Over the last few years we have seen a whole host of much loved eighties movies being remade with a 21st Century twist.
Fight Club
This week we see the beginning of the nineties remakes as Total Recall hits the big screen with Dredd only a week behind.
So we take a look at some of the classic nineties movies that should NEVER under ANY circumstances be talked about for a possible remake.
One of the standout movies of the decade came in the form of Fight Club as Chuck Palahniuk novel was brought to life by director David Fincher.
While Fight Club was, at the time, considered a commercial failure it was a movie that was to go on and be a huge influence.
It was one of the most talked about and controversial movies of the decade (most people complaining about the level of violence in the film) but it went on to gain a cult following.
The film was recognised as an innovator in cinematic form and style as Fincher and co mixed a bland and realistic palette with more hyper visual styles - lets face it this movie just looks stunning.
David Fincher is one of the best directors working in Hollywood at the moment and he delivered an incredibly visceral and powerful movie. No remake would ever be able to have the impact that this film did when it was released back in 1999.
- Edward Scissorhands
It was 1990 when Tim Burton teamed up with Johnny Depp for the very first time to deliver an incredibly charming movie... Edward Scissorhands.
And over twenty years later this film remains my favourite collaboration between director and actor.
There are two main reasons why this movie should never be remade - no matter what movie Burton is making he always gets the visuals spot on.
This time around there really was a gothic feel to the movie - something we see regularly in his projects - but never goes overboard.
Secondly Edward Scissorhands showed off perfectly Burton's skill of creating slightly oddball and off the wall characters that melt your heart.
There is a real sweetness and magic to this movie as director and actor came together and created something very special and this could never be re-captured.
- The Shawshank Redemption
Shawshank Redemption is just one of Stephen King's novels that was adapted for the big screen and it is nearly twenty years since it was released.
Frank Darabont was in the director's chair for the movie while Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins were on the cast list as Red and Andy Dufresne.
Hard to believe but the movie really struggled when it was released and only just recouped its budget - however the critics were full of praise for the movie.
In the intervening years the movie has grown in popularity and it is now widely regarded as a bit of a classic.
What is so fantastic about this movie is the central relationship between Robbins and Freeman there is a genuine warmth there that really pulls an audience into the movie.
Shawshank Redemption is now held in the regard that it deserves and a remake would never be able to re-capture that on screen spark between the two lead characters - can you really ever see anyone else playing Red?
- Pulp Fiction
One of the most iconic movies of the nineties was Pulp Fiction and the idea that this film could one day be remade fills me with total dread.
Yes the movie had a fantastic script, cast and soundtrack but it was the way that Tarantino structured the movie that had the biggest impact.
Tarantino showed that the a none linear structure really could work in a movie - influencing a whole generation of filmmakers.
Pulp Fiction also showed that there was a growing interest in independent movies as it was the first indie movie to gross over $100 million.
Almost twenty years after the movie was released (yes it was back in 1994) this movie has not lost its spark.
But it is the way that Tarantino changed the way movies were made with this film that makes a remake impossible.
- Heat
One of the most talked about movies of the nineties was Heat and it is not because it was controversial or broke the boundaries but because Al Pacino and Robert De Niro were set to star in the same movie.
What makes this movie even more special is they only came face to face once in the entire film - and that is the scene that is perhaps the most famous.
This movie didn't redefine the bank heist movie it was just seeing these two greats come face to face that really made the movie what it is.
Now of course you could remake a bank heist film no problem but no matter which actors you hired you would never be able to recreate the electricity that is this scene between this two actors.
- Silence of the Lambs
The greatest horror movie of the nineties came in the form of Silence of the Lambs - a movie that Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster are both remembered fondly.
We have seen a whole host of horror movies remade for the 21st Century over the years and it is fair to say that none of them have hit the mark.
Over the years we have seen Hopkins reprise the role of Hannibal Lecter but he has never been able to deliver the ferocity that he does with this movie.
It's not hard to see why they have never tried to remake this movie... is there an actor that could even match the performance of Hopkins let alone surpass it?
And while other horror classics are being made and ruined left, right and centre it is fair to say that Silence of the Lambs is safe for now.
Other nineties movies that should not be touched with a barge-pole include Thelma And Louise, Ghost, Seven and L.A. Confidential.
Total Recall is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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