I love movies, as they are the art form that connects with me the most. One of my favorite things to do is go to the movies, popcorn in hand, and escape real life for a couple of hours. I believe it is through movies that we see human experience, how human beings really are and behave, and the diversity of life on this planet. I love how you can escape into a world and see yourself through the eyes of someone who (sometimes) doesn’t even exist. I love to explore characters and their lives. Paramount is reportedly putting in the works for a remake of the 1995 teen comedy Clueless. Based on the characters created by Amy Heckerling. Clueless is a beloved classic loved by many, including me. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher, a spoiled, rich girl from Bel-Air who attempts to give a ‘makeover’ to the new girl, Tai (Brittany Murphy), and help her try to find a boyfriend. It’s a feel-good film that my friends and I quote regularly. It is witty and funny, and many love it because it induces 90’s nostalgia.
The reason we fell in love with Clueless was because of the characters and the story. Cher is a fully developed human being. She is not an archetype, or ‘popular’ or ‘dumb’ girl. She is a fully rounded, real person who is not just one thing, but like everyone else in the real world, she is many things. She is caring, selfish, cunning, and so much more. Clueless is a classic, and like many remakes of classics, there is skepticism surrounding it. Will it be good? Will it live up the original? How will they change it to fit with modern times? Why make it in the first place? If something is broke, why try to fix it?
There has been an influx of remakes recently, as in Ghostbusters, Annie, Star Wars, or Jurassic World in the last few years. Just a couple of weeks ago I saw the new Halloween movie too much disappointment, yes, there were good parts about it, but overall it was bland and forgettable. What makes a film magical is its originality. Seeing a story that has never been told before, learning something new, and the authenticity of someone or something being heard is what makes a movie stand out to me.
When I see remakes, I feel a coldness and falseness, and most of the time, I forget it in a week. Most times, someone is remaking a movie because they are afraid to take risks. People loved it before, so they will come to see it again. It’s safe, and it is guaranteed to make money. That’s why I have such an appreciation for original movies that tell a unique story in a world full of Spiderman and Beauty and The Beast. Whether they are good or not, it is up to one’s own opinion. But at least filmmakers are not afraid to try something new, take a risk, and make art for the sake of making art.