Sci-Fi Remakes and Sequels Run Amok

Hollywood has been in remake mode recently, especially when it comes to classic science fiction.

As the world waits for Keanu Reeves to hit the screen in a remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the LA Times has this nice roundup of classic sci-fi films looking at remakes or new sequels.

As I've noted here before, they're going after some of my faves, like Forbidden Planet - and some of my not-so-faves, like The Incredible Shrinking Man.

While there are always exceptions that prove the rule, I find that too often, sequels and remakes just don't live up to the originals, despite the advances in special effects. Think of War of the Worlds.

Those that succeed generally take the original as inspiration, and make something wholly new. Think of Alien and Aliens for successful sequels. Or the 1956 Invasion of the Body-Snatchers and the 1978 version - both quite good on their own terms, but utterly different. (Let's not even go into the awful 2007 version Invasion).

Actually, that would make a fun article for the site - a list of remakes that succeeded, and remakes that failed utterly - sci-fi or otherwise. Send me your ideas!

Reeves at a photocall for the remake in Madrid/by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images