1. "Father of the Bride"(1950) vs. "Father of the Bride"(1991)
We'll start things off with an example of how good a remake can be. Steve Martin capped off his great '80s comedy run("Roxanne", "PT&A", "Parenthood") with
"Lolita"(1962) vs. "Lolita"(1997)
"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"(1971) vs. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"(2005)
Tim Burton insisted that he didn't "remake" the beloved '70s musical that immortalized the late Gene Wilder. He went straight back to the source material. The result may have been a summer blockbuster that was more faithful to Roald Dahl's book, but not even a prime "Pirates"-era Johnny Depp could replace the cult classic that left every kid in the world clamoring for a Golden Ticket. Nearly every aspect of the original is better, right down to the Oompa Loompas, and good luck finding somebody that disagrees(in fairness, Freddie Highmore MIGHT be a better Charlie). Otherwise, Wilder wins this one, easily.
"The Getaway"(1972) vs. "The Getaway"(1994)
I know this is a radical opinion, but I prefer Roger Donaldson's remake of "The Getaway" over the far-more celebrated Steve McQueen-Ali MacGraw original, which isn't holding up so well under 21st Century scrutiny. I believe McQueen's iconography(coupled with his sudden death in 1980) has granted this Sam Peckinpah hit a better reputation than it actually deserves. In hindsight, it's hard to ignore the multiple slaps that he dishes out to MacGraw during a roadside argument, and harder to ignore the fact that HER film career didn't survive the '70s, either(for entirely different reasons). Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin, a ridiculously attractive real-life married couple, were a much more even match twenty years later. The '94 remake was unjustly overlooked at the time of it's release, despite superior action, sizzling sex scenes(get the DVD) and Michael Madsen, James Woods, Jennifer Tilly and David Morse offering colorful support.
"Sabrina"(1954) vs. "Sabrina"(1995)
This is a no-brainer. It's Audrey Hepburn all day, every day.
"Carrie"(1976) vs. "Carrie"(2013)
"Fun with Dick and Jane"(1977) vs. "Fun with Dick and Jane"(2005)
The original is hardly a classic, but Jane Fonda and George Segal's financial difficulties in '77, were definitely more amusing than the cash-strapped pair played by Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni, 28 years later.
"Robocop"(1987) vs. "Robocop"(2014)
"Ghostbusters"(1984) vs. "Ghostbusters"(2016)
This one really gets people upset.
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