Re: [scifinoir2] 10 most obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
I agree with all of these. I'm sure there are more. (like Armageddon and
other films)
I think the only redeeming quality about Corman's work is that it shows that
you can still make a film without spending a lot of money on it. Hollywood
has most people brainwashed thinking that you MUST spend hundreds of
millions on a film then get blown away when they see a Blair Witch or
Paranormal Activity.
On Wed, Aug 4, 2010 at 10:29 PM, Kelwyn wrote:
>
>
> http://www.premiere.com/List/10-Most-Obvious-Hollywood-Rip-Offs
> 10 Most Obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
>
> Wait, what's that? Sometimes filmmakers go for the easy cash-in rather than
> create something original? Hell you say!
> By: Nick Starkey
> 08/03/2010 03:21 pm
>
> It's one thing to rely solely on sequels and reboots to bolster an industry
> in the midst of a creative dry spell so severe it makes the years before
> cave paintings seem like the Renaissance, but it's another to admit defeat
> so soundly that you half-assedly send blatant knock-offs into theaters and
> hope no one will notice. Here are some of the most egregious examples –
> we're sure there are more, but that's why the Hittites invented the comments
> section.
>
> *10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone* and the rest of the
> franchise thereafter.
>
> *Percy Jackson* is so shamelessly banking on spill-over *Harry Potter* success
> that it employs the director of the first two *Potter* flicks (Chris
> Columbus), features a "camp" for magically-powered kids called "Camp Half
> Blood" ("Prince" is it?), and even uses the same font for the poster art.
> What's worse, these books started as equally Potter-wannabe young adult
> novels, so their lack of originality can be traced back to the shelves at
> Barnes & Noble.
>
> *9. Smokey and the Hotwire Gang*
>
> *Rips Off: **Smokey and the Bandit*
>
> Seriously, this movie stopped just short of hiring a Burt Reynolds look
> alike. If you're going to cobble together rednecks, fast cars, and lots of
> hip-at-the-time CB slang, the least you could do was NOT PUT "SMOKEY" IN THE
> TITLE. Rejected titles included *Bandity Bandits Who Smoke Smokey* and *The
> Police and the Outlaw.*
>
> *8. Ghoulies*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** Gremlins*
>
> The horror genre is generally one of the most cannibalistic (OK, OK…haw
> haw) genres around – wearing out trends like mall-hopping teenagers. So it's
> not totally surprising that the success of*Gremlins* spawned (again, we
> know) a bunch of "tiny killer critters" flicks. Like *Ghoulies* (and,
> well,*Critters* too)—both just Chinatown-level knock-offs of Joe Dante's
> horror comedy.
>
> *7. Mac and Me*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off: **E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial*
>
> This is a rare case of a movie rip-off doing its inspiration one better.
> Sure, *Mac and Me* – lonely young boy befriends a cute and kindly alien
> and then runs afoul of government agents – at first doesn't have an original
> bone in its body. But then it hits you with a full-on car chase involving a
> kid in a wheelchair. Yes—cars v. wheelchair. Even Spielberg didn't have the
> brass ones to pull that off.
>
> *6. Varsity Blues*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** Friday Night Lights*
>
> F.W. Murnau originally wanted to adapt Bram Stoker's *Dracula*, but the
> late author's estate nixed the idea and a quick-thinking Murnau changed his
> lead vampire's name from Count Dracula to Count Orlok and his movie from *
> Dracula* to *Nosferatu*. Why is this relevant? Change "classic vampire
> novel" to "well-regarded football book" and "genius silent film director" to
> "the guy who did *Norbit*" and you'd pretty much have the story of how
> *Varsity
> Blues* hit theaters before *Lights.*
>
> *5. Sleepaway Camp*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off: **Friday the 13th*
>
> Once again, you have to give credit where credit is due. Sure, *Sleepaway
> *apes *Friday* right down to the poster art, but where *Friday* gave you
> this classic bait-and-switch (spoiler if you're 8 years old): "The killer is
> actually Jason's mother!" *Sleepaway *hits you with: "The female killer is
> really a psycho boy raised as a girl by his deranged aunt, and here's a
> full-frontal of his dong to prove it!"
>
>
>
> *4. Hollywood Knights*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** American Graffiti*
>
> George Lucas' breakout film was clearly made in response to his own
> childhood, growing up as he did in the thick of California's 50s and 60s car
> culture. *Hollywood Knights *was clearly made by someone who saw *American
> Graffiti* and felt it needed more boobs, penis jokes, and farts. And Tony
> Danza.
>
> *3. The Monster Squad*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** The Goonies*
>
> A pack of aimless kids (one a smarty pants, one a wise ass, one fat, etc)
> with a specific obsession (pirates/monsters) find they have to face their
> obsession head-on in order to save their lives and their hometown. One of
> them befriends a freak (Sloth/Frankenstein) who turns on his origina
Re: [scifinoir2] 10 most obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
Funny, I especially love the way the author sequed from Dracula/Nosferatu
(which was a great flick, by the way) into Varsity Blues ripping off "Friday
Night Lights". This list, of course, is so short it's funny. They could have
listed dozens of crappy ripoffs that are at least as egregious. "Star Wars"
alone generated so many ripoffs it's incredible. For "Raiders of the Lost Ark",
I thought of the unfortunate "High Road to China", starring Tom Selleck as the
adventuring biplane pilot. The ironic thing about that one, of course, is
Selleck was originally offered the job of Indiana Jones in "Raiders", but had
to turn it down due to his commitment to "Magnum, P.I.". But "King Solomon's
Mines" is a much more blatant--and inferior--copycat.
- Original Message -
From: "Kelwyn"
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 5, 2010 1:29:40 AM
Subject: [scifinoir2] 10 most obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
http://www.premiere.com/List/10-Most-Obvious-Hollywood-Rip-Offs
10 Most Obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
Wait, what's that? Sometimes filmmakers go for the easy cash-in rather than
create something original? Hell you say!
By: Nick Starkey
08/03/2010 03:21 pm
It's one thing to rely solely on sequels and reboots to bolster an industry in
the midst of a creative dry spell so severe it makes the years before cave
paintings seem like the Renaissance, but it's another to admit defeat so
soundly that you half-assedly send blatant knock-offs into theaters and hope no
one will notice. Here are some of the most egregious examples – we're sure
there are more, but that's why the Hittites invented the comments section.
10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Rips Off: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the rest of the franchise
thereafter.
Percy Jackson is so shamelessly banking on spill-over Harry Potter success that
it employs the director of the first two Potter flicks (Chris Columbus),
features a "camp" for magically-powered kids called "Camp Half Blood" ("Prince"
is it?), and even uses the same font for the poster art. What's worse, these
books started as equally Potter-wannabe young adult novels, so their lack of
originality can be traced back to the shelves at Barnes & Noble.
9. Smokey and the Hotwire Gang
Rips Off: Smokey and the Bandit
Seriously, this movie stopped just short of hiring a Burt Reynolds look alike.
If you're going to cobble together rednecks, fast cars, and lots of
hip-at-the-time CB slang, the least you could do was NOT PUT "SMOKEY" IN THE
TITLE. Rejected titles included Bandity Bandits Who Smoke Smokey and The Police
and the Outlaw.
8. Ghoulies
Rips Off: Gremlins
The horror genre is generally one of the most cannibalistic (OK, OK…haw haw)
genres around – wearing out trends like mall-hopping teenagers. So it's not
totally surprising that the success of Gremlins spawned (again, we know) a
bunch of "tiny killer critters" flicks. Like Ghoulies (and, well, Critters
too)—both just Chinatown-level knock-offs of Joe Dante's horror comedy.
7. Mac and Me
Rips Off: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
This is a rare case of a movie rip-off doing its inspiration one better. Sure,
Mac and Me – lonely young boy befriends a cute and kindly alien and then runs
afoul of government agents – at first doesn't have an original bone in its
body. But then it hits you with a full-on car chase involving a kid in a
wheelchair. Yes—cars v. wheelchair. Even Spielberg didn't have the brass ones
to pull that off.
6. Varsity Blues
Rips Off: Friday Night Lights
F.W. Murnau originally wanted to adapt Bram Stoker's Dracula , but the late
author's estate nixed the idea and a quick-thinking Murnau changed his lead
vampire's name from Count Dracula to Count Orlok and his movie from Dracula to
Nosferatu . Why is this relevant? Change "classic vampire novel" to
"well-regarded football book" and "genius silent film director" to "the guy who
did Norbit " and you'd pretty much have the story of how Varsity Blues hit
theaters before Lights.
5. Sleepaway Camp
Rips Off: Friday the 13th
Once again, you have to give credit where credit is due. Sure, Sleepaway apes
Friday right down to the poster art, but where Friday gave you this classic
bait-and-switch (spoiler if you're 8 years old): "The killer is actually
Jason's mother!" Sleepaway hits you with: "The female killer is really a psycho
boy raised as a girl by his deranged aunt, and here's a full-frontal of his
dong to prove it!"
4. Hollywood Knights
Rips Off: American Graffiti
George Lucas' breakout film was clearly made in response to his
Re: [scifinoir2] 10 most obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
I'm going to state my piece on #10, which is that Hollywood chose to *make*
it look like another Harry Potter, especially on the posters. The movie
itself is based off a series of books by Rick Riordan. How alike they are to
HP you'd have to read them and decide for yourself; I've read the first two
and I honestly didn't see much of a comparison between them beyond the very
superficial.
~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 1:29 AM, Kelwyn wrote:
>
>
> http://www.premiere.com/List/10-Most-Obvious-Hollywood-Rip-Offs
> 10 Most Obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
>
> Wait, what's that? Sometimes filmmakers go for the easy cash-in rather than
> create something original? Hell you say!
> By: Nick Starkey
> 08/03/2010 03:21 pm
>
> It's one thing to rely solely on sequels and reboots to bolster an industry
> in the midst of a creative dry spell so severe it makes the years before
> cave paintings seem like the Renaissance, but it's another to admit defeat
> so soundly that you half-assedly send blatant knock-offs into theaters and
> hope no one will notice. Here are some of the most egregious examples –
> we're sure there are more, but that's why the Hittites invented the comments
> section.
>
> *10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone* and the rest of the
> franchise thereafter.
>
> *Percy Jackson* is so shamelessly banking on spill-over *Harry Potter* success
> that it employs the director of the first two *Potter* flicks (Chris
> Columbus), features a "camp" for magically-powered kids called "Camp Half
> Blood" ("Prince" is it?), and even uses the same font for the poster art.
> What's worse, these books started as equally Potter-wannabe young adult
> novels, so their lack of originality can be traced back to the shelves at
> Barnes & Noble.
>
> *9. Smokey and the Hotwire Gang*
>
> *Rips Off: **Smokey and the Bandit*
>
> Seriously, this movie stopped just short of hiring a Burt Reynolds look
> alike. If you're going to cobble together rednecks, fast cars, and lots of
> hip-at-the-time CB slang, the least you could do was NOT PUT "SMOKEY" IN THE
> TITLE. Rejected titles included *Bandity Bandits Who Smoke Smokey* and *The
> Police and the Outlaw.*
>
> *8. Ghoulies*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** Gremlins*
>
> The horror genre is generally one of the most cannibalistic (OK, OK…haw
> haw) genres around – wearing out trends like mall-hopping teenagers. So it's
> not totally surprising that the success of*Gremlins* spawned (again, we
> know) a bunch of "tiny killer critters" flicks. Like *Ghoulies* (and,
> well,*Critters* too)—both just Chinatown-level knock-offs of Joe Dante's
> horror comedy.
>
> *7. Mac and Me*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off: **E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial*
>
> This is a rare case of a movie rip-off doing its inspiration one better.
> Sure, *Mac and Me* – lonely young boy befriends a cute and kindly alien
> and then runs afoul of government agents – at first doesn't have an original
> bone in its body. But then it hits you with a full-on car chase involving a
> kid in a wheelchair. Yes—cars v. wheelchair. Even Spielberg didn't have the
> brass ones to pull that off.
>
> *6. Varsity Blues*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** Friday Night Lights*
>
> F.W. Murnau originally wanted to adapt Bram Stoker's *Dracula*, but the
> late author's estate nixed the idea and a quick-thinking Murnau changed his
> lead vampire's name from Count Dracula to Count Orlok and his movie from *
> Dracula* to *Nosferatu*. Why is this relevant? Change "classic vampire
> novel" to "well-regarded football book" and "genius silent film director" to
> "the guy who did *Norbit*" and you'd pretty much have the story of how
> *Varsity
> Blues* hit theaters before *Lights.*
>
> *5. Sleepaway Camp*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off: **Friday the 13th*
>
> Once again, you have to give credit where credit is due. Sure, *Sleepaway
> *apes *Friday* right down to the poster art, but where *Friday* gave you
> this classic bait-and-switch (spoiler if you're 8 years old): "The killer is
> actually Jason's mother!" *Sleepaway *hits you with: "The female killer is
> really a psycho boy raised as a girl by his deranged aunt, and here's a
> full-frontal of his dong to prove it!"
>
>
>
> *4. Hollywood Knights*
>
> **
>
> *Rips Off:** American Graffiti*
>
> George Lucas' breakout film was clearly made in response to his own
> childhood, growing up as he did in the thick of California's 50s and 60s car
> culture. *Hollywood Knights *was clearly made by someone who saw *American
> Graffiti* and felt it needed more boobs, penis jokes, and farts. And Tony
> Danza.
Re: [scifinoir2] 10 most obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
Agreeing with you here, Adrianne. I'm not much of a fan of either series,
but they're barely alike, once you step past the fact that the heroes are
teens who have yet to recognize their place in the order of things.
On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 12:30 PM, Adrianne Brennan <
adrianne.bren...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> I'm going to state my piece on #10, which is that Hollywood chose to *make*
> it look like another Harry Potter, especially on the posters. The movie
> itself is based off a series of books by Rick Riordan. How alike they are to
> HP you'd have to read them and decide for yourself; I've read the first two
> and I honestly didn't see much of a comparison between them beyond the very
> superficial.
>
> ~ "Where love and magic meet" ~
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com
> Experience the magic of the Dark Moon series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#darkmoon
> Dare to take The Oath in this erotic fantasy series:
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html#the_oath
> The future of psychic sex - Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m):
> http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 1:29 AM, Kelwyn wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> http://www.premiere.com/List/10-Most-Obvious-Hollywood-Rip-Offs
>> 10 Most Obvious Hollywood Rip-Offs
>>
>> Wait, what's that? Sometimes filmmakers go for the easy cash-in rather
>> than create something original? Hell you say!
>> By: Nick Starkey
>> 08/03/2010 03:21 pm
>>
>> It's one thing to rely solely on sequels and reboots to bolster an
>> industry in the midst of a creative dry spell so severe it makes the years
>> before cave paintings seem like the Renaissance, but it's another to admit
>> defeat so soundly that you half-assedly send blatant knock-offs into
>> theaters and hope no one will notice. Here are some of the most egregious
>> examples – we're sure there are more, but that's why the Hittites invented
>> the comments section.
>>
>> *10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief*
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Rips Off:** Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone* and the rest of the
>> franchise thereafter.
>>
>> *Percy Jackson* is so shamelessly banking on spill-over *Harry Potter*
>> success
>> that it employs the director of the first two *Potter* flicks (Chris
>> Columbus), features a "camp" for magically-powered kids called "Camp Half
>> Blood" ("Prince" is it?), and even uses the same font for the poster art.
>> What's worse, these books started as equally Potter-wannabe young adult
>> novels, so their lack of originality can be traced back to the shelves at
>> Barnes & Noble.
>>
>> *9. Smokey and the Hotwire Gang*
>>
>> *Rips Off: **Smokey and the Bandit*
>>
>> Seriously, this movie stopped just short of hiring a Burt Reynolds look
>> alike. If you're going to cobble together rednecks, fast cars, and lots of
>> hip-at-the-time CB slang, the least you could do was NOT PUT "SMOKEY" IN THE
>> TITLE. Rejected titles included *Bandity Bandits Who Smoke Smokey* and *The
>> Police and the Outlaw.*
>>
>> *8. Ghoulies*
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Rips Off:** Gremlins*
>>
>> The horror genre is generally one of the most cannibalistic (OK, OK…haw
>> haw) genres around – wearing out trends like mall-hopping teenagers. So it's
>> not totally surprising that the success of*Gremlins* spawned (again, we
>> know) a bunch of "tiny killer critters" flicks. Like *Ghoulies* (and,
>> well,*Critters* too)—both just Chinatown-level knock-offs of Joe Dante's
>> horror comedy.
>>
>> *7. Mac and Me*
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Rips Off: **E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial*
>>
>> This is a rare case of a movie rip-off doing its inspiration one better.
>> Sure, *Mac and Me* – lonely young boy befriends a cute and kindly alien
>> and then runs afoul of government agents – at first doesn't have an original
>> bone in its body. But then it hits you with a full-on car chase involving a
>> kid in a wheelchair. Yes—cars v. wheelchair. Even Spielberg didn't have the
>> brass ones to pull that off.
>>
>> *6. Varsity Blues*
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Rips Off:** Friday Night Lights*
>>
>> F.W. Murnau originally wanted to adapt Bram Stoker's *Dracula*, but the
>> late author's estate nixed the idea and a quick-thinking Murnau changed his
>> lead vampire's name from Count Dracula to Count Orlok and his movie from
>> *Dracula* to *Nosferatu*. Why is this relevant? Change "classic vampire
>> novel" to "well-regarded football book" and "genius silent film director" to
>> "the guy who did *Norbit*" and you'd pretty much have the story of how
>> *Varsity
>> Blues* hit theaters before *Lights.*
>>
>> *5. Sleepaway Camp*
>>
>> **
>>
>> *Rips Off: **Friday the 13th*
>>
>> Once again, you have to give credit where credit is due. Sure, *
>> Sleepaway *apes *Friday* right down to the poster art, but where *Friday*
>> gave
>> you this classic bait-and-switch (spoiler if you're 8 years old): "The
>> killer is actually Jason's mother!" *Sleepaway *hits you with: "The
>> female killer is really a psycho boy raised as a girl by his deranged
