May 26 2009'Flight of the Navigator': Remake Time
Flight of the Navigator, the '80s film where a kid flew around in a silver pod--of which my only memory is of the alien on-board computer eye-bot thing doing an impression of Pee-wee Herman (because it was Pee-wee Herman), but which I've still decided is an untouchable classic--is going to be remade with computers that will render a slightly more convincing silver pod:
Disney is readying another launch of sci-fi adventure movie "Flight of the Navigator."Brad Copeland is writing the remake, which is being produced by Mandeville partners David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman.
The 1986 original told the story of a 12-year-old boy who is abducted by an alien spacecraft in 1978 and reappears eight years later, still the same age and with no memory of what happened. NASA scientists discover a connection between the boy and a downed spacecraft and try to exploit the boy, who ultimately escapes with the ship and attempts to reunite with his family.
Now, before you ask, yes, Mac and Me is next. No announcement has been made, but all the signs are there. There will be Mac and Me, then a remake of the pilot episode of Small Wonder, and finally a remake of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (specifically, a remake of the 1995 Kirk Cameron television remake, not the original). It's all part of a plan to make updated versions of my most dim and obscure memories of family-friendly science fiction.
Reader Comments
1. austinjames - May 26, 2009 1:45 PM
i dont like where this is going
2. Judy - May 26, 2009 3:03 PM
This makes me very, very sad. I have great memories of that movie. And now they are going to be ruined with fart jokes and unnecessary explosions.
3. B - May 26, 2009 3:22 PM
I am beyond saddened by this news. And if you're serious about Mac and Me...omg. I really wish Hollywood would stop. For the trillionth time - come up with an original idea. It's really not THAT hard.
::shakes head in shame::
4. Gando - May 26, 2009 4:42 PM
I remember that silver pod looked very realistic to me.
5. Darth - May 26, 2009 4:45 PM
It was a surprising family-friendly good science fiction movie!
6. Beastman AIDS - May 26, 2009 4:53 PM
I remember when he got out of the pod and something like 10 years had passed and he was all "OH NOE!". Great movie.
Not as great as Explorers though - that kicked extreme ass.
7. whistle - May 26, 2009 5:08 PM
I'm not sure that the pod could look any better than the original one. It's been a while, but I actually saw the film again about 10 or 12 years ago on the Hallmark Channel and was impressed with how good the spacecraft still looked to me. And the creature effects were good too. The composite stuff might have failed, but otherwise... it all aged pretty well.
8. Tom - May 26, 2009 6:06 PM
Hollywood:
A Top Hat filled with old movie titles. Someone randomly picks one out and then they flip a coin. Heads, its a remake. Tails, a sequel.
I'm starting to feel embarrassed that I want to make movies for a living.
9. Gabe Cash - May 26, 2009 6:10 PM
Wake me up when they make a new "D.A.R.Y.L.".
10. krys - May 27, 2009 4:13 AM
Meh. They better not slaughter it.
11. Gordon Shumway - May 27, 2009 8:04 AM
Next 80s kids sci-fi remake: Explorers.
12. Will - May 27, 2009 9:30 AM
NOOOOOOOOOO!
13. Snig - May 27, 2009 10:49 AM
Let's not forget the reboot of 'Not Quite Human' w00t Alan Thicke.
14. Shannon - May 27, 2009 11:45 AM
I agree with everyone above! This movie rocks and I have fond memories of watching it all the time growing up! I think my local tv station played it constantly. It's definitely a classic!
Get some original ideas Hollywood! And, if you can't...aren't there more than enough books to adapt! Anything is better than taking our childhood memories and throwing CGI affects at them!
15. yarp - June 2, 2009 4:24 PM
Most of Disney's ideas are unoriginal and uninspired. I'm not surprised they're remaking this movie, there's a shortage of creativity and humanity left in that office. Shame on you Disney. The only thing worse than this would be to recast Sarah Jessica Parker.
16. nicole - June 10, 2009 7:02 PM
ohh man. my reaction was the same as Will's: NOOOOOO...
they will ruin it and the initial appeal it had. i'm fully in agreement with Shannon when she says Hollywood needs to get some original ideas! I'm tired of remakes and sequels and prequels....
this movie will ALWAYS be a classic!