While the very word remake is often enough to cause a perfectly rational and tolerant person to transform into a Hulk-esque ball of unstoppable fury, it's worth remembering that it's not always a concept to be feared. Ocean's Eleven, Cape Fear, The Departed and True Grit show this rather well.
So we're crossing everything as we look ahead to the remakes on the horizon. Here are eight examples of films you might have a soft spot for that are being resurrected for your possible pleasure:
Point Break
With the news that Gerard Butler is circling the villain role, it looks like the Point Break is a definite go. The original, directed by Oscar-winning Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow, holds a special place for many 80s kids despite the fact that critics weren't overly enamoured with it back in the day. The updated version of the Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze surf thriller is being written by Kurt Wimmer. You might remember him from that time he made a mess out of the Total Recall remake...
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Poltergeist
One of the first films that scared us into demanding the light was kept on, this supernatural classic was always prime for a remake. Not because it's particularly necessary but because every other classic horror film from that period has been transported to the 21st century already. Sam Raimi has come onboard as producer while the promising cast includes Sam Rockwell, Jared Harris and Rosemarie Dewitt. It'll hit later this year.
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Jumanji
The film that managed to make rolling dice a scary proposition, this Robin Williams horror for kids was and is perfect. There was a semi-but-not-really-sequel in the shape of Zathura, from the same author but it failed to do much at the box office. Now, despite the fact that kids are too busy 3D printing their iPads or whatever to play board games, it's being given an update. It'll be written by Zach Helm, who was behind the excellent Will Ferrell dramedy Stranger Than Fiction, and will be "updated for the present". Which concerns us.
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Robocop
You've probably already seen the trailer for this one and you're unsure how to feel. On one hand, it's a remake of a classic actioner from your youth. Yet on the other, that cast. Boasting turns from Samuel L Jackson, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Abbie Cornish and The Killing's Joel Kinnaman, things might actually be okay. It hits cinemas on February 7.
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Gremlins
The film that showed exactly how to combine the horror and comedy genres perfectly, Gremlins was a reliable favourite from our youth. Which is why we're all very protective over any new iteration. So we're going to try and remain calm throughout this difficult time. Last year, it was reported that Dark Shadows writer Seth Grahame-Smith is penning a script. Ouch. But apparently there are some rights issues. We're praying for little to no CGI.
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Short Circuit
Out of all the films mentioned in this list, Short Circuit has probably aged the most. Which means that a remake is either a terrible or an amazing idea. The fact that it's being directed by Tim Hill, of Garfield 2 fame, might ring a few alarm bells but his insistence that the cuteness of the original will be replaced by something darker and more threatening is intriguing at the very least.
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Scarface
Now, to be fair with this one, Brian De Palma's 1983 classic was in fact a remake itself of the 1932 Howard Hawks film, albeit with a lot of hefty changes being made. This time, Universal are keen on another version, potentially directed by David Yates, best known for directing the last four Harry Potter films. The film will apparently be a contemporary spin on the story of a power-hungry drugs baron.
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Weird Science
Essentially the dream of most geeks throughout the 80s, this John Hughes comedy saw a beautiful woman being created through a computer. Since there have been a couple of small technological changes in the world since 1985, this one is ripe for a reimagining. We've been promised an edgier take, meaning more swears, and a script from the writer of the 21 Jump Street film.
(Images: All Star)
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