Episode 91 The Italian Job (1969 Vs. 2003)
Can the smallest cars be part of one of the largest gold heists ever conceived? Well The Italian Job (1969) brought that concept to the silver screen for the first time with Michael Caine, Noël Coward, and comedy legend Benny Hill. Director F. Gary Gray would revisit this idea in the 2003 remake with an all-star cast in Donald Sutherland, Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Seth Green and Mos Def. Can three small Mini Coopers (or Austin Minis) haul three tons of gold in these action, comedies? The Invaders once again descend to earth to dissect the phenomenon you humans call the cinematic remake.
Episode 92 Remaking Same Time, Next Year (1978)
A man (Alan Alda) and a woman (Ellen Burstyn) meet on a getaway trip that blossoms into a long romance, but they only see each other once a year. The rest of there time they are with their families. Invasion of the Remake explores a romantic comedy about love and adultery with Same Time, Next Year (1978). Is this something they can remake in more sensitive times? It was nominated for 4 Academy Awards but would it resonate with a modern audience? Join us for a thought provoking topic with all the fun and irreverence you've come to expect from Invasion of the Remake!
Episode 93 Zero Hour! (1957) Vs. Airplane! (1980)
Surely not a Airplane episode? Absolutely, and don't call me Shirley. When the Zucker brothers were looking for a new project they stumbled upon an obscure airplane disaster film called Zero Hour! (1957). It was overly dramatic, had an absurd concept, and was hilarious in its sincerity. It really only needed a little push over the edge to become farce. That farce became Airplane! (1980) and began a new era of comedic spoof movies, reinventing the career of Leslie Nielsen. Airplane! took serious dramatic actors like Robert Hayes, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, and Robert Stack into new comedic territory, creating a comedy classic. Invasion of the Remake takes to the skies as we explore a comedy remake of a drama, and remembers not to eat the fish.
Episode 94 Remaking Krull (1983)
This week we travel to the fantasy world of Krull (1983). Here there is magic, evil creatures, cyclops, seers of the future, crystal spiders and a great Beast bent on ruling the universe. It also happens to be a childhood favorite of some of the hosts here at Invasion of the Remake. This cult fantasy film may have been a box office flop in 1983, but we think it is ripe for a remake, Invaders style. After all something has to film the vacuum left by Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Listen to this weeks episode and see if our version is worthy of filling that void.
Episode 95 The Crazies (1973 Vs. 2010)
A plane crashes into a small town's reservoir, accidentally spreading a biological weapon called TRIXIE among the town's population. If the virus doesn't kill you, it makes you insane. The uninfected must not only survive The Crazies, but also dodge military forces who want to contain the outbreak by any means necessary. But no virus can stand up to Invasion of the Remake scrutiny.
This week we discuss George A. Romero's original film The Crazies (1973) starring Lane Caroll, Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones, Lloyd Hollar and Lynn Lowery and see how the remake (2010) by director Breck Eisner holds up. With an all star cast of Radha Mitchell, Timothy Olyphant, Joe Anderson, and Danielle Panabaker it certainly is off to a good start. Can we sort this out, or are we crazy for even trying? Get your gas masks on as we take on The Crazies
Episode 96 Remaking The Running Man (1987)
This week it's all about the game show that is trying to kill you, The Running Man (1987)! Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in the sci-fi, action film based on a story by Richard Bachman (aka Stephen King) alongside Maria Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, and Richard Dawson. Ben Richards is on the run to save his life, earn his freedom, and reveal the truth about the government ruling the country with an iron fist. Join Invasion of the Remake as they explore this game of death and what a modern day remake, they'd like to see, would look like.
Episode 97 Walking Tall (1973 Vs. 2004)
The story of Bufford Pusser is an inspiring one. He returns to his home town to find it has fallen prey to corruption at every level. He stands up to the gangsters running his beloved town and becomes town Sheriff. He uses this position to clear the town of this corruption, but it comes with a tragic price. The story of Walking Tall (1973) is based on the true life story of Bufford Pusser portrayed by Joe Don Baker. It also launched a successful franchise, sparking two sequels, a television remake and series, and inspiration for countless other films.
The remake of the film in 2004 was one of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson & WWE Films earliest movies. The names may have changed, and the story modernized, but the basic story of Bufford Pusser remains in tact. But how does it fair against the original? The Rock and Joe Don Baker step in the Invasion of the Remake ring and only one will come out Walking Tall.
Episode 98 Remaking I Come In Peace aka Dark Angel (1990)
Drug dealers from outer space want your high. Bottling and selling your ecstasy is this alien's goal and he will stop at nothing to get it. Invasion of the Remake explores the Dolph Lundgren sci-fi, action flick, I Come In Peace (aka Dark Angel, 1990), and discovers just how deadly a compact disc really can be. Join the Invasion and listen to this week's episode to find out how we'd remake I Come In Peace!
Episode 99 Manhunter (1986) Vs. Red Dragon (2002)
This week we enter the bowels of the asylum and enter the mind of psychotic serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Originally portrayed on screen by Brian Cox in Manhunter (1986), Hannibal would be later defined by the performance of Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs (1991), Hannibal (2001) and Red Dragon (2002). While both Manhunter and Red Dragon are adaptations of the Thomas Harris novel, Michael Mann's vision is very different than Brett Ratner's version and we'll explore that. Both films sport an all-star cast, Manhunter also stars William (CSI) Petersen, Kim Greist, Joan Allen, Dennis Farina, and Tom Noonan. Red Dragon is a who's who of Oscar nominated or winning actors and actress with the likes of Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Harvey Keitel, Emily Watson, Mary-Louise Parker, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It's the Hannibal Lecter battle this week on Invasion of the Remake. Won't you sit down and dine on Director with us?
Episode 100 Remaking Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954)
We're celebrating 100 episodes with the movie most ripe for a remake that it is insane to think that no one has done it yet. Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) was a late comer to the Universal Monsters family, but the monsters visuals are iconic and imprinted in our minds. It is a science-fiction, horror classic. Why Hollywood hasn't remade it is anyone's guess. With it now on the Dark Universe film slate we thought we'd take our best shot at it before Universal does. So this week we trade our spaceship for a boat and rediscover the Creature From the Black Lagoon.