Why is it that Hollywood believes that taking an old movie and putting a modern spin on it,is going to make it "even better than the original?"
I've seen and reviewed the original Humphry Bogart movie and now that I've seen this version on the "THIS" network last night,it only makes me like Bogie's even more.
The original slowly built up it's story and every bit of the action was well timed and gave you that sense of urgency and fear for the family in question.
In this one,it's was quite obvious that they were going for more focus on action and a slick look,than they were for acting.
Even a great actor like Anthony Hopkins,has his performance diluted by all of this mayhem. His role is okay but really doesn't get interesting until the last 30 minutes or so. The rest of the family pales in comparison to the 1950's version. In that one,they all took a shot at out-witting the bad guys.
Nora,the mom/wife,when first confronted by the gang of three is told by one of them,"I found someone's bikini by the pool." She stupidly tells them,"That's my daughter's". Good mom,tell these desperate criminals you have a daughter.
The little boy only cries for his mom or dad and only defies Rourke by saying"I'm going to bed". The son in Bogart's,hit,kicked and screamed at them.
Their daughter,while crying and emotional over the situation,is otherwise not a very interesting character. Her boyfriend,unlike in the original where he gets clued in, seems to somehow know she needs to be rescued,when really,he knows nothing of what's happening in the house.
Rourke's acting does not evoke a sense of fear and urgency like Bogart's did. I realize two different actors,two different styles but Rourke's doesn't even have a "style". All he does is act a little smug,or very angry and even his anger made me laugh.
The female lawyer he supposedly "loves" is a pretty thin character but even thinner and worse than that is the female FBI agent. Her performance is without a doubt the worst acting from a female I've ever seen. She spouts her lines like a female auditioning to be The Terminator or maybe making it obvious she's a member of the Jack Webb fan club! ...but ,her lines are so hollow and virtually emotionless ,she'd make Webb sound like Sir Laurence Olivier.
The only thing that kept me watching this film was to see the differences between the two films and to get to the anticipated climax. I knew how it would end but I had to see it through.
3 stars (and I'm being kind here) for a few good scenes of action and the ending. The end of 2 desperate hours. (END)
I've seen and reviewed the original Humphry Bogart movie and now that I've seen this version on the "THIS" network last night,it only makes me like Bogie's even more.
The original slowly built up it's story and every bit of the action was well timed and gave you that sense of urgency and fear for the family in question.
In this one,it's was quite obvious that they were going for more focus on action and a slick look,than they were for acting.
Even a great actor like Anthony Hopkins,has his performance diluted by all of this mayhem. His role is okay but really doesn't get interesting until the last 30 minutes or so. The rest of the family pales in comparison to the 1950's version. In that one,they all took a shot at out-witting the bad guys.
Nora,the mom/wife,when first confronted by the gang of three is told by one of them,"I found someone's bikini by the pool." She stupidly tells them,"That's my daughter's". Good mom,tell these desperate criminals you have a daughter.
The little boy only cries for his mom or dad and only defies Rourke by saying"I'm going to bed". The son in Bogart's,hit,kicked and screamed at them.
Their daughter,while crying and emotional over the situation,is otherwise not a very interesting character. Her boyfriend,unlike in the original where he gets clued in, seems to somehow know she needs to be rescued,when really,he knows nothing of what's happening in the house.
Rourke's acting does not evoke a sense of fear and urgency like Bogart's did. I realize two different actors,two different styles but Rourke's doesn't even have a "style". All he does is act a little smug,or very angry and even his anger made me laugh.
The female lawyer he supposedly "loves" is a pretty thin character but even thinner and worse than that is the female FBI agent. Her performance is without a doubt the worst acting from a female I've ever seen. She spouts her lines like a female auditioning to be The Terminator or maybe making it obvious she's a member of the Jack Webb fan club! ...but ,her lines are so hollow and virtually emotionless ,she'd make Webb sound like Sir Laurence Olivier.
The only thing that kept me watching this film was to see the differences between the two films and to get to the anticipated climax. I knew how it would end but I had to see it through.
3 stars (and I'm being kind here) for a few good scenes of action and the ending. The end of 2 desperate hours. (END)