I woke up this morning thinking about today's release of the Will Ferrell comedy movie based on the popular "Land of the Lost" television series. I really had to ask myself, "Is there any way that this movie is going to be any good?" Sadly, my conclusion was, "No, no way in the world."
Over the past two decades Hollywood has taken it upon itself to try and reinvent many of the classic television series and movies from past decades. This is nothing new, of course, movies have been getting remade almost from when the medium first appeared. some of these remakes have turned out to be either as good, or better than their predecessors. So why is it that most of these modern redoes turn out to be so horrible?
I think that somehow Hollywood has lost sight of what people want to see when they go to the movies. Over the past couple of decades the movie industry has been loosing ground to the video game market. Why? Well I think that the simple answer is creativity and originality. Video game designers have the freedom to create their own original themes, stories and characters, something that seems to be stifled when it comes to fantasy movies. Is Hollywood scared to try and market a movie that isn't based on either a TV show, toy line or video game? Do they really think that if it doesn't have a name that people already recognize it won't be a hit? Well, I have talked to several directors about this subject and they say that there is some truth to it. Many film makers have had to go outside of the big studios to get their films made for just that reason.
Now, let me get back to why I think "Land of the Lost" is going to disappoint. The film, like so many others, lacks the core elements that made the original television show popular in the first place. The original series was a family oriented, intelligent, sci fi, action show. The new film is a comedy without the family element....and from what I have seen in the trailers...intelligence. Instead of taking, what I believe could be the elements for an excellent, serious, sci fi film, Universal opted to go for something campy that takes just a few elements from the series and basically makes fun of them.
What do the fans think of this reworking of a show that they grew up on? Well, just troll the message boards. The core fans, which I really believe movies like this should cater to, are pretty much up in arms.
Here is an example of some posts on the GS North America board. Who better to critique a dinosaur movie than a bunch of Godzilla movie fans?:
"Will Ferrell movies are just 2 hours of him running around screaming and carrying on like some sort of idiot man-child. This movie looks like it was built entirely around that sort of thing. PASS."
and....
"On the new NBC Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, guest Will Ferrel was on,and they showed a clip from the upcoming Land Of The Lost movie. All I can say kids. If I had problems with a Tyrannosaurus Rex hellbent on eating me,I'm NOT pouring piss/urine on myself! This is going to be a stupid movie kids. Go Grumpy! Go Grumpy! Go Grumpy Go! Will Ferrel must die!"
Seems as the fans have really turned on Will Ferrell.
Here are a couple that were posted here at MIN:
"I absolutely loved this show and am not impressed by the looks of the new film (sorry)...it looks like they are making a mockery of something we hold very dear. I was 8 years old when the show was cancelled. Like others I ran to the TV set when LOTL came on if there was a show with Dinosaurs in it I was there!"
"Land of the Lost was the best Saturday morning show ever. I just the new movie was going to be in a more serious vein instead of "adventure-comedy".
"I too have some very fond memories of this fine show and want to thank the Sci-Fi channel for showing every episode. I was looking forward to seeing the movie until I found out that some no-talent hack named will (i have no talent) Ferrel was going to be in it. Personally i refuse to watch anything with him in it because he is just NOT funny and not even a good actor."
Again, more Will Ferrell bashing there, but it solidifies the point that most LOTL fans are not on the same page as Hollywood's new version of "Land of the Lost."
And besides, aren't these the very people that Universal would want to see their movie?
Here are a couple of examples of where Hollywood took an established movie icon....and um.....blew it....big time.
1. Godzilla (1998)(USA)
After seeing this one, you really have to wonder if Roland Emmerich, Devlin and Co. ever actually saw any of the Japanese "Godzilla" movies? First off the changed the look of every one's favorite movie monster trying to make him more 'realistic' looking. That's like making a Mickey Mouse film with a real mouse or remaking "King Kong" with a giant bear. Then they violated rule one of any giant monster movie "The Monster Is Supposed To Do All The Destruction." On one hand you were supposed to fear the monster, then feel sorry for it, then fear it again then at the end feel sorry for it again. It didn't work, and the film bombed.
2. The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008)
Here is prime example of a big studio ignoring what made a film a classic. Gone in the remake were all the honest charms from the original. They threw out the whole plot where Klaatu learns about humanity through his interaction with young Bobby Benson. They also ignored the whole message of hope that if mankind were to clean up it's act, then it could co-exist with the rest of the galaxy.
Why have a giant robot, if your not going to do anything with it? Gort looked cool in the film, but when it came to to start destroying things, he turned into a cloud of parasites......who thought that would be a good idea?
Anyway, the makers of those films just didn't get it. These films and TV shows have remained popular for years for a reason. Somehow film makers fail to understand those reasons or ignore them on purpose. What fuels this? Well no matter what they throw up on the big screen they stand to make hundreds of millions of dollars, so why should they care?
Maybe someday the video game market will force movie studios to rethink their product, but for now they don't have to.
Pity
See Also: Land Of The Lost - Episode 1 - Cha-ka / Getting Grumpy: VFX In Land Of The Lost / Universal Releases The Complete Land Of The Lost Series In A Collectible Lunch Box / Universal Launches New Land Of The Lost Games / Sci Fi Announces Memorial Day Land Of The Lost Marathon And Other Summer Programing / Land Of The Lost Cha-Ka Funko Force Bobble Head / Land Of The Lost Sleestak Funko Force Bobble Head / A New Promo Image For Land Of The Lost / The Land Of The Lost Movie Poster / Hold Onto Your Tenticles Sigmund And The Sea Monsters Is Coming To The Big Screen / The First Photo Of Enik From The New Land Of The Lost Movie / Surprise! The New Sleestaks Look Like The Old Ones! / Land of the Lost (TV 1974-1977) / The Land That Time Forgot (1975)