RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Features
  • | Columns
  • | Guides
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
News
Jack Black and Michel Gondry Remake "King Kong," "Robocop," and More '80s Classics
by Fred Topel | November 28, 2006
Discuss Article
In his upcoming movie, "Be Kind Rewind," Jack Black gets to remake all of our '80s favorites. He plays a video store clerk who accidentally erases all the tapes, and has to replace all the videos by filming them himself.

"We did a lot of movies," said Black. "We did 'When We Were Kings,' the documentary about Muhammad Ali. I play Muhammad Ali, strangely. We did 'Superman.' Actually, I shouldn't say that, we had to change the name to something else. Incredible Flying Man I think we changed it to. We did 'Ghostbusters.' That was a masterpiece. We did 'Robocop,' we did 'Driving Miss Daisy,' just to name a few. There were tons of movies that we did."




Director Michel Gondry brought his "Eternal Sunshine"/"Science of Sleep" sensibility to the film, ordering Black not to research the films within the film. "We were under strict orders not to watch any of the movies again, not to re-watch anything again and if we hadn't seen it, don't see it. Just do what you think it is based on the commercials you had seen of the movie because he wanted it to look that way; because there isn't any time in the movie for us to do any research. So he wanted to keep that consistent as actors not to research any of the movies we were remaking."

They even remake one of Black's own movies. "We did a little 'King Kong,' too. It was cool. And it was pretty low-budg, the movie but he makes up for it with incredible tricks and stuff, and depth perception, and camera tricks. Like, let's say I'm King Kong, and that over there is Roz, but you're the camera, and if I do that and hold her like that, it looks like I’m a giant. It's hard to explain. In the mind of Michel Gondry it makes sense."



Unfortunately, there was one key '80s movie that the crew could not remake. "We did not do 'Back to the Future.' We did not get permission."

"Be Kind Rewind" opens in 2007.

Related Items
Celeb: Jack Black
Michel Gondry
Movie: Driving Miss Daisy
Ghostbusters
Robocop
When We Were Kings
King Kong
Be Kind Rewind
Bookmark and Share
Comments (1-20 of 27 posts) | Reply
mojodaddy
mojodaddy writes:
on Nov 28 2006 05:10 AM

Haha this sounds like an awesome idea. I'll definitely go see this one.

(Reply to this)
Mr. Glass
Mr. Glass writes:
on Nov 28 2006 05:50 AM

I can't wait!

(Reply to this)
MC.
MC. writes:
on Nov 28 2006 06:46 AM

Could be very fun.

(Reply to this)
frogleg
frogleg writes:
on Nov 28 2006 06:58 AM

Now THIS is a remake that sounds tolerable.
:)


(Reply to this)
cgcbooks
cgcbooks writes:
on Nov 28 2006 07:11 AM

Sounds kind of dumb to me.

(Reply to this)
Mikeal420
Mikeal420 writes:
on Nov 28 2006 07:35 AM

[b]sounds promising[/b]
reminds me of other 80's skit films like UHF and "Amazon Women on the Moon"

They should bring in Wierd Al (I dont care what anyone says, he was funny once a long time ago)


(Reply to this)
Bear45
Bear45 writes:
on Nov 28 2006 08:20 AM

Me and my brothers went to go watch "The Pick of Destiny" on opening night. I was the only one that liked it... I have since been proclaimed a "Jack Black whore".
So, obviously, I'm all wet over the hilarity that I expect to insue in this film. 2007 is gonna be a great year.


(Reply to this)
arpeggio191
arpeggio191 writes:
on Nov 28 2006 08:35 AM

In reply to this comment (#849768)
of course it's dumb. harold and kumar, for example, was a really dumb movie, but still came out beautifully! it's going to rule!

(Reply to this)
Kid_Ikarus
Kid_Ikarus writes:
on Nov 28 2006 09:16 AM

YESSSSSSSS!

(Reply to this)
Kid_Ikarus
Kid_Ikarus writes:
on Nov 28 2006 09:17 AM

YESSSSSSSS!

(Reply to this)
robsdeli
robsdeli writes:
on Nov 28 2006 09:18 AM

I know I'm all for it. And don't worry Bear45, I too am a Jack Black whore. Or at least a really big fan of the D. I dunno. Either way the guy is freakin hilarious.

(Reply to this)
toniokruger
toniokruger writes:
on Nov 28 2006 10:26 AM

[b]dunno[/b]
sounds like a good idea for an MTV Movie Awards skit. Or a short film. But not a feature length film, unless they come up with a strong narrative and motivation.


(Reply to this)
TomasSPAGHetti
TomasSPAGHetti writes:
on Nov 28 2006 11:23 AM

I think with Gondry at the helms and Black leading it could be a great comedy. In my eyes, Jack Black doesn't dissapoint. It's Eternal Sunshine meets School of Rock (underrated movie).

(Reply to this)
TheIceGhost
TheIceGhost writes:
on Nov 28 2006 12:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#849769)
Weird Al is pretty 'hot' right now, it'd be sweet if he was making a comeback...

Sounds funny, JB=awesome

Oh, and I just got back from Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny. I was the only one in the theater (at 12:10 before my class) and it was glorious.

"I'M GONNA TAKE YOUR EYEBALLS, AND RIP EM OUT. THEN I'M GONNA CUT OFF YOUR BALLS! THEN I'M GONNA PUT YOUR, UH, EYES IN YOUR BALLSACK AND YOUR BALLS IN YOUR EYE SOCKETS!!"


(Reply to this)
~*Admiral Snowstorm*~
~*Admiral Snowstorm*~ writes:
on Nov 28 2006 01:10 PM

King Kong, huh? So Jack Black's taking a movie that was remade once, and then remade again with him in it, and remaking it? Wow, King Kong may have died at the end of all three movies, but it seems like no one ever lets him truly die.

(Reply to this)
Crenshaw
Crenshaw writes:
on Nov 28 2006 01:30 PM

I love this idea so much I could lick it. But I won't.

(Reply to this)
bribios
bribios writes:
on Nov 28 2006 03:33 PM

I'm a little sick of jack black at this point (thank you very much nacho libre), but i think this actually sounds like a decent movie. I just hope they do "Better off Dead" or "Stand by Me".

(Reply to this)
will_butler
will_butler writes:
on Nov 28 2006 04:09 PM

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the best films I've seen in years. That's good! The Science of Sleep was, perhaps, the worst film I've ever seen. I walked out after the yiffing. That's bad! So, in short, I'll see this if it comes with a free Frogurt.

(Reply to this)
killermonkey8822
killermonkey8822 writes:
on Nov 28 2006 08:22 PM

In reply to this comment (#849769)
weird al is still halerious.....just listen to his new album.....i like it anyway and i've been listening to weird al for awhile.......but watever it's your own opinion.......i haven't seen UHF but for some reason i have the soundtrack so i should watch it.........anyway i think this could be a pretty good idea.......i loved eternal sunshine of the spotless mind still one of my favourite movies

(Reply to this)
TheAnswerMVP2001
TheAnswerMVP2001 writes:
on Nov 28 2006 10:09 PM

I like it!

(Reply to this)
Read More Comments
Page | 1 2
Post Your Comment
You must be registered to post comments. Login or Register.

Related Links

Jack Black
  • Pictures
  • News
  • Filmography
  • Forum

Related Articles

  • Five Favourite Films with Richard Curtis (25)
  • Box Office Guru Preview: Proposal and Year One Bring More Laughs (12)
  • The Many Faces of Jack Black (33)
  • Chris O'Dowd Joins Gulliver's Travels Opens in new window (0)
  • Trailer Bulletin: Year One Opens in new window (15)
  • Gulliver's Travels Taking Blunt Away from Iron Man 2? Opens in new window (5)
  • Jack Black Embarks On Gulliver's Travels Opens in new window (5)
  • Weekly Ketchup: Branagh directs Thor, Seagal vs. aliens? (46)
  • DreamWorks Sets Kung Fu Panda 2 for 2011 Opens in new window (1)
  • Jack Black Playing Amnesia for Laughs Opens in new window (1)

Most Discussed

  • Total Recall: George Clooney's Best Movies (92)
  • Critics Consensus: A Christmas Carol Dazzles But Disappoints (43)
  • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies (36)
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear (33)
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks (32)
  • RT on DVD: Up, the Ultimate Watchmen Cut, and More (31)
  • Friday Harvest: Prince of Persia, The Road, and more! (26)
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview (14)

Latest News

  • RT on DVD: Up, the Ultimate Watchmen Cut, and More (31)
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks (32)
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear (33)
  • Friday Harvest: Prince of Persia, The Road, and more! (26)
  • Critics Consensus: A Christmas Carol Dazzles But Disappoints (43)
  • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies (36)
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview (14)
  • Total Recall: George Clooney's Best Movies (92)
  • RT on DVD: G.I. Joe, Rocky, and Christmas Classics (75)
  • 12 Facts About 2012 (132)

Latest Interviews

  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview (14)
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus (15)
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview (8)
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film (28)
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel (28)
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute (14)
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview (40)
  • Michael Moore: The RT Interview (139)
  • Andrea Arnold talks Fish Tank - RT Interview (4)
  • Neill Blomkamp talks District 9 - RT Interview (51)

Latest Features

  • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies (36)
  • 12 Facts About 2012 (132)
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus (15)
  • Five Favourite Films with 24's Carlos Bernard (33)
  • Six Horrible Part Sixes (32)
  • Christopher Smith's Favourite Cult Horror Films (14)
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel (28)
  • Five Favorite Films with F. Gary Gray (29)
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute (14)
  • Five Favorite Films With Kristen Bell (49)

Sponsored Links

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.