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ShortCircuitRemake Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Steve Carr To Direct 'Short Circuit' Remake

Filed under: Comedy », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Scripts », Family Films », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »

When I first began writing at Cinematical, I was certain I would remember every single news story that I had written, and would be able to call up every single project at a moment's notice. I think that ability lasted six months. So when there's news about the Short Circuit remake, I have to shake my brain a bit to remember that it's actually a real thing. If I feel that way, you probably do too, and will feel a similar jolt when you hear that Short Circuit: The Remake* has a director. Yes, it's being remade, and they consider Wall*E to be its promotional reel. Now Variety reports that it can boast Steve Carr as its director.

Carr is perhaps best known for bringing the world Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a film that shook the winter cinema for weeks and weeks on end. Now he'll be directing the "subversive" Short Circuit that was penned by Dan Milano. At last, Variety tells just what Dimension Films considers to be a radical script: "Built by the military to be a highly sophisticated weapon, Johnny 5 develops a conscience and personality after being hit by lightning. He befriends a lonely boy and his fractured family."

So, in other words, it's the plot of just about every lost puppy / cat / alien movie ever made between 1980 and today. Even worse, it sounds suspiciously like it borrowed all its shocking new element (a lonely boy) from The Iron Giant or even T2: Judgement Day. Perhaps every film that came before this remake was its promotional reel. It's all been leading up to this one, folks.

*Not its official title by any means. It's my own.

Dan Milano Will Write a Subversive 'Short Circuit' Remake

Filed under: Comedy », Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », Scripts », DIY/Filmmaking », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »

If the Mayan calender is correct and the world does end in 2012, it'll be ok because we will have gotten all of our '80s remakes by then! Whew. Fresh on the heels of Total Recall getting its writer, the Oscar nominated Taraji P. Henson joining The Karate Kid, and Jonah Hill's 21 Jump Street plans comes an update on the Short Circuit remake.

According to Variety, Dan Milano of Robot Chicken and Greg the Bunny fame has been recruited to pen the remake for Dimension Films, replacing original writers S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock. He plans to give it a"subversive edge" similar to his Adult Swim work. Contrast that bit of positivity to the enthusiasm from Dimension Films and producer David Foster, who have no plans to change the design of Number 5 to reflect the 21st century, its improvements in robotics, or the fact that a really popular PIXAR film looks an awful lot like him. "We think of Wall-E as an extended trailer for our film, because it's the same face," Foster said.

In my opinion, there's the mentality that just sums all this up. It's just not hollow enough to remake a 1986 movie, but you consider the existence of Wall E as a cross between a fan film and viral marketing, instead of respecting PIXAR for having used Short Circuit as a nice little homage to something original. But that's my black heart showing. If you're an optimist, you may find it amusingly meta.

Number 5 is Alive -- Again!

Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », Deals », The Weinstein Co. », Newsstand », Remakes and Sequels »

No! For the love of God, make it stop!

According to Variety, Dimension Films is remaking that whimsical 80's classic Short Circuit. S.S. Wilson and Brent Maddock, the writers behind the original two films, are set to write the remake. The film will reportedly be similar in theme to the original, but will factor in advances in technology. (Really? Last I checked, we didn't have sentient robots who could be your pal!)

This has to stop. I'm too young to see my childhood paraded before me like this, a demented nightmare of what once thrilled and delighted me. I loved this movie. It has honestly been a long time since I saw it, so I doubt it has held up -- but I love my memories of it. I also cherish my memory of the sequel. My parents took me to see it, it was a sold out showing. And I think it was only ten or twenty minutes in before I realized how horrible it was. I do believe it was the first time I was exposed to the realization that sequels were made for money, and were often wretched. Up until then, all the sequels I had ever seen (which probably amounted to Empire Strikes Back) were awesome and worthy continuations of characters I adored.

I realize I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill, but this trend has to stop. What's next? The Goonies? Gremlins? The Karate Kid? Big Trouble in Little China? Oh no, I've given them ideas.
 
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