Why Are TV Series Based on Movies More Acceptable Than Feature Remakes

Many of us have our thoughts on the whole remake, reboot and sequel/prequel machine that Hollywood has become. Bankrupt of creativity, the studios are constantly rehashing or extending properties instead of coming up with something new. Maybe you hate them all on principal, as a lot of people seem to. Maybe you make some exceptions (The Thing, The Fly, The Departed) but mostly despise that sense of laziness from the industry. And maybe you couldn;t care less about what happens on television. The last maybe is worth discussing right now because it appears a TV show based on a movie is announced daily, if not twice daily. For instance, today has seen both an American Psycho sequel series and a Man on Fire series adaptation in the news. The former seems to fit with all the shows based on or related to specifically horror movies, thanks to the success of both Bates Motel and Hannibal. It helps that, as with these two shows, if they;re actually well done. They ruin Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs less than their respective sequels, prequels and remakes do partly because the quality is better. But it;s also that they;re another medium, even if one that;s especially now rather similar. Just as we don;t have as much problem with novel series or comic book series or a lot of merchandising based on our favorite movies, we shouldn;t care about TV series. For years and years, we didn;t. Whether it was a cartoon like Back to the Future: The Animated Series or Beetlejuice, the latter of which really altered the premise, or a dumb sitcom like Ferris Bueller or Weird Science or Uncle Buck (hmm, all Hughes properties), it;s like, eh, who cares? Plus, then, like with movie remakes and sequels, sometimes they;re decent, maybe even more popular than the movie. Buffy the Vampire Slayer,The Odd Couple, M*A*S*H, Catfish and the current Parenthood series, for example, and prematurely what we hope for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Maybe that last one will turn out to actually be awful and feel like it ruins the Avengers movies as a result. Of course, that;s actually tied to the movies in a crossover way. But if it sucks, and a lot of other shows based on Blade Runner, Bad Teacher, Heathers,Reality Bites,Rambo and El Mariachi, etc., suck too, we may have a more heated response to each one that;s announced. I have to put it out there, though, that the Harry and the Hendersons show kinda ruined the movie for me. Now I;m more game for a reboot. Which is more acceptable, your favorite movie being redone as a TV series or movie? Here are some responses received so far via Twitter: @thefilmcynic Option C) Mini-series. A fun format that doesn;t stretch itself too thin. — PeterSHall (@PeterSHall) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic a movie so we can ignore it and don;t have to be reminded every week of the TV series. — FirstTimeWatchers (@1sttimewatchers) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic Both are unthinkable, but if The Godfather 1 & 2 had to get remade, I;d rather it be a 13-episode series on Showtime or HBO. — Kyle Ailinger (@KAilinger) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic In my case (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), an HBO or Showtime show would be incredible with those characters. — Cameron Carpenter (@Lumetian) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV series. Perfect example: HANNIBAL, the series is better than RED DRAGON in so many ways. — Marcelo J. Pico (@FramedPanda) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic i think the TV series is the obviously more acceptable. — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic remakes almost always suck & you;ve had lots of great tv shows based on movies (MASH, Parenthood, Buffy, Friday Night Lights) — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV format allows for more creative exploration of a movies characters or story where as a remake is usually a poor copy. — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic this is obviously not universally true, but in general i would much rather see a TV series based on a film than a remake. — justin robinson (@jrsuicide) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV series for sure. I;m kind of excited to see what they will do with American Phycho. — Thaddaeus Immink (@ThaddaeusImmink) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic even when they were talking about about a TV series in which Boba Fett worked up the crime climb ladder got me stoked. — Thaddaeus Immink (@ThaddaeusImmink) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic depends. TV format is excellent but shows are hindered by money and effects. A&E has proven zombies are better for tv and... — Aaron E Jungling (@Ajungling) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic and comic book movies would be better on TV but writing, and effects have been poor in previous ventures. — Aaron E Jungling (@Ajungling) September 10, 2013 @thefilmcynic TV Series as long as it;s on HBO or Showtime. — John Andrews (@Jandies1) September 10, 2013 Join in the next discussion: and