HERBIE FULLY LOADED:

[orestes.]

I don't think the changes are major. I see them but there are not enough to complain about for me.

I don't know for sure but the new Herbie is probably even a bug made in the past few years and not an old one like in the movies. It's sad that in the past couple years they have stopped making the classic ones.

Anyways personally I'm okay with Herbie's look and I have much greater worries like the script and what Christian said... I'm worried that they'll focus on Lindsay Lohan more than Herbie. Herbie is the main star and I hope Disney doesn't forget that.

[Escapay]

Dear lord, somebody has a taken devotion a bit too far. It's just a movie. More than that, it's a REMAKE. We're not gonna see Dean Jones and Michele Lee pop up for a chat and take a nice drive with Herbie.

Planet of the Apes had a great remake. Sure, it wasn't as good as the original. Sure, it had a different head-scratching ending. Sure, the humans could talk. But did a lot of people cry "FOUL! YOU'RE DESTROYING A CLASSIC!!!"? Maybe. But the point is, they're gonna do remakes and sequels and such and change a few things. For the better? Sometimes. Look at the Ocean's 11 remake. The original was a nice movie, but the remake was IMO better. Parent Trap Hayley Mills and Parent Trap Lindsay Lohan. Both were great movies with solid actors.

Don't knock it based on minor "changes" to Herbie. Did people complain when they saw the new Enterprise in The Motion Picture?

Escapay

[Prince Adam]

I'm not all that excited about this movie (though the poster looks great-perfect combination of nostalgic and modern elements): I've only seen bits and pieces of the original films, and didn't really like them at all.

[The Monkey's Uncle]

apparently nobody has seen herbiw goes banannas! herbie got battered in that film! this is a sequal, smd it is 25 years apart. do you guys not maintaine your cars? if your bumper was rusted and falling off would you not replace it?

[saveherbie]

The point is that Disney can't even get their own character right.
And this is not a re-make as far as I know. It's a sequel.

You guys know you'd be mad too if Disney got the details wrong on one of your favorites.

[orestes.]

What details don't you like about Herbie in the new movie?

[littlefuzzy]

I am in the minority here, but I agree with the original poster... I mean, come on, a Whale Tale? They look good on Porsches, but not VWs.

I'm surprised they didn't chop the top, or throw some 25" spinners on it or something:

"Herbie Goes Bling-anas!"

The whole point of the Herbie films was that he was a dumpy little stock VW, with a heart.

Judging by the pictures in this thread only, this film looks like they have heavily modified the car for racing, which would be silly to do to a stock VW from the 60s (and could possibly remove the "Spirit of Herbie" if they removed too much...)

Where does his conciousness reside, anyway? His engine? his body? the chassis?

[Prince Adam]

The point is that Disney can't even get their own character right.
And this is not a re-make as far as I know. It's a sequel.

Um, did you read the Monkey's Uncle's post before yours?

[orestes.]

I am in the minority here, but I agree with the original poster... I mean, come on, a Whale Tale? They look good on Porsches, but not VWs.

I'm surprised they didn't chop the top, or throw some 25" spinners on it or something:

"Herbie Goes Bling-anas!"

The whole point of the Herbie films was that he was a dumpy little stock VW, with a heart.

Judging by the pictures in this thread only, this film looks like they have heavily modified the car for racing, which would be silly to do to a stock VW from the 60s (and could possibly remove the "Spirit of Herbie" if they removed too much...)

Where does his conciousness reside, anyway? His engine? his body? the chassis?

He's racing Nascar this time so he needs some changes.

Eh I still think it's nothing too major.

[saveherbie]

Thank you littlefuzzy for seeing the light!
Many of you seem to forget that Herbie's inner magic meant that he didn't have to be modified to race. Sure, in the LOVE BUG Jim Douglas put on stripes, numbers, and added a roll bar. Those stripes and the unique numbers are what branded Herbie. They are his trademark. Changing the decals, adding huge fins, bling bling wheels, etc dilute Herbie's image and hurt the story, especially if there isn't an explaination. From what I've heard there isn't. Herbie worked because of his benignness. Fuzzy hit the nail on the head. Just imagine for a moment if Spiderman's costume had no webbing, the spider logo was some clunky thing, and his eyes were visible. The whole character's look would be compromised and Web heads would be mad.
The new Herbie movie will still be cool. Who can resist a high octane race movie? It's just sad that Disney couldn't do things right. I read that they never even bothered to consult any of the expert Herbie collectors in the making of the film.
I told you earluer to go out and buy the original Herbie films. After that you can rent the horrific 1997 TV LOVE BUG with Bruce Campbell. Talk about trash. Disney re-invented how Herbie came to be. They used original footage from the previous films, had Dean Jones make a cameo, and then made up a asinine story of some German scientist creating a living car named Herbie? Hello, McFly? What planet were these writers from? I guess they missed the part where Tenessee Stienmetz tells Jim that he named Herbie after his Uncle. The movie bombed so bad that it was never released on DVD or home video. VHS tapes were available for rent. Maybe too many protests got them pulled from the shelves.

[Jens]

Oh come on! You are really SERIOUSLY overreacting here! You haven't even seen the movie! Maybe it won't be that bad? Just wait and see... THEN you can tell your story. Stupid negative discussions about upcoming Disney movies on this forum

[orestes.]

I'm reserving any harsh criticism until after I've seen the movie. I'm a pretty big Herbie fan who doesn't see any real problem yet although I have my worries. A friend of mine doesn't have any problems with Herbie either although they would have liked a better cast.

[saveherbie]

Jens thinks I'm overreacting?
Ok, it's time to spill the beans so to speak. I worked with Disney on several projects over the years including two Herbie films. When I saw the direction they were going with their latest flick I finally spoke up. It got me fired. Sure, I'm bitter. I lost my job because I wasn't a sell out. I saw the changes and expressed my objections. You know what I was told? Nobody will notice. Nobody will care. What difference will it make? Hell, I even fought to keep Herbie an old VW bug! They wanted to use a new VW and get VW sponsorship! At least that never panned out! I also remember the flap over the asinine 97 TV movie. People were balking then. Nobody listened to me then either.
I'm happy that most of you agree with the Disney cash cow sell outs. Wallow in the muck! You've proven them right. How sweet it is!
Ka-ching! Score another for the Eisnerites!

[The Monkey's Uncle]

i NEVER plan to see the 1997 tv remake. and from what i read, im glad i didnt.

[Just Myself]

I think you guys fail to understand that the details make Herbie who he is!
Look at this.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v631/ ... 74145f.jpg">

GASP! OH MY GOD!!! THEY TURNED HERBIE...*gulp*... MORE WHITE!!!! CALL 911 THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!!!! AHHHHH!!!!

Like everyone else I don't see what all the fuss is all about. Herbie looks the same because he IS the same!

Sorry for flying off the handle saveherbie, but I seriously think you have way too much time on your hands. Yeah, they put Lindsay Lohan in a tight racing outfit inside Herbie; yes, Herbie's in NASCAR; yes it's supposed to be modernized and yes I will probably see the movie.

Maybe I am overreacting.

Yeah, just a bit.

[Mr arrow]

BUT WAIT!! From what Im given to understand and from some yet unreleased stills Ive seen, which Im sure disney will release as the weeks progress- Herbie IS in his original form up until he joins the nascar circuit, or is rescued or something. But I would take it as given that someone who was associated with this project would know that, so is it just the nascar scenes that are causing grief?

Of course I stand to be corrected as it doesnt even register as a blip on my list of things to be tooo concerned about for 2005.
Story wise, wouldnt it seem appropriate to deck him out a little for nascar scenes??
Also from what Im given to understand Herbie goes through "several" tranformations as the story unfolds not just the nascar version- including Herbie in his "original 60's form" in the opening scenes.

[orestes.]

Isn't the new Herbie a new VW? I don't know enough about cars but they probably used a new one but I don't mean the new, new one... a new one made out to look like the old one.

Does anyone know if he's a new or old one for sure?

[The Little Merman]

.....

[Escapay]

.....

Very insightful post, TheLittleMerman

Having never seen any of the Herbie movies, I really can't judge other peoples'...um...zeal that Herbie stay the same.

Just be happy they decided to keep him a VW Beetle.

Escapay

[Sunset Girl]

To be honest, I was both surprised and excited when I found out that they were making a new Herbie movie with Lindsey Lohan. I was expecting that they'd use one of the new updated Volkswagon models (there is actually one in my area painted up like Herbie) but I think it's really cool that they're using the old model. The design changes look minor to me and I don't think they are anything to worry about.

I loved the original Herbie movie as a kid, and caught it again on TV about a month ago. I don't care much for some of the sequels, but a remake, if done right, could be a lot of fun. And regardless of how good or bad it is, please remember that the original is too old for a lot of people (even Disney fans!) to have any knowledge over. Maybe this remake will get people interested in a certain movie that they might not have otherwise sought out?