Imprinting on media

[trappedslider]

Since a lot of the forums demographics tend to be on the higher end of the age scale, means that for a lot of you you encountered the following as a kid/teen Superpman,Star wars and other media. And that first meeting imprinted on you as to how anything in the future should either be or as close to it as possible when it comes to remakes/reboots/sequels.

It wasn't till I saw superman in cartoons, then later on the movies. My first encounter with star wars was in the 90s with the Lucas edits.

EDIT: Do you think when you saw a movie/tvs how/read a book impacts how you view reboots/remakes/sequels?

 

[overgeeked]

Absolutely. Though sometimes it’s hard to tell what or when your first is. But there’s also how much of a thing you engage with.

Superman first appeared in comic books on April 18, 1938.

Superman with Christopher Reeve came out on December 15, 1978.

By the time the film came out there had been at least 487 appearances of Superman in the comics, assuming one appearance per month for that 40 year gap. But it was way, way more than that.

A kid knows nothing of Superman and sees the movie on opening day then becomes obsessed so goes out and rounds up as many comics as they can. While the movie may be their first, it won’t take long for the deluge of comics to eclipse that.

 

[Morrus]

Your teenage years is when a lot of your tastes in media imprint on you. Chances are high that you consider the best music to be the music which came out when you were a teenager, the best films to be the ones you saw as a teenager, the best way of playing D&D is often the way you were introduced to it as a teenager.

There's three effects going on at the same time: (1) that's when stuff imprints itself on you; (2) that's when stuff is new to you--when you're older you see fewer new ideas; (3) nostalgia.

 

[Ryujin]

Since a lot of the forums demographics tend to be on the higher end of the age scale, means that for a lot of you you encountered the following as a kid/teen Superpman,Star wars and other media. And that first meeting imprinted on you as to how anything in the future should either be or as close to it as possible when it comes to remakes/reboots/sequels.

It wasn't till I saw superman in cartoons, then later on the movies. My first encounter with star wars was in the 90s with the Lucas edits.

EDIT: Do you think when you saw a movie/tvs how/read a book impacts how you view reboots/remakes/sequels?

Absolutely. I would say it creates an unfair hurdle that any remake/reboot needs to get past, as well. The follow-ups tend to need to be significantly better than the original in order to be accepted at the same level as the original. I can't really speak on the Keanu sequel to "The Day the Earth Stood Still" because the original, which I first saw as a Sunday matinee TV movie in the late '60s, is my all time favourite film. To me, the Keanu film is garbage, though I know that might not be the case for everyone.

Maybe a bad example, though, because of how many people think it's a garbage movie as well, but you get the idea

 

[J.Quondam]

Yes. I'm still miffed that Conan in the remake didn't have poofy bangs and wear neon-colored leg-warmers and/or parachute pants.

 

[MoonSong]

A kid knows nothing of Superman and sees the movie on opening day then becomes obsessed so goes out and rounds up as many comics as they can. While the movie may be their first, it won’t take long for the deluge of comics to eclipse that.

Not exactly moving on to comics. At 5-6 dollars each, only obtainable in specialty stores, having fragmented stories and going increasingly more mature with time, odds are that kid isn't going to collect comics. The days of comics as a cheap and accessible entertainment are long defunct.

 

[dragoner]

1st Superman I saw. Comics weren't a regular thing, not until I got a sub to Heavy Metal at age 12 with paper route money, which I think it was supposed to be 18+ nobody ever questioned it. That opened a whole doorway to other stuff, like anime, a friend ordered a Macross VHS cassette.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The moment I realized the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy was better than the original Star Wars trilogy, I practically had to sit down. A core element of my childhood belief system (well, regarding 2/3 of the Star Wars movies) was shook.

 

[The Firebird]

Absolutely. The Star wars prequels are the best example. I grew up with those and still love them. The OT I also like, and saw as a kid, but they don't land the same way. They're not for me--they're my dad's movies.

The larger scale reevaluation of the films also coincides with people who saw them as kids growing old enough to play a role in the discourse.

 

[payn]

EDIT: Do you think when you saw a movie/tvs how/read a book impacts how you view reboots/remakes/sequels?

Age wise? For a lot of folks im sure it does. There has been music studies about folks who stop building their taste around 20 years old and then thats it for the rest of their life. These types of folks look for a specific execution and if its lacking will be an impossible sell.

I agree with @Ryujin that a well received piece of work is going to be a hurdle. The bar has been set high and every misstep is going to stick out like a sore thumb. Which is why some of the best received reboot/sequels have been ones for lesser known properties like Battlestar Galactica or recent movie The Fall Guy. Nobody is worried about folks getting those right. Its taking an idea and going to the next level with it.