Is the death of creativity a sign of an empire in decline? ...... They're remaking "Footloose"

[marmar]

:wtf: Can't any part of my GenX formative years be left sacred?



Chace Crawford to Star in 'Footloose'
by Us Magazine    May 19, 2009


After weeks of contract negotiations, the 'Gossip Girl' star officially signs on to play the lead role in the musical remake. It's official! Chace Crawford will star in the "Footloose" remake, Paramount Pictures confirms to Usmagazine.com exclusively.

"Chace Crawford will play the lead role of Ren McCormack in the film 'Footloose'," Paramount told Us Tuesday.

The news is expected to be officially announced to trade publications Wednesday morning.

The actor has been considering the part for some time but had yet to officially sign until this week. He had been in contract negotiations and was struggling to make filming work around his "Gossip Girl" schedule, which is also due to start shooting its third season, a source told Us. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/us-magazine-chace-crawford-footloose.html

[hfojvt]

1. it gets worse though doesn't it?

Since in many ways Footloose itself relied heavily on "Rebel without a cause".

It's like deja vu all over again.

[Ian David]

8. I kind of think we NEED a pop culture rebelion against the religious reich right now.

I think the main character should be gay, though.

And make the movie rated PG.

[Mythsaje]

2. Ummm. Why?

It's not as though it was deep enough for other perspectives to be useful to anyone. Do they think it would be a hit? Okay, maybe it would be, given that it would introduce a whole new generation to the script with one of their own people in top billing. But, honestly, I don't get it. I can see why someone (Rob Zombie) might want to remake Halloween (though I couldn't myself watch much of it) to get farther into Meyers' so-called psychology, but this?

There's a ton of worthwhile material out there...including my own. The problem is that Hollywood doesn't like taking chances. It's not a dearth of creativity--it's a dearth of courage.

[Botany]

3. yuck! left over bacon

Chace Crawford :rofl: nice name ..... what was Rugged Cliffs, Chuck Sierra, or Clint Breakers not
ready to make the film?

[lunatica]

21. OK. I admit I'm really old and have no idea who this guy is

But I really have to ask what is his message in that photo. Is he wearing the tie or not? Is he wearing a suit or not? Is he against shaving? Or is that the new clean cut look? Is his hair combed or is it not? Is he formal or is he trying to be a rebel? If he's trying to be a rebel, what is he rebelling against? Or is it just the new 'IN' look, whatever that is that'll last only one season?

I have no problem with the real conter culture types, like bikers or people with tatoos or even people with every kind of piercing imaginable. I actually understand what they're trying to say, which is basically that they're rebelling against the status quo socially acceptable looks but still they're joining their own counter culture culture. People who want to make a specific statement.

This guy? I don't get it, unless it's something like the new heterosexual look.

Really. I don't get the look although I'll certainly appreciate it if someone would explain it to me. I might even get it.

[csziggy]

30. It takes a lot of work to constantly look as though you left work Friday

And haven't had a chance to shave or change since then - and it is now Monday. I hate that always stubbly look - it must be an art to keep that three days worth of stubble consistent.

I'm old, too, and I don't get it either but I think it has something to do with the 'metrosexual' look.

[cherokeeprogressive]

33. I guess you didn't see "Taking Chance" on HBO.

Kevin Bacon is now one of my favorite actors.

[Botany]

36. Mystic River was brilliant

[tridim]

4. I'd have to say that's the worst remake idea ever.

Worse than Willy Wonka.

[Ian David]

6. No. Remaking Rollerball would be worse. n/t

[Ian David]

9. They're also re-making Red Dawn. n/t

[Starry Messenger]

20. Who is going to replace the evil Soviet menace?

I don't think kids these days even know what a "Red" is. North Korea would be a hard sell as an imminent threat.

[Ian David]

22. I'm gonna guess Venezuela and Cuba. Or drag queens.

"Let's get 'em girls... WOLVERINES!!!!!"

[ContinentalOp]

15. You crazy

Willy Wonka is a classic that should have never been remade. Footloose? Eh, who cares? :shrug:

[tridim]

18. Yea I didn't really think that through. Wonka was just the first horrible remake I thought of.

Psycho being the other.

[Ian David]

5. Jump back! No way! n/t

[Jade Fox]

7. I recently read something...

(okay, it was in a Michael Crichton novel) saying the internet will lead to a dearth of creativity and evolution because of the simplification of and universalization of information and ideas. Innovations tend to be born in isolation.

At least, that's what I got from it. It was in "The Lost World".

[Ian David]

10. If you're reading Michael Crichton novels, then it's already happened. n/t

[Jade Fox]

11. Hey,.....

I never read novels, but I was in a boring situation and there it was. I thought the book sucked, except for that one idea, which at least caught my attention.

[walldude]

23. LMAO... now that was funny!

:toast:

[jobycom]

12. No, but whining about remakes is.

:p

[marmar]

13. thanks for your contribution.....

n/t

[jobycom]

31. You are welcome. Thanks for the opportunity.

n/t(except, of course, that putting n/t in the body sort of makes it a lie, since "n/t" is still text)

[Starry Messenger]

14. It seemed more topical in the Reagan years.

I wonder what the rationale is? What's next, a musical version of The Breakfast Club?

[Hoopla Phil]

37. Speaking of Ray-gun and remakes. . .

How about a remake of Rock and Roll High?!

[valerief]

16. Regurgitated crap is always new to a new generation, just like jingoism. nt

[Ishoutandscream2]

17. God, the 80's really sucked

Glad those weren't my formative years.

[Old Hob]

19. Creativity takes a back seat to repackaged .entertainment with a potential for good profits

occasionally. Especially in the music industry IMO. American Idol is out to finish off what MTV failed to kill.

[fishwax]

24. I like remakes

Or, rather, I don't quite understand the knee-jerk animosity towards remakes. Some are good, some are bad, just as with adaptations from any other source.

[derby378]

25. Well, let's look at all the other remakes...

Land of the Lost
Charlie's Angels
The Brady Bunch
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Producers
etc.

Yes, I know, there are too many remakes. I want to see more original stuff, too.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

26. They're making a movie about BATTLESHIP, for God's sake:

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/05/peter-berg-batt.html

A "Footloose" remake is lame, but a movie based on a board game is weapons-grade stupid.

[Toucano]

27. "My Fair Lady" is slated for remake, too.

Although this "Footloose" isn't exactly a remake. This one is based on the Broadway show, I understand, which was based on the movie.



"Hairspray" was a musical based on a movie and then a movie again, too.



If successful, we should expect movie versions of "The Color Purple" and "9 to 5".


Uuugh! Laziness!

[burning rain]

28. Largely a sign that the US is being sodomized by religion.

*

[Batgirl]

29. There's nothing wrong with our popular culture that can't be fixed by a big-screen version of

"Mr. Belvedere"

[lucretia54]

32. Personally, my favorite in the original was Christopher Penn and I like to remember him that way....

and my 2 little girls enjoyed it almost as much as Dirty Dancing!

I usually hate remakes, especially if they try to modernize them. Just how could they do that to Footloose?

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Three things going on here

1.- in the midst of economic crisis studios tend to go for the safe alternative, that has a ready made audience. See all them remakes

2.- It is not that creativity is dead, is just that the medial moguls like the safe stuff, You want edgy... look online.

3.- Yep, the empire dies and just like Rome you see it even in this.

[Democrats_win]

35. What, Zac Efron wasn't available? I'd rather have fun and watch Hairspray.

It's like the girl in Hairspray who gets sent to detention and finds that the class is full of African American kids practicing their dance moves. Who needs all that drama of Footloose. Just dance!

[Echo In Light]

38. The problem isn't the re-treads, the problem is that scores of people are enthusiastic over shit