The Anatomy of a SciFi Remake

Technology breeds temptation, at least when it comes to Science Fiction films, where for the past decade or so the urge to recreate some of the genre's Golden Age has been growing apace with the CGI industry. There have been hits (Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds) and misses (The Invasion with Nicole Kidman).

So what makes a remake work? With so many remakes preparing to bear down upon audiences--Star Trek, The Day the Earth Stood Still--and even more being discussed--Dune, Logan's Run, Tron--the question becomes, not why do it but how? What loyalties do you owe the original? What SciFi films beg improvement?

Let us know your thoughts on SciFi remakes, and enter for a chance to win the original The Day the Earth Stood Still on DVD.

Update: A winner has been randomly selected. Check after the jump to see the winner and the comment.

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Choose Your Superpower

Doug Liman's upcoming film Jumper is about an ordinary teenager who discovers he has the power to teleport anywhere he wants. With great power comes great responsibility, right? Not so much. Christensen's character decides to rob a bank.

There's something so refreshing about that kind of brutal honesty, isn't there? I mean, "boys will be boys." Tell the truth: If all of a sudden you discovered that you could turn invisible, would you sneak into a few locker rooms before saving the world? Personally, if I could read peoples' minds, I might employ it to negotiate my next car purchase as soon as I'd use it to stop an evil plot. And if I could teleport inside a vault, I would be hard-pressed not to consider reappropriating some discretionary funds.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Would you use it for good, like our friendly neighborhood Spider-man, or just go have a blast? Any other fans of flying?

Comic Book Adaptations

Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Justice League, Green Arrow--it seems every time I turn around either Warner Brothers or Marvel has announced their next big comic book adaptation. And it's not just the superheroes: A History of Violence, 300, Watchmen, and Ronin are all taken from the pages of our favorite imprints. Hollywood has caught graphic novel fever, and its not showing any signs of subsiding.

Is this a good thing, or have we gone superhero crazy? Why is Hollywood so interested now? Has the mainstream finally "discovered" comics, or is it just plain out of fresh ideas? When is enough enough? What movies should never be attempted, and what comics have been neglected? Tell us what you're thinking.

Star Trek Vs. Star Wars

Since I was a little kid, I've always been more of a Star Trek guy. I had practically memorized every episode of The Next Generation, owned all the action figures and playsets, and even had a Halloween costume or two. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never convince my friend Jon that Star Trek was any good. For him it was Star Wars or bust. He must have seen each of the movies over a hundred times, and when the original three were re-released he made sure we were all first in line at the theater.

I would say forcefields, he would say the Force. I would say phasers, he would say sabers. I would say warp speed, he would say hyperspace. I couldn't figure out why until I realized that for almost every aspect of Star Trek there exists a counterpoint in Star Wars, and vice versa.

I tell this story because the teaser for J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek has come out just as George Lucas has been tantalizing fans with images from his new CGI Clone Wars. Rumors of a pending live action television series could send the competition into another dimension! Are we heading into a SciFi showdown between the two franchises?

Could Star Wars ever trump Star Trek on the small screen? Could Captain Kirk beat Han Solo in a battle of brain and braun? Is the Prime Directive a better motivating force than, well, the Force? Is there really a difference between the two? Or are these just two parallel universes?

Star Trek Casting News: You Be the Critic

News broke this week that soap opera star Jeffrey Hauser has joined the cast of the new Star Trek for what sounds like a bit part.

I'll admit, when casting began with Zachary Quinto at Comic-con, I was beyond excited. But since then, each choice seems to grow stranger and stranger. With all due respect to Chris Pine, I was rooting for Firefly's Nathan Fillion even though he's probably too old to play Kirk. I even would have been happy with Matt Damon, who is as old as William Shatner was when he first donned the space suit.

As far as the rest of the cast, I love Simon Pegg, but can't see him transforming drastically from the characters he played in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. I would have loved to see someone like Stargate Atlantis' Paul McGillion fill Jimmy Doohan's shoes. And John Cho for Sulu? Really? Why not Jason Kyson Lee?

What do you think of the movie's casting thus far? Who is in your Star Trek Dream Team? Is J.J. Abrams headed towards a valiant trek through the stars, or a Kobayashi Maru?

SciFi Movies in the Year Ahead

Earlier this month, the head of the SciFi Dept. Kevin Maher asked you, our loyal readers, which SciFi films you were most anticipating in 2008. Now that some preliminary results are in, it's time for you to explain yourselves.

A whopping 16% of you chose Cloverfield. Still feel that way? If not, what's left to look forward to? The Dark Knight netted the lion's share of the votes with 25%, and I have to say that were it not for Star Trek, I'd be in total agreement. What can I say--I'm a Trekkie.

Defend your picks. And if you haven't voted yet, pick your favorite then come back to rant about the results.