by Ace Hobfoll
When I heard that New Line Cinema was remaking the movie “It,” I got excited. I had never seen the original because I was too scared and too young. But if “It” was coming out anew, I’d finally have a good reason to see “It.”
Reboots are great; they update something that’s older and often forgotten, especially in younger generations. The revival of shows like “Will & Grace” and “Powerpuff Girls” give allow viewers to connect more with shows they grew up with. That, added with updated technology, allows shows and movies to be smoother than ever.
The Stephen King classic “It” already had an established fan base, so it became a success more easily. This iteration of “It” got an 84 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, compared with 54 percent from the original. That’s not too shabby. The remake refreshed the classic movie, recreating the ’80s film vibe that’s been so popular this past year.
Revivals of older (sometimes prematurely canceled) shows shouldn’t be forgotten and shoved to the ether of failed pilots. It’s great that they’re back in full force. Bringing back cartoons like “Powerpuff Girls” and re-inventing the way they’re characterized — even introducing new characters — isn’t a bad thing. The older shows get, the more dated they are, and it shows.
The English language is constantly evolving, and that should be reflected in these series. Viewers shouldn’t have to adapt to older versions of language; reboots allow for this. Because these shows are easily accessed with the rise of streaming sites, older series are being viewed more and more.
The language is a bit confusing and at some points offensive.
I’m not saying that reboots are better than the classics, but they allow a chance for new audiences to see an older story. This doesn’t mean that there can’t be bad reboots and revivals (“Alvin and the Chipmunks,” anyone?). They can cause more problems than they solve — such was the case with 2014’s “Annie” and 2016’s “Ghostbusters.” But the bad doesn’t have to outweigh the good.
Hollywood isn’t making any new movies; it’s not just because of the amount of reboots there are in the world. Movies based on books or real life events are also becoming increasingly popular, and a large chunk of original movies aren’t that good anymore. “Jupiter Ascending,” just as one example, totally flopped at the box office.
Reboots and revivals allow for a widened audience and easier access to stories that could become classics. While some may get it wrong, at the end of the day, screens big and small are growing industries; they should be viewed as such.
