This didn't feel like a film based on bewitched, just a satirical tribute to the show. I think an updated version of the sitcom would work, incorperating today's humour into it. Might work better as a tv series, but this version certainly didn't work for me nor anybody else.
sharei think an updated version of the show would have worked better. i know it's not really the same as the cartoon to movie shows like the flinstones and scooby doo, but i think that kind of format for a movie storyline, would have probably worked better
"There's unlimited juice? This party is gonna be off the hook!"
The BBC actually did commission a re-make of the sitcom a year or so ago, but, to put it simply, it was crap because they found that they couldn't make the format work for modern television comedy.
They only ever made one episode and it was never aired, and had the following cast:
Samantha - Sheridan Smith
Darrin - Tom Price (PC Andy from Torchwood)
Endora - Frances De La Tour
The challenge with making the series today is people are more sophisticated about special effects and advertising. I loved the how when I was a child because no matter how outlandish the circumstances, elephant in the living, etc., Darrin could always say it was part of an advertising campaign. It made me want to be in advertising because it sounded like they got paid for such craziness.
Now, people would roll their eyes at an elephant in the living room or Mr. Tate saying, "oh, okay" to the dumb excuse.
It would be more fun to see a remake of Bell, Book and Candle.
WRONG.
To remake 'Bell, Book, and Candle' would be to desecrate one of the finest works of art from the 1950's.
'Bewitched' was nothing more than a light-weight sitcom that was given far better than it deserved by the witty Nora Ephron.
"To be or not to be." That's not really a question.- Jean-Luc Godard
Have to call "idiot"here.
No one knows what Bell, Book and Candle is- it's long gone and forgotten.
Bewitched was one of the most successful sitcoms of all time and through syndication has achieved immortality.
Nice try!
I have to say, the original TV series of 'Bewitched' never meant anything to me aside from the attractive cast. Even if I loved that show, as I love 'Get Smart', I would still like Nora Ephron's movie: because it's not trying to "remake" the show, not at all! You need to understand that it's a backlot Hollywood satire, not a copy of the show.
Elizabeth Montgomery's memory was well served by Nicole Kidman. Steve Carell also did Paul Lynde's memory no disservice. I love Agnes Moorhead, but Shirley MacLaine is fully capable of equaling and even surpassing her in this movie.
The whole point about this movie was a meta, almost Godardian take on the idea of Hollywood remaking TV shows, the creative poverty in modern Hollywood : it wasn't itself an unimaginative remake! That's like complaining that 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' is a remake or sequel to 'Sullivan's Travels'!.
So the fact that Will Ferrell isn't as good as Dick York was is The Whole Point of casting someone like Ferrell. I'm not a Ferrall fan, but he doesn't annoy me in this context. It works, but you have to understand the concept of the movie to appreciate it.
This was not a dumb sitcom remake of a great show, like 'The Honeymooners' and 'Get Smart': now those Were bad movies!
I'm not a huge Nora Ephron fan, but I think her two best movies get an unfair bad rap because they are inspired by older works. While it's true that 'The Shop Around the Corner' is better than 'You've Got Mail', that doesn't mean that 'You've Got Mail' is a bad adaptation. I find it good by modern standards. And no one on these boards loves Lubitsch and Margaret Sullivan more than I do.
While it can't hold a candle, or pet a familiar, of 'Bell, Book, and Candle', it is a fun, glib run-through of observations on power, illusion, loss of self, and other common ingredients in romantic relations. It is not a sincerely and thoroughly brilliant job as the Coen's did with 'O Brother Where Art Thou?'. It's at least as good as 'The Ladykillers' (2004) though, which isn't bad (another movie that fans of the original - of which this time I definitely count myself as one - unfairly dismissed, not understanding how much it was adapted to put it in a whole new context).
I really think people are taking this the wrong way, so used to terrible remakes of TV shows like 'The Beverly Hillbilies', 'The Brady Bunch', etc. they were blind to the virtues of this self-reflexive take on Hollywood Remakes.
I have to agree. This was pretty terrible. I was excited for it because I thought it may have been a more modern "redo" of a classic. I was hoping they would mock it, come up with a few new things and pay a tribute to a wonderful show overall. I just felt like it was such a stab at Hollywood remakes. I am guessing this was something like the 10th draft of the script and they went through several ideas before deciding.
It seem some people can look at this film alone (not comparing it to the show) and say "its not horrible, but I enjoyed it." However comparing it to the show, its just awful.
I too would appreciate a TV remake of this show. With more outlandish effects and green screen to make it even better. Could they keep it the old style effects for the most part? Sure, it would cut down on costs and pay tribute to the original show. However I think it requires some updating to modern times. Things are a bit different today in society but I think they could easily add todays elements to make it great.
If they are concerned about women staying home as the "home maker," I don't think it would be a big deal to be honest (as far as stereotype). Alot of my girlfriends, after high school (I graduated in 2003), now have several kids and do stay home - I don't think thats a bad thing at all ...its a personal choice between the two parents. BUT - they could get away from that and have the lead experience regular jobs, regular life and incorporate magic into it. The male lead could also very well be the same. He would be very much "no, I was raised to believe that you had to work hard to get and do things." So he could still have the belief of "no witchcraft." If Sabrina the Teenage Witch (the early years) and Charmed could do it..so could a Bewitched remake. It would just take the right people to make it happen in the right way.
Brady Bunch movie was a huge hit and critical darling.
shareAddams family movies did wonderful this is why there were several
It would be easy to update this series
*Samantha 'helps' Darrin get an account (like in the show) but then Larry offers Samantha a job....Darrin has to get used to her working AND being the better employee bc she's the one who can wow the client with the special extras.
*Sam and Darrin tell Larry and Louise the 'truth' and instead of being upset...they ask 'when can we do it' again. Endora meanwhile is shocked to learn there are mortals who like power...and Sam and Darrin have to keep Endora from trying to have an affair with Larry as a consequence