Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Live-Action)

[Flanger-Hanger]

I never even thought of Linsy Lohan. Now I'm afraid Disney would cast her as Carie

[numba1lostboy]

hahaha they might...lol

If you remember, she was in The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, and Herbie: Fully Loaded, and I think at one point, she was in negotiations for the remake of The Swiss Family Robinson.

[Disney's Divinity]

I'm not so optimistic about this movie. I remember all the other remakes being corny, predictable (obviously), and worse than a Disney Channel Movie. Besides, noone can replace Angela Lansbury.

It's too bad though. It was always one of my favorites when I was younger.

[Flanger-Hanger]

hahaha they might...lol

If you remember, she was in The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, and Herbie: Fully Loaded, and I think at one point, she was in negotiations for the remake of The Swiss Family Robinson.

When Disney first started making remakes of the live action movies, They were all comedies like the absent minded Professor and the Parent Trap, but now there starting to remake the big blockbusters that we all like. I'm woried that someday disney might remake movies like Old Yeller, Darby O'Gill and the Little People and Pollyanna.

[Escapay]

I'm not so optimistic about this movie. I remember all the other remakes being corny, predictable (obviously), and worse than a Disney Channel Movie. Besides, noone can replace Angela Lansbury.

Well, on the plus side. Ms. Lansbury is actually old enough now to play the part as true to the books.

(BTW, thanks Flanger-Hanger for the DVD compliment! )

Escapay

[goofystitch]

Well, I guess they want to make the remake alot more like the books than the Disney film and want to to completely ride the film of the wonderful Sherman Brothers music and write all new songs. So it really wouldn't be the same movie at all. It's like starting from scratch all over again. B&B has never been a favorite of mine, but it is enjoyable. I just can't see a remake being very good and can't imagine it without "Beautiful Brimey," "Substitutiary Locomotion," and "Eglantine." To me, those songs make the film. "Portobello Road" is good, too. I say leave it as is and just do a 2-disc special edition or something. lol.

[slave2moonlight]

I thought the DVD release had some pretty awesome stuff. Anyways, I LOVE the original, but a book-loyal remake would be interesting to see. However, I might come out of it thinking it was a waste of money because the original was so much better, as I felt after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I still enjoy that film, but to me it didn't touch the magic of the original.

Anyways, as for Lohan, I thought Herbie: Fully Loaded, which was not a remake, but a sequel (calling sequels remakes is a pet-peeve of mine), was an awesome addition to the Herbie line-up! I'd have to say it's the second best of the bunch!

[ichabod]

I adored this film as a child and it still remains one of my top 10 Disney movies.

Well I'd prefer if it didn't happen at all, but I wouldn't be too against a 'remake', although I'd prefer the term 're-imagining' of Bedknobs and Broomsticks, as long as it handled with a degree of sense and presented the film in a new way and didn't dislodge the Lansbury version from general conscioussness.

I'd also pray that it would be handled with respect as intended i.e. It's an English story, set in England, with English characters so don't put any Americans in it! No matter how convinced they are that they can do a British accent! But will it actually happen? This project was in production a year ago and still hasn't been given the go ahead, so will it be happening?

[darth_deetoo]

Well, have you considered that if it is remade, there's more likelihood that the original will get a reissue, so that can't be a bad thing.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Well I guess there would be a reissue, I just hope it includes all the things that the Spring 2001 Disney DVD guide said it would, like the Radio interviwes with Angela Lansbury.

[blackcauldron85]

I've already ranted and raved on JimHillMedia's Talk Back section about this, but I don't feel that it's necessary to remake or reinvision the film.

Why not just go ahead with Eisner's idea of remaking the animated classics in CGI? I just don't understand why anyone would remake a film? If someone could enlighten me (besides hoping to make $), please let me know.

[2099net]

I've already ranted and raved on JimHillMedia's Talk Back section about this, but I don't feel that it's necessary to remake or reinvision the film.

Why not just go ahead with Eisner's idea of remaking the animated classics in CGI? I just don't understand why anyone would remake a film? If someone could enlighten me (besides hoping to make $), please let me know.

Unlike some people on the forum, I don't think remakes (or reimaginings) are a crime. I do think they should be made with respect for the original though, so I don't support films like the recent "Dukes of Hazard" for example.

But there's a few reasons for making a remake. As you state the ultimate reason is money - but Hollywood always has been a business. But beyond that:

1] There's only so many stories and combinations of stories you can ever create. Films are often accused of being copies of others when they're not, such as for example Disney's Brother Bear which often has comparisons to their own Lion King (when narratively even, they have nothing common).

So if you decided to make a movie about giant alien controlled machines invading the planet, why not reimagine War of the Worlds. Your film will only be compared to the novel/film anyway.

2] A lot of films are from novels anyway. Although not quite as drastic, the same attitude could be taken for these. Why make a Harry Potter film when I've read the book? And as we all know, a good book should always be better than the film.

Even films that are not adaptations of novels or plays have links to them. Again, Disney's Lion King has much in common with Hamlet. West Side Story is Romeo and Juliet.

3] It is a fact that there is a lot of classic films that the "public" refuses to watch just because they are black and white. You may dispute this, but it's true. So why not make them for a new generation, as long as they respect the original when they do so.

4] Lastly, a "remake" or "reimagining" can result in a totally different and just as valid film or product. Examples include Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, both of which were filmed (probably numerous times) before Disney's animated versions.

Finally, Andrew Lloyd Webber as a repuation of being original and creative, yet look how many of his productions are "remakes", from "Phantom of the Opera", "Sunset Boulevard", "By Jeeves", "Whistle Down the Wind", "The Woman in White" - all are based on films and/or novels.

I don't see a "remake" of Bedknobs and Broomsticks being that bad. It doesn't mean the new film will include the same plot, songs and characters. Remember, Bedknobs and Broomsticks was a book long before it was a Disney film, and like most Disney films, the book is different to the film. The new film may not even have songs at all and be much more adventure based!

[blackcauldron85]

There are always new stories to be made. Or new ways of presenting them. Instead of remaking Disney movies, I'd rather see Disney focus on stories that they haven't told yet. "Rumplestilskin" comes to mind. I'd love for Disney to make that into an animated feature, or even a short. Same with "The Goose Girl", or even "Reynard" or "Chanticleer" (yes, I know, "Rock-A-Doodle" was made by whoever, but Disney could use the orignal drawings/story ideas from years ago). Open up any fairy tale book, and there will be stories that Disney hasn't made into animated features. Or even using nursery rhymes ("Jack and Jill", anyone?) would be a great inspiration.
I don't mind getting ideas from novels or other books at all. And, new stories can't be that hard to create...if 100 original ideas are created at a meeting, 99 can be bad, but as long as there is 1 good idea, a movie can be made. (That really sounded better in my mind...sorry I'm not articulate!).
Disney could even do a version of "Romeo and Juliet" (I know that TLK2 is similiar to "R&J", but they can put a different spin on it) or some classic literature. Themes are often repeated in movies (Bambi's mom dies, Mufasa dies, etc.), and there often are similarities in movies, but "Bambi" is not "The Lion King".

[blackcauldron85]

(Beware of foul language...I'll post an edited quote)
Kevin Smith Wants a ‘Superman Lives’ Animated Movie and To Direct A ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ Remake
http://www.slashfilm.com/superman-lives-animated-movie/

Smith recently said on the Fatman on Batman podcast (via CBR) he’d go to great lengths to make that movie:

Bedknobs and Broomsticks can be remade today. That movie can so [ ] work today. In a world where Disney’s like, Pete’s Dragon! and [stuff] like that… Hey! I will [do anything], Disney, to make the remake of Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

To Smith, the original movie has it all — — witches, battling Nazis, ghosts in armor, and “a cartoon under the sea where they play [ ] soccer.” Disney has successfully reimagined some of their most beloved and iconic titles, but it’s doubtful any exec over there is clamoring for a modern update of Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It’d certainly be an interesting title of theirs to remake, though.