Whisky Galore! (2016) -
I'm not sure that it was worth remaking this one. It lacked the charm and believability of the original, came across a bit basic and lacked oomph.
At least the first 45 minutes was a bit slow and dull and the subject matter, despite being based in reality, seemed even sillier with it's modern filmic style.
It appeared to me, to be too simplified and more somber than the previous farce of the 1949 version.
I thought that to make it worth doing again it needed to focus the story slightly differently. If I'd remade this film 60 years later and in the current social and political climate, I might have concentrated on the romance between Sergeant Odd (Sean Biggerstaff) and Peggy (Naomi Batterick), as well as the missing red folder* and used the whisky element as a bed for the stories to nestle in.
Odd and Peggy could then have had the chance to shine in their roles more, because their characters were interesting and played well.
Nobody acted poorly, although Eddie Izzard was a bit too Captain Mainwaring in their role of Captain Waggett.
I liked Kevin Guthrie as George Campbell, but his character, so overpowered by his mother, was harder to buy whilst watching it in an era where kids tell their mothers where to go by the time their ten.
*Regarding the aforementioned "Red Folder", I can only assume that the statute of limitations prevented the mention of those specific letters being on board the wrecked ship in the original film, but perhaps it was not in the source novel and was only added by this production. I did like the addition of it though and as I've said, it could have been an area to expand upon, that might have given the film that extra oomph that it needed, because it felt sort of throwaway in this attempt.
It wasn't the worst film I've ever seen, but I would watch the black and white version again, before contemplating this one in the future.
459.67/1000.
I'm not sure that it was worth remaking this one. It lacked the charm and believability of the original, came across a bit basic and lacked oomph.
At least the first 45 minutes was a bit slow and dull and the subject matter, despite being based in reality, seemed even sillier with it's modern filmic style.
It appeared to me, to be too simplified and more somber than the previous farce of the 1949 version.
I thought that to make it worth doing again it needed to focus the story slightly differently. If I'd remade this film 60 years later and in the current social and political climate, I might have concentrated on the romance between Sergeant Odd (Sean Biggerstaff) and Peggy (Naomi Batterick), as well as the missing red folder* and used the whisky element as a bed for the stories to nestle in.
Odd and Peggy could then have had the chance to shine in their roles more, because their characters were interesting and played well.
Nobody acted poorly, although Eddie Izzard was a bit too Captain Mainwaring in their role of Captain Waggett.
I liked Kevin Guthrie as George Campbell, but his character, so overpowered by his mother, was harder to buy whilst watching it in an era where kids tell their mothers where to go by the time their ten.
*Regarding the aforementioned "Red Folder", I can only assume that the statute of limitations prevented the mention of those specific letters being on board the wrecked ship in the original film, but perhaps it was not in the source novel and was only added by this production. I did like the addition of it though and as I've said, it could have been an area to expand upon, that might have given the film that extra oomph that it needed, because it felt sort of throwaway in this attempt.
It wasn't the worst film I've ever seen, but I would watch the black and white version again, before contemplating this one in the future.
459.67/1000.