Concerning Reboots
In the last 10 years, we've experienced an influx of reboots from Transformers, TMNT, Power Rangers and Mortal Kombat to name a few and each film is faced with its own series of problems.
So what is it about reboots that seems to divide movie goers with some films but brings other audiences together?
The first issue is audience expectation. Films that are made now are very different to how they were originally made. One example would be the need to cover concepts and notions with such depth and clarity. A majority of fans appear to want more of an in-depth backstory to provide more substance to the plot or character in question.
However, in some instances, there is the risk of going too overboard and causing confusion with characters, storyline or continuity...or it simply runs the risk of being too far fetched or may even contradict the original film. On the other hand reboots have the advantage of updating things visually, with better access to things like CGI, green screen or simply a higher budget, which can make the world of difference to how a film can be made.
The second issue relates to ambitious studios who want to showcase their product as a franchise. From a business stand point, films that carry sequels, spin-offs and even entire sagas are an absolute money maker for studios such as Warner Bros and Disney. The easiest way to win in this market is with established products such as books like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings or pretty much any product that features Marvel, DC or Star Wars.
For better or worse, these franchises are almost certain to make money by pulling in big crowds of people, divided by audiences who enjoyed the original and the new generation who will get introduced via a reboot. Unfortunately, it does feel as though studios will keep making films even if they know they're bad because either way, they'll make their money.
One example would be Fantastic Four, a reboot from 2016. The entire reason that film was made was to ensure Fox obtained the rights to the properties as it was part of their agreement that they must produce a Fantastic Four film by a given date, otherwise the rights would return to the original source.
The line between art and business seems blurred at this stage and it'll only be when studios exhaust every superhero, video game or book adaptation that things will change. But the odds of that seem rather slim.
That's not to say all reboot films are bad, some hold up very well. The Planet of the Apes trilogy holds up very well as a great retelling of the original 5 films. A more cohesive and less campy take shows us a better quality of storytelling and confined to a structured and consistent trilogy. The films develop the characters with more depth and clarity and the CGI for the apes is outstanding. A great example of a solid reboot.
Another example, in my opinion, would be Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. Although it led to some problems further down the line, as a stand alone film, it's a great introduction to a more modern take on Superman. Henry Cavill is great in the role and it breaks away from the traditional Clark Kent with the thick rim glasses and instead shows us a character who's learning to fit in and what it means to be human. Facing the hard choices of life with the powers he possesses, it shows us a conflicted Clark with a great supporting cast and brilliant score that really sets the tone for this interpretation of Superman.
Generally speaking, things can be very hit and miss when it comes to reboots. My hope is that studios will invest more time in writing better material or pulling suitable material straight from the source. Whether that's novels, comic books or original films, fans will come back for more if more care is taken with the films they are willing to spend their money on seeing.
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