Worst Adaptations/Sequels/Rip-offs/Remakes in film?

[Thaluikhain]

There's a few things Anderson ripped from the comics/novels but didn't implement quite the same way.

- Predators hate the cold, they'll only hunt/slaughter in cold weather conditions if they're forced to. (Predator: Cold War)

Yeah, I noticed that, the previous two movies had them only coming out when it was hot, but I didn't mind them being in an environment where there infrared thingy might actually have been of some use.

On Aliens, from my point of view it wasn't so much that the Colonial Marines were dumb asses, it was more that it the mission was most likely routine (a downed transmitter) and they were given a new LT with little operational experience.

I get that the LT was useless, but the others didn't inspire much confidence either. Vasquez interrupting Ripley when she's telling them about the creature from the first movie (in rather graphic detail) to say "I only need to know one thing...where they are" to laughter and applause, and so on...nah, get another squad. If someone tells you that the place you are heading to may or may not be home to one or more large murderous alien beasties...yeah, that's something any reasonable person is going to pay attention to.

On the other hand, this could just be because movies tend to portray supposedly competent military units as being hopelessly inept for plot reasons.

In regards to the National Guard's performance in AvP:R, I have to liken them to Austrlia's Army Reserve. They're trained to a certain level of expertise, and depending on whether they're being deployed soon or not, their skills aren't that great (The Choco's will hate me for that). So that taken into account, the fact that they mustered so quickly to the town with the correct uniform on and their boots laced up is fantastic, but they were fighting creatures that thrive in low-light, built conditions.

Granted, they aren't (neccesarily) as well trained as regular army units. However, they are still fairly well trained, and well equipped (including night vision and armoured vehicles). I don't see them being easy prey for aliens, though this brings me to:

Also, an Alien series novel I read years ago had a part in it where someone fired a 9mm on a Drone carrying a person away for impregnation. The rounds ricocheted off the Alien's exoskeleton, and one of them hit and killed the bug food it was carrying. The Drone then promptly grabbed the shooter, as he was out of rounds. But that may have been one of those little mistakes authors make.

9mm rounds from a pistols or SMG are notoriously bad at penetrating armour, which is which carbines are replacing the SMG in military use. IIRC, M16s or M4s were used effectively on aliens in the movie, and that townsfolk and soldiers/police could hold the aliens off in time to be nuked (which was retarded, of course). Also, in Aliens, were the shotgun and pistols supposed to be future tech they just used modern props for, or modern weapons still being used?

If standard 5.56mm rounds from a M16 or M4 can't penetrate the aliens hide, then yes, the aliens are a threat. I don't buy that, personally, though. I could envisage the aliens being encased in a reasonably resistant carapace, but the bullets should still go through and make a mess of them, same as everything else.

If that is the case, then aliens simply aren't much of a threat to modern military units, IMHO. Predators, who avoid being shot and have weapons of their own, sure, but not aliens.

 

[2xDouble]

Haha, worst blatant rip-offs in Film? How about everything SyFy Channel ever made. They rip off EVERYTHING and make crappy B-movies (at best).

No wonder they changed their name, it's not Sci-Fi anymore... [sub]at least they still show Star Trek marathons once in awhile...[/sub]

 

[Lord Deathray]

What about Pathfinder(2007)?
Honur and glory to the first who finds out what it ripped off.

 

[MetalDooley]

Worst adaptation: I Am Legend

Worst rip-off: Any movie made by "The Asylum" e.g. Transmorphers,Snakes on a Train,The Day the Earth Stopped etc

 

[anthony87]

Starship Troopers.

If you haven't already - never read the book. You will forever lust for the blood of the director/producer/screenwriter.

I have seen bits of that and really want to read the book. One of us in the review has to have seen/read the source material to make this funnier.

In that case, definitely read the book and the watch then film.

Depending on your tastes the book might be difficult to get through, I read it in my late teens. A lot of other Sci-fi authors and critics have slam it because of the type of story it is and the themes involved. It's not a long book though.

Some of the inconsistencies between the novel>film off the top of my head:
- A character that was killed off in the first chapter, for the film had a sex change, became a major character and a love interest
- Johnny Rico never had a love interest, he dated a girl once who later became a pilot/captain and which he then met again only once
- Johnny's Morals & Ethics teacher did not rejoin the Mobile Infantry when war began with the Bugs, the filmmakers melded to characters together
- Lieutnant Raszchak wasn't anything like the character in the film (even though Michael Ironside is cool as hell)
- Mobile Infantry used Powered Armour (that's right, Robert Henlein was the first to write about the common-place power armour concept) that agumented their abilities so that a platoon of MI could attack/destroy/control several hundred km of battlespace, with a plethora of weapons at their disposal (flamthrowers, guns, rockets, nuclear missiles etc), and were dropped onto a planet (similar to ODSTs) - none of the films have adequately displayed this
- MI actually used military tactics - the films used zerg tactics, which really don't work unless you're power armour, and even then the book MI don't zerg (well, except for Klendathu)
- The Battle of Klendathu failed because some of the starships crashed into each other when dropping out of hyper/warp space to drop the MI and only a fraction of the invasion force landed on the bug homeworld; the Commander who planned the attack died fighting on the surface
- A high school friend of Johnny did join R&D, but he never saw him again as he died on a Research moon around Pluto during a bug asteroid attack
- The film is filled with Nazi-like propaganda and converted uniforms - completely the opposite of what was mentioned in the book
- The filmmakers used the nationalist/military service/complex morals & ethics issues as reason to make an "artsy" anti-Nazi joke film, even though both the Director and Screenwriter had only read a few pages of the book

The only way I can watch this film is if I'm that wasted I don't know what I'm watching, and that stage I'll like anything... including Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.

Have you seen Robocop?

 

[Amethyst Wind]

The Golden Compass.

The original writer, Phillip Pullman, is a complete tool for signing off on this piece of shit. The film ended right before the climactic finale to the book for some stupid reason.

Also, they got the name wrong, the original book was called Northern Lights, but ever since the film came out any new editions of the book have been called The Golden Compass just so they can put that fucking line ('Now a major motion picture) at the top.

The film sucked generally too. Besides the story butchering, the acting was bad and the effects needed work.

 

[liveslowdiefast]

Tron Legacy was a bad sequel to a bad movie. Could have done without that too.

Tron wasn't a bad movie, and i would guess that your judging it on what, the CGI?

 

[Jeffster92]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned The Wicker Man yet...

 

[Simonism451]

Starship Troopers.

If you haven't already - never read the book. You will forever lust for the blood of the director/producer/screenwriter.

May I suggest it the other way around (I know the book came first, but still): Don't read the Book, because its Borderline-fachist and two-dimensional take on the subject war will bore you to hell, read Joe Haldeman's "Forever War" instead or watch the movie, which is ,besides Norman Spinrod's the "Iron Dream", one of the most wonderfully exagerated Take-Thats on the entire genre of military Sci-Fi

Edit: Oh, and I'm hoping Games Workshop does the same with the Spacemarines in Warhammer 40K seeing how they are basically Nazis in Space

 

[Arqus_Zed]

Adaptations

- Batman & Robin, the worst Batman movie ever made.
- Catwoman.
- Anything by Uwe boll, I believed he's been mentioned before in this thread.
- Hollywood adaptions of Alan Moore comics, though one could argue which suck and which don't (but League of Extraordinary Gentlemen seems pretty obvious).

Sequels

- Batman & Robin, because it is also a sequel.
- S. Darko, the ungodly sequel to cult classic Donnie Darko.
- Alien 3, after Alien en Aliens, this one made the franchise crumble, and Resurrection didn't do anything to fix it.
- X-Men: The Last Stand, continuity, what's that?
- The New Star Wars Trilogy, obviously, I'm not some big Star Wars nut, but I know a bad movie when I see one.
- The Godfather Part III, compare this to the first two Godfather movies, you'll know why.
- Son of the Mask, I've got nothing to add.

Remakes

Check out Platinum Dunes, a company that specializes in remakes of horror movies. I was co-founded by Michael Bay. Yes, it's a bad as it sounds. They remade Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and many others.

 

[Vausch]

how bout the dungeon siege movie adaption...just ugh.
Also agree with Vaush on Dragonball Evolution especially a goku with hormones worrying about girls.
Another that makes my blood boil, even if I seem to be the minority, the entire resident evil movie franchise, why the hell did they have to bring girl power into it? 1 of the charms in the game was it was unenhanced, ordinary people who took on the hordes of walking dead.

We did see Dungeon Siege. I had no idea that kind of film was possible: a fantasy historical with Jason Statham an orc rip-offs lighting themselves on fire and it was FUCKING BORING. My friend fell asleep watching it about an hour in, I can't believe it was that horrible.

Actually you're not a minority. People as a whole don't like the Resident Evils (even though my favourite actor Zack Ward is in 2) but they see them as a bad but on the level of could stand to be seen. Like The Room or Troll 2.

 

[Vausch]

Adaptations

- Batman & Robin, the worst Batman movie ever made.
- Catwoman.
- Anything by Uwe boll, I believed he's been mentioned before in this thread.
- Hollywood adaptions of Alan Moore comics, though one could argue which suck and which don't (but League of Extraordinary Gentlemen seems pretty obvious).

Sequels

- Batman & Robin, because it is also a sequel.
- S. Darko, the ungodly sequel to cult classic Donnie Darko.
- Alien 3, after Alien en Aliens, this one made the franchise crumble, and Resurrection didn't do anything to fix it.
- X-Men: The Last Stand, continuity, what's that?
- The New Star Wars Trilogy, obviously, I'm not some big Star Wars nut, but I know a bad movie when I see one.
- The Godfather Part III, compare this to the first two Godfather movies, you'll know why.
- Son of the Mask, I've got nothing to add.

Remakes

Check out Platinum Dunes, a company that specializes in remakes of horror movies. I was co-founded by Michael Bay. Yes, it's a bad as it sounds. They remade Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and many others.

In order:

We were trying to avoid ones that more famous internet shows have done (Nostalgia critic for one) with a few exceptions at first. But yes, I agree: Batman and Robin is something awful and Joel should be ashamed of himself.

On the list, thank you.

Yep. Though apparently if we review 2 of his films we have to fight him in the ring. Thank you karate training, I'll use you well.

League is on the list and I'll write that down. Alan Moore + Hollywood = not good

I've yet to see Donnie Darko and know I should. Will do.

Sounds good, Alien is a staple film of horror so why not on Halloween.

Again, never saw it. But I'll keep it in mind.

Everybody and their dog has done the prequel trilogy. I'll keep it as a fall back.

I've heard some bad stuff about that. Again though I've yet to even see the first Godfather (I've yet to see a lot of "films you must see before you die")

Saw it. FAIL. Just FAIL.

Ho jeez |D I had heard that the new NOES was lacking in the creativity of Freddy's kills. Why is it they won't just make Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash already?

 

[Vausch]

Worst adaptation: I Am Legend

Worst rip-off: Any movie made by "The Asylum" e.g. Transmorphers,Snakes on a Train,The Day the Earth Stopped etc

\\

In the defence of I Am Legend, it's really only bad when you see the ending they used theatrically. The alternate ending kept a strong tone of the book even if it still wasn't right.

 

[Vausch]

What about Pathfinder(2007)?
Honur and glory to the first who finds out what it ripped off.

I thought Pathfinder was a remake.

 

[Arqus_Zed]

snip

In order:

We were trying to avoid ones that more famous internet shows have done (Nostalgia critic for one) with a few exceptions at first. But yes, I agree: Batman and Robin is something awful and Joel should be ashamed of himself.

On the list, thank you.

Yep. Though apparently if we review 2 of his films we have to fight him in the ring. Thank you karate training, I'll use you well.

League is on the list and I'll write that down. Alan Moore + Hollywood = not good

I've yet to see Donnie Darko and know I should. Will do.

Sounds good, Alien is a staple film of horror so why not on Halloween.

Again, never saw it. But I'll keep it in mind.

Everybody and their dog has done the prequel trilogy. I'll keep it as a fall back.

I've heard some bad stuff about that. Again though I've yet to even see the first Godfather (I've yet to see a lot of "films you must see before you die")

Saw it. FAIL. Just FAIL.

Ho jeez |D I had heard that the new NOES was lacking in the creativity of Freddy's kills. Why is it they won't just make Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash already?

Glad I could help.

And, yeah, stuff like Batman and Star Wars has been done to death.

And if you're looking for more obscure stuff, try The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat. The original Fritz the Cat was an animated film based of a comic by Robert Crumb. It was the first animated movie to be explicit about sex and drugs - it was a satire about everything that made the '60s infamous. The animation was far from reaching Disney- or Bluth-esque levels, but it became a cult classic nonetheless. It shamelessly promoted itself as 'the first X-rated animated movie' and kept a certain value because of the way it sums up the dark side of an entire decade in an uncensored manner.

The sequel, however, was an incoherent project with only one goal: quickly cash in on the success of the original. It sucked, big time. Now, the original wasn't exactly going to win any oscars either, but none can deny its cult status and unique drive.

The only problem is finding a copy. I actually recorded the original Fritz the Cat from TV and found myself a copy of 'The Nine Lives' when the local video store closed its doors.

 

[Vausch]

snip

In order:

We were trying to avoid ones that more famous internet shows have done (Nostalgia critic for one) with a few exceptions at first. But yes, I agree: Batman and Robin is something awful and Joel should be ashamed of himself.

On the list, thank you.

Yep. Though apparently if we review 2 of his films we have to fight him in the ring. Thank you karate training, I'll use you well.

League is on the list and I'll write that down. Alan Moore + Hollywood = not good

I've yet to see Donnie Darko and know I should. Will do.

Sounds good, Alien is a staple film of horror so why not on Halloween.

Again, never saw it. But I'll keep it in mind.

Everybody and their dog has done the prequel trilogy. I'll keep it as a fall back.

I've heard some bad stuff about that. Again though I've yet to even see the first Godfather (I've yet to see a lot of "films you must see before you die")

Saw it. FAIL. Just FAIL.

Ho jeez |D I had heard that the new NOES was lacking in the creativity of Freddy's kills. Why is it they won't just make Freddy Vs. Jason Vs. Ash already?

Glad I could help.

And, yeah, stuff like Batman and Star Wars has been done to death.

And if you're looking for more obscure stuff, try The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat. The original Fritz the Cat was an animated film based of a comic by Robert Crumb. It was the first animated movie to be explicit about sex and drugs - it was a satire about everything that made the '60s infamous. The animation was far from reaching Disney- or Bluth-esque levels, but it became a cult classic nonetheless. It shamelessly promoted itself as 'the first X-rated animated movie' and kept a certain value because of the way it sums up the dark side of an entire decade in an uncensored manner.

The sequel, however, was an incoherent project with only one goal: quickly cash in on the success of the original. It sucked, big time. Now, the original wasn't exactly going to win any oscars either, but none can deny its cult status and unique drive.

The only problem is finding a copy. I actually recorded the original Fritz the Cat from TV and found myself a copy of 'The Nine Lives' when the local video store closed its doors.

Actually, Fritz The Cat was one of the first scripts we wrote XD Freaking loved it. I love Ralph Bakshi and the whole thing was enjoyable albeit occasionally difficult to put up with.
9 lives however, was just stupid. It's like they got completely the wrong message and just wanted to see Fritz in various sex situations.

 

[Cowabungaa]

You've listed Dune twice.

Why is it one of the worst adaptions?

Allow me. It's not that it doesn't really stay true to the book, it really tries to. The problem is that the book is simply too big to be directly translated to the big screen. This results in a movie that's pretty much one big clusterfuck. They've cut out so much that it ends up being somewhat of an incoherent mess. I wouldn't say it's one of the worst though as they did try to, and in some regards I'd say they succeeded despite changing the storyline a bit and cutting some awesome parts.

Mind you, this is coming from someone who had seen the movie before he'd read the book. After reading it I noticed that yes the movie had the spirit of the book, but the book was still surprising (as in didn't really know what would happen) to read after seeing the movie.

... and you missed Starship Troopers.

Sorry son, but it just happens that a lot of people find the Starship Troopers an amazingly fun movie to watch, me being one of them.

Making an adaptation doesn't mean you have to make a 1:1 copy. You could say that Verhoeven used the book's synopsis as inspiration and nothing more. It'd indeed be a horribly adaptation if his outset was to copy-paste the book on the big screen, but that was never his intention. The fact that you're butthurt about that, well, that ain't his fault. Except if he promised to make a faithful adapation and you were expecting one thanks to that, you'd have a point in that case. But I doubt that was his goal.

 

[Jaser]

Adaptations, you say? The Last Airbender, by M. Night Shyamalan.
You will cry tears of suicidal thoughts if you've seen the show.
Other ones are the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Eragon
And pretty much any given good animated feature is bound to have crappy sequel.
Then there's the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. They're good, but none are as good as the source material (that I've seen so far anyway).
That crappy Doom movie
Secret of NIMH 2
Final Fantasy: Spirits Within (would that even count?)
and that's about all I can think of for now, good luck on your show OP.
Also, has you site been made yet? I'd love to check it out.
Edit: Oh, and don't forget about Highlander 2. If you've seen both the first and second ones you know EXACTLY what I mean.

 

[The87Italians]

I'll give the first Starship Troopers movie some credit, it was no where near as bad as the sequel.

 

[Vausch]

Oh, and don't forget about Highlander 2. If you've seen both the first and second ones you know EXACTLY what I mean.

I have. Let's forget the aliens part: Did the makers of this one even SEE the first!? It's as if they just read the cast listing and heard the phrase "immortals that cut each other's heads off" and decided to make up their on story from there! It's almost Indy 4.