When I heard that Plan 9 From Outer Space was being remade, I was actually kind of excited to see it. Not because I thought it would upgrade the original, but because the original was so bad - without trying to be - it was fun to watch. I think that's why this remake falls so flat. The original was so bad it was good. This one is just plain bad.
Spoilers ahead, so read at your own risk.
Now, I have to admit that I watched the movie from about the 20 minute mark to the end on 2x speed because it turned into another mind- numbing zombie chase movie.
First off, you never see the aliens like you did in the original. The only "alien" you see is just a glowing orb or something in a school. There's no jump-suited aliens discussing the plan and no flying saucers.
Second, there's no day/night and then day/night transitions of the police (or anybody) driving down a road. Nor is there any stock footage and the same shots shown over and over just for the sake of scene transition.
Third, there's no recitation of the iconic "stupid! STUPID! STUPID!" line. That HAS to be in there somewhere.
Basically, This remake can't make up its mind if it wants to be another chapter or take-off of "Night of the Living Dead" or a cross between WWZ and Thundarr the Barbarian. They removed too many of the elements that made the original what it was - a cheap, bad sci- fi zombie alien movie - and just left the mindless zombies to run amuck.
Now, to be fair, the original Plan 9 wasn't exactly Othello revisited, so one shouldn't expect this remake to transform it into something that it's not. But I was expecting something that would be mildly watchable either (a) because of improvements or (b) because of its campyness. Unfortunately, it provided neither.
The original had a "make a movie on a shoestring budget" feel and look to it. This remake lacks even that.
Spoilers ahead, so read at your own risk.
Now, I have to admit that I watched the movie from about the 20 minute mark to the end on 2x speed because it turned into another mind- numbing zombie chase movie.
First off, you never see the aliens like you did in the original. The only "alien" you see is just a glowing orb or something in a school. There's no jump-suited aliens discussing the plan and no flying saucers.
Second, there's no day/night and then day/night transitions of the police (or anybody) driving down a road. Nor is there any stock footage and the same shots shown over and over just for the sake of scene transition.
Third, there's no recitation of the iconic "stupid! STUPID! STUPID!" line. That HAS to be in there somewhere.
Basically, This remake can't make up its mind if it wants to be another chapter or take-off of "Night of the Living Dead" or a cross between WWZ and Thundarr the Barbarian. They removed too many of the elements that made the original what it was - a cheap, bad sci- fi zombie alien movie - and just left the mindless zombies to run amuck.
Now, to be fair, the original Plan 9 wasn't exactly Othello revisited, so one shouldn't expect this remake to transform it into something that it's not. But I was expecting something that would be mildly watchable either (a) because of improvements or (b) because of its campyness. Unfortunately, it provided neither.
The original had a "make a movie on a shoestring budget" feel and look to it. This remake lacks even that.