Newsarama's Top 5 Franchise Reboots

[Mr Wallstreet]

5. Battlestar Galactica

I know this is article’s in the Film section, and I am the producer of a MOVIE SHOW (Reel Talk, in case you’re wondering), but there’s no way in good conscience I can do a write-up on the best franchise reboots and not include BSG. Considering the source material was a Star Wars rip-off that was cheesy even by late 70's television standards, the astounding quality of SCI FI’s 'Battlestar Galactica' reboot is even more remarkable.

Political allegory, psycho-drama and action-packed to boot, there has NEVER been a TV show like BSG, on cable or anywhere else. Whereas 'Batman Begins' is the table-setter for comic book revamps, BSG is the gold standard for revisiting a poorly executed small-screen idea and running with it. Ronald Moore’s vision remains so compelling (damn, that final episode was insane!) that even someone like me, who actually has fond childhood memories of the original show, can't bear to watch those old episodes I love me some Lorne Greene, but c'mon – Starbuck as a guy?? That's just ridiculous.

4. Transformers

Because $300 million domestic box office cannot be ignored. Neither can the fact that this may be the first Michael Bay film devoid of even one cringe-worthy sequence. I’m sure there’s some sort of irony that Bay’s best work came in directing the live-action adaptation of an 80s cartoon designed to sell toys.

And he ensured Megan Fox would have a long and scantily-clad life in the hearts and sordid imaginations of Junk Food T-shirt wearing dorks from coast to coast.

3. Star Trek (2009)

I've seen Abrams’ new take on Trek, and it's as good as everyone is saying it is. Great even. So good that I have full-blown Trek Fever. As I type this, I have a separate browser window open to follow a bid I have on eBay for a Mego Kirk doll to add to my collection of desk ornaments that drives my wife nuts.

Abrams followed every one of Nolan’s reboot rules. And while neither Chris Pine or Zachary Quinto are at Christian Bale’s level of acting commitment, they aced their roles. Bringing Eric Bana in as the bad guy was genius too.

And oh yeah. Some guy named Nimoy wasn’t bad. This franchise will...oh hell. How can I NOT say it..? ‘Live Long and Prosper.’

2. Casino Royale (James Bond)

James Bond shared a room with Bruce Wayne in the Fallen Hollywood Icon suite at the Chateau Marmont until producers wised up and realized that having a License to Kill is no fun for audiences if you’re untouchable. So they replaced Pierce Brosnan with a blonde Daniel Craig, dropped the familiar theme music, and (gasp!) actually had their secret agent trying to hide his identity in the movie. Result: Bond movies are event pictures again, even if “Quantum of Solaceâ€￾ was a bit of a letdown.

1. Batman Begins

Christopher Nolan took the battered, beaten and humiliated carcass of the Caped Crusader Joel Schumacher and Akiva Goldsman left behind, and pulled an Oscar Goldman. “We can rebuild him. We have the technology.â€￾

Nolan went back to the beginning with Bats, stripped the character down to its pulpy, crime-fighting roots and grounded the Batman mythos in a reasonable facsimile of reality.

Aside from reviving the billion-dollar Bat-franchise, he also established the blueprint for comic book reboots:

Cast an actor with street cred as your lead.
Start at the beginning.
Ignore everything that came before your film.
No Bat Nipples!

Full article:
http://www.newsarama.com/film/090506-fr ... -best.html

I pretty much agree with all of them except Transformers.

[MGM]

I haven't seen the new Trek yet, so I can't comment on that. But Transformers does not belong here. It totally skewered the franchise, as far as I'm concerned.

[wolf_2099]

Transformer was a mediocre movie with a hot lead actress and great special effects.

[Python]

I saw Transformers for the first time a few days ago. I was disappointed in it because it focused on the humans. The Transformers were just a side-show. I didn't want to watch the movie in order to see a story about characters I've never met before and who have nothing to do with Optimus Prime, etc.

Megan Fox also needs to keep her mouth closed. I'm surprised she doesn't have flies buzzing in and out of her mouth all the time.

[Mr Wallstreet]

No like the Fox, Python?

She's going to be in the upcoming Jonah Hex film with Josh Brolin; which I'm interested in seeing, and not because Fox is going to play a prostitute (but it is a plus), but because this is, I think, the first time a comic book western is going to be released. As a bighugegigantic fan of westerns, I am looking forward to this.

[Stocky Boy]

I saw Transformers for the first time a few days ago. I was disappointed in it because it focused on the humans. The Transformers were just a side-show. I didn't want to watch the movie in order to see a story about characters I've never met before and who have nothing to do with Optimus Prime, etc.

Megan Fox also needs to keep her mouth closed. I'm surprised she doesn't have flies buzzing in and out of her mouth all the time.

I didn't notice she did that. I was probably distracted by all the cheesecake poses she was required to do as the film's required sex figure quotent.

I remember you made the same comment about Kitty Pryde in X3 and that was totally on the mark!