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.