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New Rocky Horror, Hairspray films? Uuummm …
Variety reports that a remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and a follow-up to the musical version of Hairspray are on the way - and I think both ideas are of extremely dubious merit.
I’ve never been a huge RHPS fan, but the idea of remaking that very unique movie seems foolhardy to me. Why is it even necessary when the original film is still thrilling nutty midnight audiences decades hence? Can the world really take TWO interactive campy musical/sci-fi flicks?
The good news about RHPS: Lou Adler, who produced the original, is involved. The bad news: so is MTV.
I may take two or four jumps to the left of that one …
Then there’s the Hairspray sequel. I’m a fan of that franchise. I loved the 1988 John Waters original, would love to see the Broadway version, and I thought last year’s musical movie was a lot of fun. But I just don’t see where the story could go. It’s not like the story left a whole lot of unanswered questions.
I’m heartened by the fact that Waters is writing the treatment for the new movie, but still … it seems to me New Line Cinema wants this not because it’s a great idea, but because they smell money. And the world goes ‘round again.
What do you think of these? Are you as skeptical as I am? Or do these actually seem appealing?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By Kim
July 29, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
The idea of making RHPS again seems like movie suicide to me - that’s nuts. I suppose they could put a modern day spin on it - but it’s SO campy that I can’t imagine working - seems to me like it would just make the die-hard fans mad. It MIGHT work for a movie TV - but a theatrical release??? Can’t see that at all. Hairspray - maybe. The original story was tied up with a neat bow, but as SRC says - Waters is still left with an interesting cast of characters - not to mention a volatile, angst filled period in our country’s history. I think it is possible that could work, but it would have to be pretty different from Hairspray - I don’t think simply extending that story will work.By SRCputt
July 24, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
I can see the Hairspray sequel working. Waters has had 20 years since the original was made to imagine what happened to the characters, and the musical is recent enough that it should be possible to reassemble the cast. However… Rocky Horror remake? Bad idea. Rocky Horror was one of those magical flukes that will prove impossible to recreate. And as prosecution exhibit one, I provide the sequel, Shock Treatment, which completely disappeared in 1981. Many people don’t even realize a sequel was made.