The Scorecard Review news
News: Alcon Entertainment is preparing to remake Kathryn Bigelow’s 1991 action-thriller Point Break. The remake, as written by Kurt Wimmer (Salt), will be “set in the world of international extreme sports, and like the original involves an undercover FBI agent infiltrating a criminal ring.” No word yet on who will be directing or starring.
In other news, in an effort to prove converting older films to 3D is the new remake, it was announced at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam that Tony Scott’s Top Gun is the latest film getting the 3D treatment. A four-minute 3D clip was presented, but Paramount wanted to get Scott’s approval before moving forward. No official release date has been set, though 2012 is possible.
Source: Deadline - Point Break Deadline - Top Gun 3D
Thoughts by TSR: I find myself asking “Why?” a lot about movie news. The question mostly applies to the almost daily news of remakes or reboots on the horizon. That’s certainly the case with the announcement of a Point Break remake. It’s not that I have so much love for the original Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze film that I consider it blasphemy to remake it. I just wish they could come up with new ideas instead of having to remake everything. I know brand recognition supposedly equals profits (ahem, tell that to recent films like Fright Night and Conan the Barbarian), but maybe they could try to make something new using the general idea of an FBI agent infiltrating a criminal ring. It worked for The Fast and the Furious, right? But wait, there’s more! Not only is Alcon Entertainment remaking the film, they also have secured the television and gaming rights. It looks like there may be a lot of Point Break in our future.
While I might ask “Why?” mostly when it comes to remakes and reboots, a recent trend is beginning to creep in and steal some of their thunder. Converting older films to 3D isn’t new, but there seems to be an influx. The Lion King in 3D comes out this Friday, James Cameron’s conversion of Titanic is set for release next spring, and George Lucas is converting all six of his Star Wars movies into 3D (of course he is) beginning with The Phantom Menace. But that’s not all folks! Legend3D CEO Rob Hummel announced Tony Scott’s 1986 film Top Gun is getting the 3D treatment. “I think Top Gun lends itself to 3D due to the aerial flight,” Hummel said.
Sure, I guess choosing to convert an older film with flying sequences makes sense. The flying sequences in How to Train Your Dragon were probably the best use of 3D I’ve seen (though that's animated, where the format is more at home), but it still begs the question “Why?” Why not focus attention on perfecting the generally shoddy 3D that is found in new live action movies? Maybe Paramount was getting a lot of letters demanding shirtless beach volleyball in 3D and instead of coming up with a new idea they decided re-releasing Top Gun was their best option. At least after a quarter of a century the world will finally find out what the “Danger Zone” looks like in glorious 3D.