Anybody else feel that way. Not to knock James Earl Jones's portrayal or the makers of this film. But I believe the the entirety of the subject has yet to be explored. A new "serious" film would be fitting given the changing (slight as they may be) views towards racism in the film industry. Hard as it may be to please everyone, I believe that it can be done.
shareOkay, but what's so not serious about this one?
A happier ending wouldn't hurt.
You bet this film deserves a remake! First a great black director woudl be a good start. A dramatic film on the level of the documentary that Kevin Burns made
would be wonderful. Remeber, Jack Johnson was light years ahead of his society in saying that he was not a color or a race "but a man". He lived as he pleased and went his own way against the slurs of both blacks and whites. ...A true individual. A True freedom figher in the truest sense!
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Why does the director need to be black for it to have a good start? Would you be disappointed if they decide to remake this movie with Clint Eastwood as director? Isn't that counter productive to Johnson's own message?
share"Remeber, Jack Johnson was light years ahead of his society in saying that he was not a color or a race "but a man"."
That post was fifteen years ago. Sadly, now in 2020 that color blindness that Johnson and MLK hoped for is called racism.
I'm referring to the fact that some think "The Great White Hype" was a remake rather than the parody that it actually was.
shareit has had a remake use imdb and search for "the great white hype"
shareThis movie should be remade and it should the great black hope. The white man now owns the heavyweight divison!
shareI am of the caucasian race I was born and still live just outside of Gary,Indiana.I have learned much from the life of Jack Johnson and still as I always will admire his life and legacy.Michael Richards could use a few rounds with Mr.Johnson I believe.... "Ghost in the house".
"Do not let thorns in your side become nails in your coffin".-Bruce Richard Bundy 10/2006
shotgunnergauge5150: "Michael Richards could use a few rounds with Mr.Johnson I believe...."
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Johnson wouldn't have wasted time lifting a finger to Richards.
Just as many comedians stated that Richards had no business being at that club as he isn't a stand-up comedian by nature, so would Johnson have perceived Richards to be no threat, racial or otherwise.
mokill00: "Anybody else feel that way. Not to knock James Earl Jones's portrayal or the makers of this film. But I believe the the entirety of the subject has yet to be explored. A new "serious" film would be fitting given the changing (slight as they may be) views towards racism in the film industry. Hard as it may be to please everyone, I believe that it can be done."
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What has been a successful remake? Often they seem to be horrendous updates that end up making originals, such as Stepford Wives and Poseidon Adventure, which were both campy to begin with, look sparkling and superb.
I've seen far too many remakes that ruin everything the original did.
The Yearling, a wonderful story about a boy growing up, images of that pioneer era, as well as a strong-willed mother afraid to love her only surviving child, would be remade into a dreadful telemovie with Jean Smart as a mother who was going to love her son as apparently the father felt she was babying him too much (none of which happened in the original) and I guess the boy, Jody, might end up in one of those gay pride parades!
Remake of The Great White Hope?
Right off the bat I can tell you, it will be fictionalized even more than however much the 1970 film was. I'm rewatching it now, having not seen it for a while, and I can safely guess that a remake wouldn't have Jack running off Eleanor as he did in the first film, she would probably be kidnapped or some white bigot would tell her a lie about Jack not wanting to be with her anymore, or that she is hurting his career, some rubbish like that. And then she would kill herself, or more than likely, she would be pushed by a racist mob.
They would probably build up the role of the black girlfriend shown at the beginning of the film.
They would be much more defensive than they ever would have been in 1910.
And it's not that people "shouldn't be much more defensive," but it's just reality that most weren't, under the conditions then. Right? So I see what you're saying, and totally agree. Yeah, and in added reference to that, as well as the other things you've stated, richard.fuller1, there's just too much extra spin on things today for it to be remade in (not even so much a good way, for I believe that can be done to some extent) a better way. Then you have to ask yourself why remake it anyway, when the best version is potentially the one you have already (just reference reinventing the wheel)?
And, let me try turning around what the initial poster said -- it's no knock on other actors, but James Earl Jones already has TGWH covered well enough.
I mean, it's a movie milestone -- a part of American history -- so I would prefer to just let it be.
My mom told me about Jack Johnson when I was a little girl. He was a good friend of my father's. One day he came by the house to see my dad, but dad was not home. Mom said that she had tea with Jack Johnson. This was l941. Chicago, Southside.
shareComing "back" to this subject, I don't even like the fact that Jack lied and said he faked getting KTFO. When I looked at the digitally remastered film of that fight against Willard, it was a clear and clean shot (just too damned hot out there on that day for most + the fact that Jack was older may have surely played a big part too). But most of all, a bigger and younger man simply outlasted/outblaste d him that day. Heck, the canvas didn't lie, as he was spread out on it, with his leg slumped down from how it was originally -- up in bended knee fashion. From what I saw, old bald-headed "Jackie-boy" was looking like a newborn, sleeping baby in profile -- hehe. Anyone familiar with throwing a good punch in boxing could clearly see what I mean by all that, and he was simply the victim of what is to be noted a clear-cut & clean KO, as much as some have tried to dispute it over the years. So all this time it's clear he just finally met his match, no questions.
I guess it trips me out most 'cause I was thinking when they did that in the Great White Hope they were sticking to all of what actually went down, when he just simply got his ass kicked...like any champion in his last days. It's funny how people try to keep the legend alive.
last thing this film needs is a remake. why to hell does everyone want to remake classics? first off hollywood does a terrible job at almost everything they remake. people need to accept things as they are and leave things that work alone. this movie was very well done and to re-do it would just take a good picture and turn it into a cheap whore of the original. part of what makes a movie a classic is the way it was produced, the style of acting ( which we rarely see much of today anyway) the re-affirmation of the actors who were great and what they did to get that way. there is no-one in this world that could ever replace a young james earl jones-no one and if someone says denzel they're nuts. next thing you know people will be screaming for gone with the wind to be re-made or butch cassidy. if people are desperate for good entertainment, leave the past alone as it is and tell the overpaid writers in hollywood to actually use some creativity for once. in closing remakes of classic movies are much like doing cover tunes - no one can do steve tyler like steve tyler, same for movies
shareI do like this movie however IMO a remake would not hurt, of course only if it was more historically accurate. For starters it would be nice if it showed more of Johnson's fight career. And Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje aka Adebisi from Oz or Bokeem Woodbine from Ray and Jason's Lyric would both be perfect to play Jack Johnson.
shareThis was not about Johnson per se but a roman a clef about "Jack Jefferson ". His real life story would make a good film or even miniseries if we could work out what really happened- Johnson's autobiography was not a reliable source!
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