Let’s face it, the copy-cat syndrome in Hollywood is perhaps more prevalent than at any period in filmmaking history. However, remaking "Death Wish," and the iconic Charles Bronson role with an over-the-hill Bruce Willis is the last straw for me. Hollywood cost cutting and risk aversion are rising to new heights as increased competition makes movie studios' fear of failure real and tangible. With Netflix and Amazon creating new content seemingly weekly and the stock price of distributor Roku on the rise; game on.
Increased competition for movie studios produces a tedious process
The traditional studios are under siege from Indie studios with lower cost structures and original stories, from streaming companies with built-in subscription bases, and from distribution portals like Hulu, Sling, and Roku who are all having some success. Oh, and did I mention that fewer people are going out to the Movies? Fortune reported that Summer of ‘17 moviegoers stayed home in a ratio of 1:6. And, according to Den of Geek, pressure to be more efficient caused movie studios to release a sequel or re-make in 2017 at a pace of roughly one a week!
You know you are getting old when they are remaking 20-year-old movies
I know that aging is supposed to be painful, but no one warned me of the excruciating, nails on a chalkboard, visceral reaction I would experience from seeing a trailer for "Jumanji," starring The Rock, and then, only weeks later, "Death Wish." "Jumanji" was that fantasy adventure with Robin Williams that I decided I could miss at the time (general rule was, if it was Robin Williams it was worth seeing).
But, it was just last week in my mind, that the original movie came out, and all the merchandise surrounding it was showing up in fast food restaurants, toy stores, and elementary schools, etc.
In fact, the original release was in 1995. To add insult to injury, here comes "Death Wish." Surely, they don’t mean Charles Bronson’s "Death Wish," circa.
1974. I mean, what’s next? "Dirty Harry" re-makes!? Charles Bronson’s vigilante franchise from the mid-1970’s to early ‘90s is outdone only by Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" franchise from roughly the early 70s to early 80s. According to Den of Geek, the popularity of the original "Death Wish" movies had to do with rising crime rates in U.S.
cities during the ‘70s.
Movie studios' process predictable while fear of losing money increases
Apparently, studios released between 43-46 sequels or remakes in 2017. A Full 21 of those were the 3rd or more iteration of the original! So, I believe that I can be excused if I feel like eight out of the ten movies at my local multiplex are either “Despicable Me” minions spinoffs, Super Heroes (themed), “Transformers," ”Star Wars," “Friday the 13th," or “Cars." I can be persuaded that the “Murder on the Orient Express” or “Planet of the Apes," “Amityville," or “Cloverfield” remakes may have some "film noir" value; however, in general, cringe at the thought of what remake I’ll see next.
