You Can Go Home Again (sort of)

My generation is the first generation who have the ability to basically buy our childhood back. Thanks to DVDs, Amazon.com, EBay and the Internet we can fill our lives with the toys, TV shows and movies that remind us of more innocent times. Yeah I know the Hollywood machine that continues to churn out these remakes updates and sequels of ideas first seen in the 70's don't really give a crap about honoring childhood memories or nostalgia, the simple fact is that the name recognition associated with these franchises means instant profit. Still art, and creative worth can be found in the most cynical of motives and this past year we seem to be almost attacked with remakes and re imaginings of almost every TV show, cartoon or movie that ever graced our huge black and white rabbit ears tube television. Here are a few examples of the good, the bad and the ugly

THOR (then)



Although never a huge THOR fan growing up I did follow his adventures in Avengers comics and his appearances on TV (Spider man and His Amazing Friends, his own cartoon) Thor was so powerful, so confident it took a lot of the drama out of his adventures. He was an immortal God of course he was not going to die and if he did he would be back with the quickness. Thor also had a huge cast of characters and back story both on earth and Asgard which at times could be hard to follow.

THOR (now)



The 2011 film, in Marvels attempt to streamline it's products was fun, fast easy too follow and most of all true to the source material. The movie made me a Thor fan faster than 30 years of comics or cartoons ever did. You can go home again!

CHARLIE'S ANGELS (then)



Well I'm biased. It was my favorite show growing up. It all came down to the casting. For the first 3 seasons Aaron Spelling knew how to cast actors who were talented and likable enough to rise above some horrible scripts and direction. Light, fluffy harmless and fun. The Angels proved that women on TV could solve the cases and take down the bad guys just as effectively as James Rockford or Starsky and Hutch

CHARLIE'S ANGELS (now)



While it is a little early to judge (an ep has not been shown yet) from the promo there seems to be things to like and dislike. First off, on the plus side we have, after over 30 years a black ass kicking angel. That's enough to get me to sit through the pilot. While multi ethnic angels are long over due I'm not crazy that (from the looks of the promo) this seems to me a TV version of the movie as opposed to an updating of the 70's TV show. Fingers crossed. Too soon to tell if you can go home again with the angels

WES CRAVEN MOVIES (then)




Wes Craven has had popular scary movies released in the 70's, 80's 90's and 21st century. His slasher horror from the 70's (Hills and Last house) were violent, disturbing and dark. Almost unpleasant experiences to watch. But well made and effective. As a kid catching a Craven flick on late night cable was as good as it got. And I'm talking before Freddy Kruger...

WES CRAVEN (now)



Yeah I know I could have included trailers for the remakes of The Hills Have Eyes and Last House On The Left but I didn't because (frankly) Craven neither wrote or directed those recent (well done remakes) Him having a producer credit on both remakes just means he allowed them the rights to his movies and he gets to cash a fat check. True Craven movies in the 21st century include bombs like My Soul To Take and Cursed. Craven seems to have had some trouble with new material connecting with a 21st century audience with the exception of the Scream Franchise. Scream 4 was classic Craven. One decent movie in a sea of crap does not a win make. You can't go home again.

THE BIONIC WOMAN (then)



The Bionic Woman preceded both Wonder Woman and Charlies Angels on ABC in 1975. At first just a spin off of The Six Million Dollar Man The Bionic Woman managed to surpass her male counterpart in both popularity (higher ratings) critical acclaim (Emmy for the star) and it stayed on the air 2 seasons longer.

THE BIONIC WOMAN (now)



Sigh. No Steve, No Oscar, no promotion or confidence from the network? No Thanks. YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN!

I could go on (and on) in fact I will in a blog coming up about Rehashed Slashers. They are also updating Green Lantern, Captain America and The Avengers. We dodged (or deflected thanks Bobby) a bullet with the horrible Wonder Woman remake pilot. They have updated 90210, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Starsky and Hutch, Melrose Place, Mission Impossible the list goes on and on and on. Most of them suck beyond the telling but like most other romantic idiots who are my age we will go to, watch and buy our childhood back. Because nostalgia feels good. Now if you will excuse me Hawaii Five-o is fittin to start...