Discuss: Does a ‘Yellow Submarine’ Remake Even Make Sense?

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 23, 2009

YellowSubmarine

I love the Beatles. Some might say I’m obsessed with them and the incredible burst of creative sonic wonderment that they built and embodied for such a short amount of time.

In fact, if you enjoy “music,” then you love them to even if you don’t know it. That song you’re humming in your head right now, regardless of genre, wouldn’t be the same without them. Unless the song is completely influenced by the Beach Boys and their specific version of pop music. So, maybe you have an out after all.

But even with the release of the monster Fab Four catalog in plastic guitar and colored button form, it makes absolutely no damned sense to me that Robert Zemeckis would want to remake Yellow Submarine.

Here are some reasons why:

The original film came out in 1968, and didn’t really feature the Beatles themselves except for a cameo at the end.
It’s very distinctly a product of its time that doesn’t seem to translate at all to today.
Dick Emery died in 1983, meaning that he can’t reprise his role of Jeremy Hilary Boob, PhD.
If the original was a fun waste of time, I don’t see how a remake could rise too far above that.
Seriously. How do you make Yellow Submarine with no Dr. Boob?

Over at /film, the always-intrepid Brendan Connelly wrote a great piece on some clues to how the film is coming together, but my personal interpretation of that process is that Zemeckis will capture some motion from whatever actors he cares for and try to make relevant one of the films based on the lesser works of pop icons who didn’t even appear in the original.

In fact, if he could get Ringo and Paul McCartney for the remake, it would automatically have something over the original. Unfortunately, that would also mean two fewer roles for Jim Carrey to play.

I realize there’s a grand argument for fun wastes of time to me made or remade, but I suppose it just seems odd considering the weighty legacy of The Beatles. This whole thing feels just about as cheap as their music appearing in Burger King commercials.

What do you think? How wrong am I on this?

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keek

Gah! I never knew who Dick Emery was until I started listening to the Goon Show. Now I know he was Jeremy too! I love it when I realize I watched something in the past with an actor I discovered years later.
I could see something LIKE Yellow Submarine happening, but less Beatles-y. Actually, without the Beatles altogether. That could be awesome. Not that I don't love Yellow Submarine- I've loved it since I was a kid. But no 3D, God no 3D, only possibly in moderation with flat toons. I cannot express how wrong it would be to "Polar Express" that trippy art.
A big problem I have with a re-make is connected to your second point. The original came out when the Beatles were still an active major force in music. Who would this movie be targeted towards today? I don't think older Beatles fans are going to be that interested, but I could be wrong. It's just that the big fans usually are far more interested in the actual body of music than the movies they did. I don't think young people with no interest or exposure to them would care. I know I'm generalizing, but I just have a hard time seeing any particular group of people really going for this.

Sonny Crockett

The Beatles are the top selling group of THIS decade (they will shortly surpass Eminem as the best selling act as well); they have a video game that sold very well DESPITE the high price and the economy; they also have the best selling show in Las Vegas. The Beatles have proven again and again, that they transcend time and all rationality. Geez....it's a no brainer. Make a terrifc film....and they WILL come.

chille

I share you adoration for the Beatles, and say that Yellow Submarine should be alone.

Eric

Lighten up, brother. Yellow submarine was always just a bit of wacky fluff, let's get someone to remake it every 10 years or so. Best not to take things like this seriously.

Beef2taco

i think hollycrapwood needs to leave movies alone and stop making remakes. leave the originals as they are. its getting annoying that people dont even have talent to come up with something original anymore.

leon

the thing that made the original movie good was not only were the beatles extremely popular at the time, but the animation was different than anything being done at the time. the movie was entertaining to kids and adults alike. if the remake can do all the same things, thats fine. otherwise leave it alone. like someone wrote earlier, who will they market this to? if it doent live up to the originals standards, beatle fans will hate it and kids wont watch it. it will be another waste of time like sgt pepper the movie

Discuss: Does a ‘Yellow Submarine’ Remake Even Make Sense?

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