Reader here!
Now, I’m a movie fan. Not to the level of some people, who can watch two or three a day, and see every new flick that comes out. But I certainly like to hit the theatre, and catch a movie on the big screen when I can.
Honestly, what I’d really like to do is catch some of my all-time favourites in the theatre, that I didn’t get to see on the big screen the first time around.
Over the years, I’ve been able to see some of my faves belatedly in theatres.
When George Lucas started messing around with his masterpieces (Why, George, why?), and released the Star Wars special editions in 1997, I was a student at Medicine Hat College, and I was able to see the three original trilogy films (albeit it in their new form) on the big screen for the first time.
Years ago, when I was living and working in Saskatoon, one night, the Broadway Theatre was showing another of my favourites, the Beatles’ classic 1964 black and white romp, “A Hard Day’s Night.”
I can just imagine being a young Beatlemaniac in ’64, and getting to see my heroes on the silver screen!
And during the COVID years, of course, theatres were closed for public health reasons, but at one point, when restrictions were eased, the Tower Theatre re-opened, and I was able to see the first real summer blockbuster as nature intended…
But you know, it’s actually been a while since I saw a new movie in the cinema. In fact, I think it was “Exorcist: Believer” last year. I won’t pass judgement on that one, only to say that it doesn’t hold a candle to the original, which I got to see during its re-release several years ago.
There are just certain movies that lend themselves to the full theatre experience.
I almost forgot. There is one guy I’d love to experience on the big screen. His career was all too short, but I’d love to have seen Bruce Lee explode off the screen!
That got me thinking, not just about great theatre experiences, but also about what movies I’d like to see revisited for a new era.
I know we live in an era of reboots and “re-imaginings,” with many being hit or miss.
But there are some movies I think that if done the right way, could be awesome.
Take for example, one of my all-time favourites, John Carpenter’s “Big Trouble in Little China.”
The original 1986 movie, starring Kurt Russell wound up being a box office dud, but found an audience on home vide, becoming a cult classic.
A few years ago, there was talk of a reboot, starring (who else) Dwayne Johnson. It never happened, and I’m okay with that. I don’t know if The Rock would’ve have been willing to let himself be the butt of the joke the way Kurt did.
The joke of BTILC was that even though he was, in theory, the hero of the piece, Jack Burton’s pal Wang Chi was ACTUALLY the hero, with Jack more or less stumbling his way into success.
That’d never stand with The Rock.
Anyhoo, I think if there were a way to do it, and incorporate some of the original characters, while telling a great new story, a belated sequel (that I personally would call “More Trouble in Little China”) could be box office gold!
That’s just one idea I have. What classics would you like to see return to the big screen, and what sequels would you like to see?
