A Remake?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Less Than Zero
heyheydonna23 — 15 years ago(May 10, 2010 12:57 AM)
I'm watching the movie again, and I have trouble thinking a remake would do well. Mainly because this story is such a 1980s story, it's such a Generation X problem. I think Gen x'ers would love it, but people my age (early, mid 20s, teens) probably wouldn't get it as much. I mean, we have drug problems, but our drug problems are mostly due to prescription drugs, like adderall. The cocaine problems that existed then aren't as present now. In fact, most people my age look down on hardcore drug use because we've seen the negative effects on a large scale. And for the record, the book is even 10x more Generation X than the movie, in that Ellis tried to show how empty all the characters were. (Just saying, because I know people want the remake to be more like the book) I mean this generation can be lost and empty but mainly because we were so overly medicated with prescription drugs, not because our parents didn't spend any time with us and we numbed the pain. You know what I'm saying?
It's not a relatable to late teen/early college life story anymore. It's a good moment in time for the 80s and Generation X, but the story doesn't mesh with this generation. If they re-made it, it would have to be set in the 80s, because that's not what life is like nowmaybe for a very select few, but the emotion is different for most.
And on top of that, I have a hard to believing anyone could top Robert Downey Jr.'s performance in this film. I'm sure they could come close, but it would probably mimic his portrayal too much rather than be it's own. I mean, I never cry when I watch movies, and I SOBBED watching him, it was too real and too good to be topped - and I've seen a lot of movies centered on drugs and abuse - his was the first druggie performance that really got to me. -
anthonyz20 — 15 years ago(June 25, 2010 07:01 AM)
Y'know what? I'm 42, so do a little math, and I think you have a lot of great points. Let me clarify a coupla things though.
- Being my age also has allowed me to see my friends and other people's kids (I never had my own.
) go through lots of stages through their lives. - Seems like ALL teenagers no matter what the decade have a distinct group that has this kind of problem.
- The ones in the 80s looked spectacular while doing it, while the ones in the 90s just looked like bums. Funnily enough, that doesn' mean the ones in the 80s were
better
You're right, the drugs are different as we had cocaine & pot, and you have crystal meth and pot (I was never a user. Just sayin', and of course a humorous simplification.)
I am a huge fan of the movie, and I JUST finished the book an hour ago. Took me just a few days to read it. And I agree with you in that the story will always take place in the MID eighties and in Los Angeles. This would be totally different say, in the early nineties here in Seattle!
Keep in mind though, that we Gen X-ers were all very different from one-another and really don't fit into a stereotype. I was
that
age, during that age, and the diversity was astounding. I thought young people back then seemed a LOT more diverse than the ones in the '70s, but hey, that's jut my opinion!
Anyway, interesting post.
"Have a good time. ALL the time. That's my philosophy Marty"
- Being my age also has allowed me to see my friends and other people's kids (I never had my own.
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henrimaine — 9 years ago(September 12, 2016 05:55 PM)
Interesting analysis, but I cannot quite agree with it. I mean, clearly some young people today also have drug problems and broken families and debts and all the stuff we see in this movie. And just for the record, most young people of the eighties did not live like the ones in this movie, most did not do cocaine, etc. So there is no reason to believe that if the movie was remade today, it would somehow ring less true to young generation (assuming the events are brought into present time).
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fiero-49251 — 9 years ago(November 29, 2016 04:06 PM)
ITA! I don't think they'd have to change a thing! It's quite topical to today's youth who have so much going on in comparison to normal children playing sports, hanging out in the mall, and playing video games! Follow it up with the sequel since it's set today;
"Imperial Bedrooms!"http://www.childrenofrassilon.com/fiero425.html
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