Popular radio shockjock Howard Stern will produce a remake of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, the 1979 cult classic which starred the iconic punk band The Ramones.
Alex Winter, who we all know and love as the excellent Bill S. Preston, Esq. in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, will pen the script.
Stern, who has interviewed The Ramones many times over the years on his radio show, said he got involved with the remake because he is a fan of the original Roger Corman-produced musical comedy.
The original film starred PJ Soles as Riff Randell, a rebellious punk rock-loving teenager who would do anything to go see her favorite band, The Ramones, in concert. But her music-hating oppressive high school principal Miss Togar has other plans for her. With the help of The Ramones, Riff and her friends prepare to take over the school and oust the evil Togar.
Winter, who has transitioned from actor to writer/director since his Excellent Adventure days, said “This movie seemed so ripe for a remake.” Umm… no it’s NOT. As much as I love Howard Stern and Alex Winter, I LOVE The Ramones way more and think a remake is a horrible idea and that it will only desecrate the memory of The Ramones.
The original was based around the music and iconic status of The Ramones and the rebellion inspired by the 1970’s wave of punk rock music. What band of today will they get for the remake? The fucking Jonas Brothers? Seriously, what fucking band? There’s no way to even make a new movie around The Ramones even if they wanted to, because three of the four original band members have passed away.
The original Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is one of my favorite movies of ALL time. In the summer of 1984, my best friend rented it at the video store and watched it every single day. It changed my life!!!! And believe it or not, this movie still holds up today, because not only does the concept of teenage rebellion transcend generations, but so does the music of The Ramones.
While I don’t particularly love remakes in general, I can tolerate some of them and even enjoy them sometimes. But this one is just going too fucking far. Just write a movie from scratch and call it something else and leave Rock ‘n’ Roll High School out it. And as Riff would say, if you don’t like it, you can put it where the monkey puts the nut.
[Source: Variety]
Just looking at the “sequel” ROCK N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL FOREVER should be enough proof that you can’t replicate the original’s energy and attitude.
Comment by Ryan Midnight — July 31, 2008 @ 9:49 am
PJ Soles can’t be replicated– sorry this is not cool.
Come on, just do something else.
Comment by Jerry — July 31, 2008 @ 9:56 am
now this is just wrong.
Comment by korollocke — July 31, 2008 @ 11:28 am
Baba Booey!!! Baba Booey!!! Baba Booey!!! Howard Sterns Penis!
Comment by MikeonTV — July 31, 2008 @ 11:37 am
I know that a lot of sites a running with this “news flash” but its really old, old news he announced this about 2 years ago, he also plans to remake porkys…but what i do know about howard is that if the script is not good enough he wont do it, it already happen with his cartoon shows howard stern the high school years and doomsday…so i think this will never see the light of day.
Comment by Grottesco — July 31, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
Yes, hopefully this will not see the light of day. Are remakes of older movies making so much money that producers and movie studios think they are a cost effective means of making movies? There must be some reason that we seem to get more and more each year.
Comment by Henchman21 — July 31, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
FOUL! I CRY IT!
Comment by Dr. Royce Clemens — July 31, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
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Comment by Road Cat — July 31, 2008 @ 7:57 pm
DEMERIT! DEMERIT!
Comment by Fritz — August 1, 2008 @ 4:40 am
FWIW, if you know anything about Stern, he is one of the biggest Ramones fans in the world. He had Joey on frequently, and ALWAYS gave him, and the band the respect they deserve. IMHO, Stern has done more than anyone to give them the credit they deserve.
I am sure they would have been all for this, and if they weren’t Stern never would do it.
Comment by balanced — August 1, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
He’s been talking about remaking Porkys for years now and it’s never happened. I don’t see this going anywhere either.
Comment by WordSlinger — August 1, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
this sacrilege!!!
Comment by phil — August 1, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
I agree with the author of this…. you CANT truly make this film without the ramones… they’ll probably get screeching weasel or some gay shit like that… lol
Comment by johnq — September 22, 2008 @ 12:52 pm
And who could play Joey? It shouldn’t be done however much Howard Stern loved the Ramones…let it go… and we Ramones fans can watch the original movie and other Ramone DVDS. (Raw, It’s Alive.) Don’t do it Howard!!
Comment by kc ramone — October 1, 2008 @ 12:07 pm