the movie to give it a distinct feel.

[stevew]

WB animation sucks so badly, but I'm surprised they haven't remade their catalog into digitally animated movies. It seems to be a surefire way to print money.

m.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/ Disney is making Oz

[Simbo Klice]

I voted for only the Running Man. But reading through now, Wizard of Oz by Pixar was good. As much as I think the Back to the Future redo would be great, that original trilogy is just excellent.

[Alf]

I like loads of them

[wade moore]

I voted 12 Angry Men and Deliverance.

I would have voted for The Wizard of Oz, but I just couldn't forgive the unforgivable sin of taking the $190 mil budget at 1.1.

Honestly, imo, there were some terrible movies in this draft. I think we should be wary of immediately following up with the same draft - would have been better served with some time between.

[Jack of Arcades]

Originally Posted by stevew

WB animation sucks so badly, but I'm surprised they haven't remade their catalog into digitally animated movies. It seems to be a surefire way to print money.

m.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/ Disney is making Oz

That's focused on the Wizard's journey, and James Franco as Oz seems really poorly thought out.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

Originally Posted by wade moore

Honestly, imo, there were some terrible movies in this draft. I think we should be wary of immediately following up with the same draft - would have been better served with some time between.

imdb has 1.7 million titles. i think people are gonna do what they wanna do regardless of time.

[Johnny93g]

I think the 1st draft produced better ideas.

Alot of these are movies I have no interest in seeing, or movies where the casting isn't appealing to me.

I'm not a science fiction guy, or a fantasy world guy, so Star Wars, Harry Potter and Willow have no appeal to me at all.

I am not a fan of the casting in Rocky, Natural Born Killer, Deliverance, Back to the Future or Die Hard. I will skip those.

Running Man has a bad cast IMO, but I would watch it to see Gene Hackman one more time.

I would watch Untouchables, Bull Durham, and the Searchers. All those look good.

My interest would be pretty high in seeing 12 Angry Men, and Metropolis.

12 Angry Men has a great cast, and looks like a pure acting movie. Metropolis is a movie I've never seen, starring DDL, I'm watching it.

[molson]

They only problem I had with 12 Angry Men (and I probably would have still voted for it 3rd or 4th), is that it was too easy. I think there's a million different acting combinations there that would work. Coming up with the roles for Back to the Future and Metropolis, I think, were much more hit-and-miss propositions, and I think those hit.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Ended up going with The Wizard of Oz, The Running Man, 12 Angry Men and Deliverance. Very, very difficult to narrow it down to there, I really would like to see Willow, the Phantom Menace, Bull Durham and the Searchers. Pixar Wizard of Oz makes way too much sense to have not happened in real life, and the casts assembled for 12 Angry Men and Deliverance are fantastic and seem to fit those movies perfectly.

Some of the movies, while cast well, didn't do enough to make me think a remake was necessary. Rocky (haven't I seen Wahlburg do this already?), Star Wars and Back to the Future fall in this group. While I'd totally watch them, I'm not breaking down the door to get at them.

[JediKooter]

I think people are missing the point of the remakes. It's not that they are necessary, it's "Who would you cast and what would you do if you got to remake X?".

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

i'd love to hear the sean astin vs. peter dinklage debate

[Vince, Pt. II]

Duh, forgot to mention the Running Man. I think Coffee Warlord absolutely nailed this one. The actors he chose aren't all that great...but that's the point. A perfect combination of campy-ness and grit. Dwayne Johnson acting is one of my guilty pleasures anyway, and he would be perfect for this role.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by NorvTurnerOverdrive

i'd love to hear the sean astin vs. peter dinklage debate

I don't know that Dinklage would be utilized to his full abilities playing an earnest, somewhat unsure of himself farmer. Not that he couldn't pull it off, just that he'd be worthy of so much more.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

remakes in hollywood parlance are shameless money grabs. personally, i like stuff that can be done better/differently

[Coffee Warlord]

When I was planning Willow out (before it got snaked), I was thinking Dinklage myself. But yeah, while I know he could pull the role off, I'm not sure if he was fully suited for it.

As far as the Running Man goes, yes. Vince summed up exactly where I was going with it. Camp, over the top, fun.

[Grover]

I have apparently finally found something I am good at.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

When I was planning Willow out (before it got snaked), I was thinking Dinklage myself. But yeah, while I know he could pull the role off, I'm not sure if he was fully suited for it.

Yeah, I always thought that Val Kilmer carried Willow totally (well, him and Kevin Pollack ). Upon review, watching a remake where the guy playing Willow is a great actor might be quite intriguing, and I wonder what Dinklage could bring to the role.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

exec: we need a little person...

dinklage: i'm a little person! and a great actor!

exec: screw it. we'll just stick astin in front of a green screen


to be fair though, i read somewhere that dinklage avoids little person roles because he wants to be considered for traditional roles.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by NorvTurnerOverdrive

exec: we need a little person...

dinklage: i'm a little person! and a great actor!

exec: screw it. we'll just stick astin in front of a green screen


to be fair though, i read somewhere that dinklage avoids little person roles because he wants to be considered for traditional roles.

From Prince Caspian as Trumpkin the dwarf (with Warwick Davis next to him)

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

When I was planning Willow out (before it got snaked), I was thinking Dinklage myself. But yeah, while I know he could pull the role off, I'm not sure if he was fully suited for it.

As far as the Running Man goes, yes. Vince summed up exactly where I was going with it. Camp, over the top, fun.

Since my admittedly shitty production notes typed on a phone that I have a hard time thinking on because of the small screen doomed me to like almost no votes and people appeared to hate the idea of a Willow remake anyway, I'm curious to hear what direction you would have gone, CW.

FWIW, I really wanted one of the wildcards to be Bob Anderson choreographing the sword fights and magic duels, but he died in January.

[TRO]

Originally Posted by Grover

I have apparently finally found something I am good at.

I had given some thought to Wizard of Oz through Pixar's eyes as a concept as well, but I couldn't decide on who to cast as voices. I'm still not 100% sure you have the right casting choice on Dorothy, but the fact that you went this route and delivered a strong and believable cast earned my vote for sure.

I also voted Deliverance as I think the casting was absolutely perfect.

[CrimsonFox]

If Nathan Lane is the Cowardly Lion then you lose.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

From Prince Caspian as Trumpkin the dwarf (with Warwick Davis next to him)

i know. but it was in the rolling stone article. said he was tired of playing dwarves and elves. he just played a normie in that rashida jones movie

[TRO]

Originally Posted by molson

They only problem I had with 12 Angry Men (and I probably would have still voted for it 3rd or 4th), is that it was too easy. I think there's a million different acting combinations there that would work.

I don't disagree with this at all. In fact, one reason I went this route was to potentially spur a spin-off where we draft teams of the perfect 12 jurors.

[CrimsonFox]

12 angry men is an absolute knockout! I totally agree that film should be remade every 10 years.
LOVE the twist of having Denzel Washington as one of the jurors.

The casting of that is VERY good.

Edward James Olmos would fit in nicely there too.
Jeff Daniels too.
(as Number 2).
George Clooney as #1?
Maybe even French Stewart.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by NorvTurnerOverdrive

i know. but it was in the rolling stone article. said he was tired of playing dwarves and elves. he just played a normie in that rashida jones movie

oh yeah there was that little person episode of CSI too. That was around the Prince Caspian time I think. Yeah not surprised he said this especially after The Station Agent. (Terrific film!)

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Yeah, I always thought that Val Kilmer carried Willow totally (well, him and Kevin Pollack ). Upon review, watching a remake where the guy playing Willow is a great actor might be quite intriguing, and I wonder what Dinklage could bring to the role.

I never saw people's fascination with that movie. Was kinda bland. But maybe it was just a childhood memory thing.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

If Nathan Lane is the Cowardly Lion then you lose.

Jason Segal would have probably been my Cowardly Lion.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Yeah, I always thought that Val Kilmer carried Willow totally (well, him and Kevin Pollack ). Upon review, watching a remake where the guy playing Willow is a great actor might be quite intriguing, and I wonder what Dinklage could bring to the role.

I had Jason Lee flagged as Madmartigan. He seemed perfect for that slightly arrogant humor role Val Kilmer rocked.

More importantly though, why was the guy who said 'Out of the way, peck!' not cast?!?! Blasphemy.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Grover

Jason Segal would have probably been my Cowardly Lion.

no idea who that is. try again please....

how about john cleese. he's fat enough

[TRO]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

12 angry men is an absolute knockout! I totally agree that film should be remade every 10 years.
LOVE the twist of having Denzel Washington as one of the jurors.

The casting of that is VERY good.

Edward James Olmos would fit in nicely there too.
Jeff Daniels too.
(as Number 2).
George Clooney as #1?
Maybe even French Stewart.

Edward James Olmos was in the 1997 version - juror 11.

Clooney would make for a great #12 - the advertising exec.

[CrimsonFox]

ooooh John Lithgow as Cowardly Lion!

btw Glenn Close as the queen in willow is very good.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

I had Jason Lee flagged as Madmartigan. He seemed perfect for that slightly arrogant humor role Val Kilmer rocked.

More importantly though, why was the guy who said 'Out of the way, peck!' not cast?!?! Blasphemy.

ha! Great idea! And Lee would be required to have on his My Name is Earl Fu Manchu mustache!@

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by stevew

natural born killers worked great before TV was a reality whore shit pile. Now we get to see them hack up teen mom cunts and the Kardashians? sign me up

But the movie God Bless America already came out...

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

i think steve is mistaken. that's not what nbk is about. though as my sole maybe i shouldn't protest

[3ric]

I voted for the Untouchables, Deliverance, Phantom Menace and Die Hard. Had a hard time choosing between them, Wizard of Oz and Natural born killers, though.

[Young Drachma]

I just gotta say that using the unlimited budget on Harriet Potter was a severe miscalculation.

Or if you're gonna do it like that, at least make her and Hermoine get together as some sort of lesbian flick. At least then you'd make your money back. Except not on Ellen Page (who I love) just as a 26-year old harry potter.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by NorvTurnerOverdrive

i think steve is mistaken. that's not what nbk is about. though as my sole maybe i shouldn't protest

I should say that the media in 2012 would glorify them so much more than the original film. There is an abundance of cheap media made targets.

Im thinking more of the outtakes, with the body builders, etc.