Angry Fan to Protest Hollywood Remakes

Posted by on June 8th, 2010   Filed under: Fandom, Remakes
Source: Cinematical

Remakes and reboots make up a seemingly ever-increasing amount of films these days, much to some movie fans dismay. All over the blogosphere, fans have voiced their concerns for years now. I guess it was only a matter of time before someone was pushed too far. As it turns out, that someone is Jacob Walinski. His main target: The Karate Kid remake hitting theaters this weekend. His plan: a protest at the Regal Gateway multiplex in Austin, Texas on Friday. In a statement Walinski said: “Together we can demand original stories. Together we can demand good plot lines. Together we can stand up and say we do not support remakes and reboots.” Hell hath no fury like a fan’s scorn, I suppose.

I can understand people having nostalgia for certain films that they grew up watching; I have my own favorites like anyone else. But do we really need to get upset to the point of protest? I think what people have to keep in mind is that the original films will still exist just as they always have. No remake will change that. You can still sit down with the ’80s Karate Kid any time and the film will play the same. So why make such a big fuss? I’m not sure what will be accomplished by this protest, if anything. People who decide to see Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith in this new film will do just that. I guess the big question now is what will happen Friday night. Will it be a regular evening out at the movies, or will streets run red due to a few disgruntled nerds? I’ll bet on the former, even though the latter would be more fun to hear about.



  • If he has beef with this particular remake, he’s not alone. There’s something astoundingly stupid about making a film called The Karate Kid and setting the entire story in China.

    However, protesting against an entire filmmaking concept is a complete waste of time. It will only draw more attention to the film in question.

    You don’t want to see remakes and reboots? Don’t see them. Don’t buy tickets and don’t buy DVDs. Hell, don’t rent them either. That’s the only protest Hollywood will ever respond to.

  • Antho42

    Instead of wasting their time–just stop watching remakes. Money is the leading manifesto in Hollywood. If remakes continue to bring vast amount of money, then expect for Hollywood to continue making remakes. Bottom line, just ignore the remakes.

  • Ben

    Sigh… retarded. They’re like any other movie. Some are good some are bad.

  • This guy needs a good slap for thinking he can make a difference. Or maybe now he can just claim is fame on film junk.

  • Niklas

    “Together we can demand original stories. Together we can demand good plot lines. Together we can stand up and say we do not support remakes and reboots.”

    LOL, I wonder if he watched Braveheart or something before writing this.

  • swarez

    Actually I heard the remake is pretty good and that this is the best role Jackie has had in a US produced film.

    @Daniel. They actually address the “Karate Kid” issue in the film.

  • Really, Swarez? I’ll try to keep an open mind then. I do love Jackie, even if he hasn’t done much I’ve enjoyed in recent years.

  • I generally agree with the ‘original is still around’ approach to remakes but there’s something about the trailer to this one which does make it seem as though it’s taking the piss out of the original a little. A bit like the Bubo moment in the Clash of the Titans remake. Stuff like that annoys me a bit.

  • Mike

    seems like aaron is missing the point…this guy doesn’t mention the old movies being some how tainted from remakes. it seems like he is more angry that the money, time, and resources from the studio are going to a remake instead of an original idea.

  • Aaron

    I don’t understand the idea of a staged protest. People need to “protest” with their dollars. The fewer people pay money for this trend, the sooner it will go away.

  • Someone should ask him if he likes the magnificent seven….

  • Jacob W

    Hi everyone thank you for you input on the issue. I am still going to be on the street with sign in hand. I will protest with my wallet and I will try to move others to do the same. By the way I think Mike is on the right track.

    Check out the video of some of the signs we made for this thing.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCvXM3s1Gm0

  • Nicole

    Is it really such a waste of time to voice your opinion on something you feel passionately about? Instead of sitting on his ass and doing nothing, Jake is standing up for what HE believes in. It does not make him “stupid” or someone “wasting time”. I know there’s a hot button issue for everyone out there, whether its healthcare, immigration, or even protesting Hollywoods lack of creativity and new ideas, EVERYONE has something that might push them to the edge. Jake has simply hit his wall and is willing to voice his opinion on this subject. He’s not some guy who sits around and thinks “hmmm what to protest…” He is very much into movies and has a passion for making them himself. Maybe Hollywood should look into aspiring film writers for some new and fresh ideas, instead of going back into their catalogs of old movies. Thanks for reading
    Nicole

  • Kamen Liew

    There have been good remakes.

    3:10 to Yuma (James Mangold) and The Thing (John Carpenter version, and yes that was a remake, surprise surprise) to name a few.

    When I meant a few, I meant 1 out of a 100 –

  • Theman

    Angry fans must not be doing a very good job protesting. Because as of this posting there are about 18 million fuck yous to them.

    http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2815&p=.htm

  • Peter Piper

    The Remakes trend just goes to show that Hollywood has completely run out of ideas. And most of the remakes just really, really suck.

  • Justinightmare

    Well the guy has a point if we criticize it enough and disapprove it Hollywood will learn already they are losing a wide vast of money with bootlegs all over the internet! I am sure ticket sales are not high like they used to be. It was supposed to be named Kung Fu Kid originally and they turned it to Karate Kid seriously if you will make remakes you ruin the originality of the last movie made!
    No point making remakes since hollywood is brainless and dead in their minds.
    They have no originality whatsoever they should work on sequels that are needed and not remake and reboot movies that were originally done!
    Imagine if they redo The Exorcist I ll probably do what this fellow is doing and get protests and boycott the movie!

  • Rhino 3:16

    I agree with this dude. There are so many remakes done or even in the works. What bothers me though is, why don’t the producers seeks out other scripts which are new and original, rather than keep making movies that we’ve seen years ago.
    I watched the original Get Carter with Michael Caine. That was good. When the remake came out, it sucked more worse than a crow’s ass! What the f*ck? Stallone playing Carter. It was totally rubbish!
    It comes to show that Hollywood is running out of ideas. I think someone oughta see a doctor. This whole Hollywood thingee is going crap!