We Invented The Remix

Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy aka Puffy aka P.Diddy aka Diddy often liked to make the claim that Bad Boy Records (meaning him) invented the remix. I’m not too sure who definitively invented the remix, but one thing is certain and that is Puffy was responsible for some of the greatest remixes ever produced. The sign of a great remix (similar to a great sequel which I discussed previously) is that it must be the equal of, or exceed the original song.

Take the remix of Craig Mack‘s “Flava in Ya Ear” released in 1994 on Bad Boy Records. The song featured The Notorious B.I.G, Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes and was a significant improvement to the original record. The production, the addition of the guest artists and the lyrical flow make this track stand out as one of the greatest remixes ever produced.

I really do wish that the film producers in Hollywood would take notes from Puffy when it comes to remaking films. Time and time again we have seen films being remade that are absolutely awful and cannot even be compared to the original films.

Granted there are always exceptions such as Christopher Nolan’s rebooted Dark Knight franchise of Batman. Out with the pleather Batman suits, comic script and goofy villains and in with the darker, moody and sombre Dark Knight and truly evil villains. Another film that succeeded in the remix genre was 2006′s Casino Royale, which saw the introduction of Daniel Craig as James Bond. The original film was released in 1967 and adopted an almost comic view on the espionage book of Ian Fleming. The remake brought back the hard, gritty and unpolished James Bond that was more in line with Fleming’s take on the character.

So much for the good.

One of my worst remakes of all time has to be The Italian Job starring “Marky” Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Granted, they included a squad of Mini Coopers and had some interesting car chase scenes but other than that the film was a disappointment. The casting of Michael Caine in the original film provided much needed wit and flair, which the remake just didn’t have.

The first Total Recall is all about Arnold Schwarzenegger. This is when he was in his acting prime and would release a couple of films a year. This film contains some of his best lines as well “If I’m not me, den who da hell am I?” and “My name is naaaaht Quaid!“. The 2012 version with Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale was utterly disappointing unless you haven’t watched the original, in which case you probably thought it was awesome!

Who can forget “wax on, wax off” as described by Mr Miyagi to Daniel-San in the original Karate Kid film? A great feel-good film (ruined by Sequel-itis unfortunately) but also remade with young Jaden Smith and with Jackie Chan in the. Mr Miyagi role. Personally, I felt the remake was just a bore-fest and should have stayed as an idea in some executive’s head.

2001′s Planet of The Apes remake with Mark Wahlberg just goes to prove that having a ridiculous budget for special effects is no guarantee that the film will be any good. This was a truly terrible film that tried very hard to separate itself from the original and failed in every sense.

Some remakes have far reaching effects. Take Guy Ritchie’s remake of Italian film Swept Away. I will quote James Duffy of the Boston.com:

Coming off the success of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”, Guy Ritchie decided to direct his wife, Madonna, in this remake of the 1974 Italian film, Swept Away. The movie was so bad that they got divorced. Well, that’s probably not true, but given the box office and critical reception, it might have been part of the reason.

I’m surprised that Guy Ritchie was allowed to direct again after this debacle! Actually, Ritchie returned to his roots of making films involving London and Cockney accents with the successful Sherlock Holmes franchise.

As ever, I think there is a significantly longer list of films that can be added to the above. Some of these include Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Psycho, The Taking of Pelham 123 and on and on the list goes.

The lesson here is a simple - if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. Unless you’re going to bring the Puff Daddy treatment to it.

-Ticha (@Tichapk)