Pixar movies are all well and good (well, great), but I can’t help but miss the kind of kid’s movies that did the rounds in the 1980s. Of these, The Last Starfighter was a favorite -- and it’s definitely prime material for a reboot.
The movie tells the story of Alex Rogan, an average teen boy who’s recruited by an alien defense force to help fight in an interstellar war, all because of his skill at the Starfighter arcade game. It was essentially a Star Wars ripoff, but it was one of the best ones, and among the first films to feature CGI graphics.
Three decades after the movie’s 1984 release, video games have moved on a lot, but The Last Starfighter's key ingredients would be great in a refresh for the Oculus Rift generation. Today’s photo-realistic graphics and immersive VR environments would also open the doors for a blurring between fantasy and reality, making this a cross between The Last Starfighter and Total Recall.
What did we miss?
Got your own favorite movie or TV franchise that’s just begging for a reboot? Let us know in the comments below.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Our daily roundup of Apple news, reviews and how-tos. Plus the best Apple tweets, fun polls and inspiring Steve Jobs bons mots. Our readers say: "Love what you do" -- Christi Cardenas. "Absolutely love the content!" -- Harshita Arora. "Genuinely one of the highlights of my inbox" -- Lee Barnett.
The Last Starfighter is still one of my favorite all time movies to this day. I still watch it once a year and have introduced my kids to it. I’ve been waiting almost 30 years for the sequel.
They Live! – A great basic idea that could be expanded on to endless possibilities. Although Rowdy Roddy Piper was surprisingly better than anticipated, better actors could have done wonders for the original.
Point of No Return – Completely rewrite the ending by not so drastically normalizing the protagonist. Make the assassinations a little more thrilling… and, again… better acting (Bridgette Fonda, ffs??).
You are dead wrong regarding Reign of Fire. The biggest flaw was that it was marketed as something it was never meant to be (people expected a CG dragon action flick from start to finish). It has outstanding performances and creates a unique world… and was much more subtle that what people expected.
There’s a better chance of a Citizen Kane reboot than a Pulp Fiction reboot. But in all honesty, neither will ever happen. However, I would love to see a Weekend at Bernie’s reboot.
9 responses to “8 movies in need of a blockbuster reboot”
Stargate Reboot: http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/mgm-warner-bros-reboot-stargate/
Actually, Stargate is being rebooted already. http://www.deadline.com/2014/05/mgm-warner-bros-reboot-stargate/
The Last Starfighter is still one of my favorite all time movies to this day. I still watch it once a year and have introduced my kids to it. I’ve been waiting almost 30 years for the sequel.
Spawn!
They Live! – A great basic idea that could be expanded on to endless possibilities. Although Rowdy Roddy Piper was surprisingly better than anticipated, better actors could have done wonders for the original.
Point of No Return – Completely rewrite the ending by not so drastically normalizing the protagonist. Make the assassinations a little more thrilling… and, again… better acting (Bridgette Fonda, ffs??).
Last Starfighter and Explorers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explorers_(film)
Leave Alien alone. It is perfect.
You are dead wrong regarding Reign of Fire. The biggest flaw was that it was marketed as something it was never meant to be (people expected a CG dragon action flick from start to finish). It has outstanding performances and creates a unique world… and was much more subtle that what people expected.
Back to the Future ? Maybe a revamp /continuation and relive the franchise.
There’s a better chance of a Citizen Kane reboot than a Pulp Fiction reboot. But in all honesty, neither will ever happen. However, I would love to see a Weekend at Bernie’s reboot.