Oct 19 2007Martin Campbell Directing 'The Birds' Remake
There often comes a point in a director's career, particularly if they have found some recent acclaim, where it becomes apparent that they've become arrogant beyond their means.
For Kevin Smith, for instance, his point came after he was lauded for making a student-level film into a series of student-level films with increasing levels of color, celebrity, and Good Will Hunting stars. Confusing his ability to extend the popularity of a stoner and a mute with genuine talent, he attempted to move beyond the New Jersey "Askewnivese" with a movie about different people in New Jersey, and starring J.Lo and the cast of Pearl Harbor. The resulting disaster will be remembered only as "wasn't that Gigli?"
For Martin Campbell, who just enjoyed surprising praise for making Bond less prissy in Casino Royale, that time is today, when he decided he could do something better with The Birds than Alfred Hitchcock did. Why, Martin? And how?
Remaking Dolemite or a cartoon about singing chipmunks is one thing, but a certified classic by one of the most respected directors ever? It's metaphorically covered yourself in birdseed and letting the birds peck you to death, wherein the birdseed is an ill-conceived remake of a classic film by one of the most respected directors ever, and the birds' pecking comes in the form of pun-filled cricitisms saying, "Leave Remake for the 'Birds'!"
'Birds' redo calls Campbell as director [Hollywood Reporter]
Reader Comments
1. Steph - October 19, 2007 4:21 PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! no remake please!
2. Grace - October 19, 2007 4:25 PM
Hey... remember that one arrogant prick director a few years back... what was his name... Gus Van something...?
Oh yeah, I know why I don't remember his name, because he ruined his career by trying to remake Psycho!
3. Ethan Duke - October 19, 2007 4:51 PM
While our feathered friends are circling Mr. Campbell, loading with, um "amunition", why not Gore Verbinski doing a musical remake of Citizen Kane?
4. Matt - October 19, 2007 6:22 PM
What happened to Michael Bay remaking this? Not that I wanted that, just that was the original rumor floating around months ago.
5. eXtasyStef - October 19, 2007 7:03 PM
This remaking crap in general is just nuts. If they're such hot shit directors, can't they find a (gasp!) original flim idea to realize their vision with and stop screwing with stuff that was done right the first time?
6. Emily - October 20, 2007 12:21 AM
I am seriously crying. I am actually crying at my desk while I am writing this. It might be the hard booze and the coming off the smack but I think not. Look there goes a tear.
Sadness Overwhelms Me,
Emily
7. The Faimous One - October 22, 2007 10:57 AM
You're a buffoon! To comment so harshly on the geniuses of independent cinema with little thought (or RESEARCH) on the subjects in which you speak, bashing away like a Norwegian looking for seal pelts. If you'd taken the time to realize, Kevin Smith has NOTHING to do with 'Gigli' and more to do with the turn in today's mainstream visions. Could you imagine the look of the Matrix without a little helping of Silent Bob sauce thrown into the mix that is Hollywood? Probably a little less grimey, which is what I suggest for you, good person.
And, as for this sequel, let it be. Hollywood has gone auto-erotic in a world that needs more creative vision and feeling. It's burning itself out with all this "re-inventing ourselves" hub-bub and not paying enough attention to what people really want to see. Oh, that... And they're f-in' greedy!
So, for a remake of this calibre... Let em try it! If they fail, laugh then.
8. Gus - October 22, 2007 4:15 PM
The director of gigli was Martin Brest, not Smith...
9. Jumpin_J - October 23, 2007 12:13 PM
The Birds was a classic? I thought it bombed.