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Classic TV Shows that Worked (or not) as Films

OHMSS69OHMSS69
edited May 2014 in General Movies & TV Posts: 2,341
Hollywood has long been obscessed with adapting old TV shows to feature films. Some turn out fine while other pitable entries stumble around and fall flat on their ugly faces before dying an agonizing death. Here are some of my "hits" and "Misses."

Bewitched Did not work at all. Sucked. Miss
Starsky and Hutch I liked this movie. I was no fan of the 70's cop drama but I liked the film probably because it was done in a satirical way. Hit.
Brady Bunch Like the above it was making fun of itself and the old show. I did not care for the show either and enjoyed the film. Hit
Flintstones Decent cast. John Goodman, et al but did not like Rosie McDonnell as Betty. A fun "kid" film. I'd say Hit(?)
Mod Squad sucked. Miss
Twilight Zone so much promise wasted. What a crock. Miss

There have been talk of Gilligan's Island, Wonder Woman, The Man from UNCLE. We will have to wait and see.

Your thoughts, etc?

Comments

  • AlexanderWaverlyAlexanderWaverly
    Posts: 2,115
    The original Star Trek resulted in six films. They were hit or miss. The second, The Wrath of Khan, was a big hit both commercially and financially. Star Trek: The Next Generation generated some movies.
  • Agent007391Agent007391 Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start
    Posts: 7,854
    Say what you will, but I enjoyed Lost in Space. Not the best-looking film technically-speaking, but a decent cast.

    The A-Team was decent, also a good cast (Liam Neeson as Hannibal Smith, what could go wrong?).
  • AlexanderWaverlyAlexanderWaverly
    Posts: 2,115
    I Spy was a big bust. It's hard to find a lot of defenders for The Avengers (1998, not the Marvel 2012 film).

    But one that worked was The Fugitive. It even generated a sequel (featuring Tommy Lee Jones Girard character).
  • WillyGaloreWillyGalore
    Posts: 6,396
    The Fugitive is probably one of the best. I really liked DePalma's Mission Impossible as well.
  • AlexanderWaverlyAlexanderWaverly
    Posts: 2,115
    I couldn't stand Mission: Impossible because it made Phelps the villain. But I liked the fourth a lot, in part because it actually used bits from the show.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited May 2014 Posts: 4,534
    Spider-Man 2002. One of my favorite movie's who i have seen in the cinema.

    Mission Impossible 2 is my favorite, also seen in the cinema. Not realy get much of tv series.

    I like The Saint movie as movie and sjure i wil buy the BD release when it be released.

    The A-team whas great. Shame there don't whant to make a sequel.

    Starsky and Hutch whas good adaption til the moment the original cast members popup.

    Hulk whas to long, but for the rest a good movie. The Incredible Hulk from 2008 whas better then i expect and it feels a bit like a sequel.

    Garfield, the first movie whas oke.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,823
    The two Charlie's Angels films were quite entertaining, I thought.
  • OHMSS69OHMSS69
    edited May 2014 Posts: 2,341
    Agent007391 wrote:
    Say what you will, but I enjoyed Lost in Space. Not the best-looking film technically-speaking, but a decent cast.

    The A-Team was decent, also a good cast (Liam Neeson as Hannibal Smith, what could go wrong?).

    I forgot about Lost in Space from 1998. What a Gem! Outstanding cast and good story. I am surprised (and glad) they never did a second film. Just as well. Of the cast, I was most impressed with Marc LeBlanc as Major West (I never watched Friends and this was my first time seeing him) and Lacey Cherbet as Penny Robinson (she's in her early thirties now and if you haven't you should Google her and see her today)

    The Fugitive was damned good.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    I'm shocked nobody has mentioned Serenity yet.

    I'd definitely argue that Ghost Protocol did a fantastic, fantastic job of adapting the feel and certain plot elements of the series. I don't think I can say the same for any of the others, unfortunately (though I do like III very much).

    The Fugitive has got to be the best, though. Shame about the sequel.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,823
    StirredNotShaken wrote:
    I'm shocked nobody has mentioned Serenity yet.
    Well, Firefly wasn't a 'classic' show, it was pretty gorram recent.
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    I've only seen the trailer but judging from that and the miscasting of Ray Winstone and Plan B as Reagan and Carter, I would say the Sweeney film is one big example of when it didn't work.

    It strikes me from the trailer that it had no relevance to the original series and that Winstone although delivers on occasion is turning into a one note actor who just uses that gravelly voice and looks mean. John Thaw's Jack Regan was so much more than just that, plus it looked like it was just some default action cop thriller with no style at all and worst of all directed by Nick Love.
  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    Posts: 14,662
    Get Smart. Nuff said.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,247
    I suppose it's fair to say that neither The Avengers nor Lost In Space worked as films, at least for most people. ;-)

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    S-MATT1.JPG

    I happen to have developed a guilty pleasure for them. ;-)
  • FLeiterFLeiter
    Posts: 315
    I would add classic tv shows Batman(with Adam West) and Superman(George Reeves). And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that a certain British spy was introduced on tv in the mid-50's, who has had a pretty good run in the movies.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    chrisisall wrote:
    StirredNotShaken wrote:
    I'm shocked nobody has mentioned Serenity yet.
    Well, Firefly wasn't a 'classic' show, it was pretty gorram recent.

    It's considered by many to be the best sci-fi TV series ever. I think modern classic is an appropriate title.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited July 2014 Posts: 11,189
    WillyGalore wrote:
    The Fugitive is probably one of the best. I really liked DePalma's Mission Impossible as well.

    The Fugitive was one of my favourite films growing up (although I never saw the TV show...but my dad loves it). Having watched it again last year for the first time in a while I think it holds up well. Both Ford and TLJ are excellent ("you know we're always fascinated when we find leg arms with no legs in 'em") and it's good to see Jerone Krabe as another slimy weasel. A tense, very entertaining thriller.

    I like the score too.



    Also what did people think of The Saint 1996 film adaptation? I remember it being fairly average.
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    The Saint was actually a series of movies before it became a tv show, followed by another tv show, followed by tv movies and a tv Pilot before we had the Saint movie with Val Kilmer. I generally prefer the b/w movies with George Sanders.

    Star Trek did deliver 6 excellent movies that did Kirk & Co credit, I prefer these men over all the other ST series.

    Star Trek Next Gen had 1 1/2 decent movie, but they are less my cup of tea.

    MASH the tv show was brilliant but the movie really works for me too.

    Highlander as a tv series got into its stride halfway in the 1st season and remained fun and exciting for most of the series, even if the last season is more looking for a workable spin-off the ending of the show was really decently done. As movies go the 1st one worked and the rest were lacking the magic.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    The Saint was originally based on a series of books if I remember correctly.
  • SaintMarkSaintMark
    Posts: 7,653
    BAIN123 wrote:
    The Saint was originally based on a series of books if I remember correctly.

    That is correct running from 1928 untill 1983, even if he himself did not write any after 1970. with The Saint and the People Importers.
  • timmertimmer
    edited July 2014 Posts: 4,622
    I think the Star Trek films have worked out fine. The Fugtive was well done, same with the Val Kilmer Saint film (even if Saint was originally a film series).
    The Mission Impossible films have worked out well.
    The Avengers film is watchable. It's stylish and colourful but it really did miss the mark in terms of capturing the feel of the classic series.
    The two X-Files films worked out well, but they had the benefit of featuring the original cast.
    Its the full-out recast remakes I think that face greater challenges.
    A-Team I think was OK too.

    I agree with orignal post, Bewitched, Starsky and Hutch, Brady Bunch, Flintstones, Mod Squad were all rather weak.
    Same with Green Hornet. It looked good but I didn't like Seth Rogen's comic treatment. Hornet worked well originally as "straightish" comic-camp.
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