Today, we have been inundated with reboots and revivals in television and film. I personally believe that this is the result of a thought that every filmmaker has at one point in their journey, what happens when we run out of ideas? The answer to today’s filmmakers is pretty simple. The easiest choice is to do a sequel or to make a trilogy, which almost guarantees a solid fan base and a generous amount of money. The latest example of this theory is the new Star Trek series. The original Star Trek series was fifty years ago, and because of these new films, it is still considered one of the pinnacles of pop culture.
Star Trek: Beyond is likely to do very well at the box office, like its two predecessors did over the past decade. This is the perfect example of a reboot that worked as it was intended to. Although there are many people out there who would strongly disagree with me due to the many inconsistencies scattered throughout this new series of films, the formula behind the original Star Trek movies and television show’s success remains the same after all these years. For a reboot to be successful it has to be something that is deserving of a new interpretation and something that has a strong following that is willing to follow it for another round or two.
When reviving a film that is beloved by the world, the filmmakers need to be mindful of a few things. Part of the charm and spectacle of some of the great films of our history comes from the quaint lack of special effects and technology. From the looks of the trailer for the upcoming reboot of Ben-Hur, it does not look like the filmmaker listened to that idea. There are two ways to look at how this movie might be received. It could be a giant CGI-filled mess with poor acting and way more action than dialogue. It could also very well be the next Gladiator film and go on to get Morgan Freeman’s dreadlocks wig an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Who knows what could happen?
The other big thing that today’s filmmakers need to be careful of is how much they change in these classic stories. There needs to be differences of course, it would be the same exact movie if there weren’t any. But, there is a fine line between what the fans will appreciate or tear you apart for. The new Ghostbusters reboot seems to be an experiment for just how far that line can stretch. When this film was announced, there was a very split reaction. On one hand, this was an all female reboot of a true classic movie from the director of Bridesmaids and Spy, that was sure to make you laugh a lot. On the other hand, this was a reboot of a movie that had a sequel that wasn’t very well received and probably should’ve been left as it was.
When you take out all the money and critical reviews of these films you’re left with the most important part of this whole conversation, how do you feel about the movie you’re watching? It doesn’t matter if the critics give Ghostbusters the lowest review of all time and all your friends and family say it “ruined their childhood.” What matters is how you, the audience and the reason these movies are even made in the first place, feel about what you just watched. That has become the hardest part about the film industry today. As soon as one person says that something is bad everyone else begins to agree, without even giving it a chance.
The days of reboots and revivals are just beginning and I believe we will be seeing a lot more of them as this new generation of directors and actors enters the industry. There will of course be some that aren’t up to par with the originals. There will also be many that are refreshingly good movies, that don’t make the fans cringe. Either way it turns out, it is still an honor for your film to be rebooted for today’s audiences, to gain that nostalgic feeling that everyone should have for at least one movie.
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