Time for renewal?

In the cinematic version ofLogan's Run (1976), an idealistic 23rd century post-nuclear civilisation is kept in order by a 'rite of renewal' where once you reach the age of 30, you must be killed off in Holocaust style mass genocide. In the book, the age was a much harsher 21. The idea being that by preventing overpopulation, man's resources can stretch to everyone meaning no-one will ever need to go hungry or wanting. There's also the under-current of when beauty and youthful innocence disappears man came become dangerous - causing war, suffering and unrest. In 21st century Hollywood, 'a rite of renewal' seems to happen on a weekly basis. Movies are being re-tweaked, re-released, re-made, sequel/prequel/spin-offisied with every other announcement. We are living in an era when a dangerous idea is to try something original, and let a classic live beyond 21 years before tampering with it. It's to Logan's Run's credit that it has somehow managed to last 33 years without being remade, indeed longer than Michael York and Jenny Agutter's life expectancy in the original flick. This despite attempts dating back to the 1994 and directors such as Bryan Singer, Joseph Kosinski, Robert Schwentke and James McTeigue at one time being certain they could crack it. Today the baton has passed to commercials helmer Carl Rinsch, the director who for the time being at least is known as he who nearly prequel-ed Alien before Ridley Scott got all nostalgic and decided to do it himself. He is in talks with Warner Bros. and producers Joel Silver/Akiva Goldsman, and much like his predecessor for the job (Tron Legacy helmer Kosinski), he seems desperate to get his hands on a well-remembered classic and update it for modern day times (we know about Alien, but I believe he is also attached to a remake of Creature From the Black Lagoon). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WUUnc1M0TA Don't get me wrong by the tone of this piece. The Nolan/Goldsman novel of '67 is at least two notches superior to the film that came after it, and with modern day special effects, a more sense-worthy age of renewal, and better supporting characters (the original was somewhat lacking) there is certainly a case to be made that a cinematic do-over could be justified. Especially as the passage of time hasn't done the movie any favours and the potential vision of the original novel not yet reached. But a remake really could go either way. I watch those first twenty five minutes of Michael Bay's The Island (a blatant rip-off of this tale), and I see the worst of what could become of this but then Minority Report shows exactly what a large budget, smart sci-fi chase movie can be like (Phillip K. Dick's original novel owed a lot to this story) but then Rinsch hasn't even made a movie yet and it's unfair to expect Spielberg.

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Matt Holmes is the co-founder of What Culture, formerly known as Obsessed With Film. He has been blogging about pop culture and entertainment since 2006 and has written over 10,000 articles.