I would like you to read this article.
Done?
Good.
Let me begin by saying that I love Buffy The Vampire Slayer. The series, not the original movie. The original movie is one of those things where I cock my head to one side and raise my eyebrow wondering how it every got released.
Now, that having been said. Who in their right mind thinks that it's a good idea to reboot a series that's only been off of the air for six years? Also, who in their right mind would do it and purposely toss out everything that made said series popular in it's seven-year existence, the creator of the series included?
I want to clear up some things about Joss Whedon's fan-base. They are a small and rabid group. Those who count themselves among their number often times exaggerate exactly how many of them there are or what they can accomplish. if they truly were the legion that they fancy themselves, Serenity would have crossed the $100 million domestic barrier. Dollhouse probably wouldn't have had to worry about getting canceled either. The truth is, Whedon's influence is not what it was when Buffy was on the air.
The article seems to imply that they alone could halt production on this film. I'd like to say that it sadly isn't true. Trust me, if someone wants this film made, it's gonna get made. Buffy fans aren't going to sway it one way or the other, if you want God's honest truth. That doesn't mean that the whole thing isn't a horrible idea.
It is. Oh, lord, it is.
Buffy is a pop-culture milestone. It is a product of it's time. It is still churning out stories, albeit in a different medium, as a comic book overseen by Whedon himself. A new film only waters down the legacy and at this point in time, just doesn't work. Honestly, it would be like rebooting LOST five years from now. The main problem I have with the idea of the remake, aside from generally being Buffy-in-name-only, is that it is utterly superflous.
Star Trek needed a reboot. When the continuity is so heavy that it reads like a college textbook, you need to start fresh so new fans can come on board. Batman needed a reboot. When your last outing was so horrible that it becomes a running joke, it's time to go back to the drawing board. James Bond needed a reboot. When you lose touch with what your audience wants you need to go back to what works.
Buffy does not need a reboot. It is a contained universe that made all the statements it needed to make and worked because the stars were all properly aligned. The writing, the cast, and the time period it was attempted in all gave way to something special. Attempt that same thing now and it would not work. It would be like trying to make M*A*S*H in the 90's.
The idea of a Buffy remake is a complete paradox. What worked once won't work again, and they want to do something different. But by doing something different it ceases to be Buffy and the old fans won't accept it. By the same token, the fact that the original is so set in the pop culture mindset, even if they promote it to hell and back as a reboot, the people who didn't watch it back then will likely have no interest in it today. There is NO audience for this incarnation. Besides, you know a bunch of ignorant tweens will take to the message board in droves calling it a rip-off of Twilight and I will simply have to punch someone. Just punch them. Hard.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 26, 2009
at 6:00 PM
and is filed under
Bad Idea of the Week,
BIOTW,
Buffy The Vampire Slayer,
Damn You Hollywood,
Joss Whedon,
Whedonites
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