3 Sept 2011

MORE AND MORE OFTEN I FIND MYSELF ASKING ........

......... If it ain't broken, why fix it?

I don't know if I was more saddened or annoyed to discover on Lilly's site, The Lilly Pad, that yet another classic book had been retold (click HERE to read said post).

To which book do I refer? I'll give you a clue ........

... by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.

Yes, its THE VELVETEEN RABBIT by Margery Williams.

A truly magical tale  of a stuffed toy rabbit that comes to life thanks to the power of love, it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

Ok, so I haven't read this retelling of the story by Maggie Downer (published 2005)and to be honest, though I feel I should, I'm not sure I can bring myself to do so as I'm pretty certain it can't be as magical, as beautiful, as the original ...... can it?

And, though not quite as disturbing but almost ....... Dirty Dancing, one of my all-time favourite films is to be remade - is nothing sacred any more?

So come on, which of your favourite books/films has been redone? Which would you love/hate to see remade?

19 comments:

Carol said...

I am not sure about DD being remade. :(

The ones that come to mind that have worked for me are....

Sabrina with Humphrey Bogart and, my favourite, Audrey Hepburn was remade with Harrison Ford. I enjoyed both versions.

and The Parent Trap. I enjoyed both the Hayley Mills version (my son is called Mitch) and the Lindsay Lohan version.

carol

Dorte H said...

Ah, so that´s where your quotation comes from!

No, I don´t want them to change MY boooks or films either, but a few years ago I watched Stephen King´s thriller Carrie. Not that old in my opinion, but it just seemed ridiculous, not at all scary. So some films may have to be redone in order to survive.

Mamakucingbooks said...

Hi Petty

Thanks for dropping by my blog. Sorry I have not been blog hopping that often lately. Been tied up with a very thick Sherlock Holmes book hahaha...

Saw a Velveteen Rabbit book being offered for review at one of the webiste. Now am regretting that I didn't grab it while i had the chance .

anilkurup59 said...

I'm not sure if that is wise or unwise - the remakings.

Kelly said...

Wasn't there some new Winnie the Pooh stuff recently? (and I'm not talking about movies or cartoons) Classic Milne should be left alone.

I also don't like when they try to come back to a classic and do a sequel or prequel - like "Gone with the Wind" or "Little Women". They're "classics" for a reason - leave them alone!

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I don't mind things being remade or retold as long as they put their own spin on things. That way you can still love the first one but enjoy the second. I just don't like it when they TRY to improve on the original.

joemmama said...

Just the thought of Dirty Dancing being remade makes me sick! Does no one have an original thought? All this rewriting and remaking makes me weep for our culture.

Su said...

Hmmm. Interesting question. I don't watch enough movies to get too upset over remakes-- although I was one of the (seemingly) few who loved the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory much better than the older version. But books? That seems odd.

Joan said...

thanks for visiting
we have just driven past the Blue Dolphin on our way to Skirlington (skipsea) we love that part of the coast

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

I refused to watch The A Team film as who could match up to the original guys in the TV series. I wouldn't watch the Dirty Dancing remake either. However, I did love Johnny Depp's Charlie & The Chocolate Factory... it was more faithful to the book than Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.

Nina said...

Wait a minute, back up, Dirty Dancing is going to be remade? Seriously? OMG!

Jenners said...

I'm more into movies being remade but books???? NO!

serendipity_viv said...

OMG! Next they will remake Grease! What is the world coming too.

Betty Manousos said...

like jenners i'm more into movies being remade...
but book remades?
couldn't imagine that.

happy sunday!

betty xx

R. Ramesh said...

hey interesting buddy:)

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...

I get tired of the remakes myself. I wish they would come up with new ideas instead of redoing the greats with new people. I agree, they need to stop. Cool post!

Alexia561 said...

Why do they have to keep messing with remakes instead of coming up with original ideas? Classics are classics for a reason, so leave them alone!

The very thought of DD being remade makes me shudder. No one can match Patrick and Jennifer, as they had great chemistry!

Bonnie said...

I can't believe I haven't visited with you in a while. It only means I have lots of catching up to do! Did you know they are remaking Footloose as well? I love the Velveteen Rabbit. And I adore little hedgehogs, I would love to see on in person.

Have a great week, Bonnie

The Bookworm said...

awww...I love Velveteen Rabbit too. I dont know why books and movies have to be re-made. They tend to ruin them. There's no way Dirty Dancing can ever be re-made. Patrick Swaze was divine in that.