They’re remaking Dirty Dancing … Noooooooooooooooooooooo

Jo Bryant

No need to tell how I feel about this.

There are just some things you shouldn’t mess with.

Dirty Dancing is one of them.

Lionsgate’s press release said this about their upcoming remake: “Paying tribute to the emotional excitement of first love, the thrills and complexity of sexual awakening, the soul stirring power of dance, and the classic tale of teenage Baby’s forbidden romance with Johnny Castle, the remake will incorporate classic songs from the 1960s, hits from the original film and brand new compositions.”

Are they on LSD?

Johnny Castle is Patrick Swayze.

Patrick Swayze as Johnny Castle

MTV is naming Justin Timberlake as the forerunner to take over Patrick Swayze’s role.

The new Johnny ? Really?

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo…

Baby is Jennifer Grey.

Maybe…and this is a big maybe, I could have endured it had they modernised it, and made a new movie.

No…not even then.

Baby: We're supposed to do the show in two days, you won't show me the lifts, I'm not sure of the turns, I'm doing all this to save your ass, what I really want to do is drop you on it!

In a way they are right.

Dirty Dancing is about that time period.

Johnny: You know, the best place to practice lifts is in the water.

But you don’t fix what ain’t broke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some movies are not meant to be remade too soon.

Patrick really got annoyed during this scene because Jennifer kept laughing, and they kept it in the movie.

This is too soon.

My daughter’s friends have watched it. They all felt it’s charm. It was is still relevant.

Dirty Dancing is my favourite movie. I won’t lend the DVD to anyone – not even the daughter.

Baby: I don't think they saw us.

There are so many special moments in this film.

Made special by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

It’s a movie about falling in love, and discovering sex.

Jennifer Grey brought the right mix – Baby was  smart,  but still savouring her place as Daddy’s little girl. Letting go of that when she chooses to be with Johnny, growing up, is what this movie is about.

Johnny Castle – the slick, street smart dancer with a soft creative streak. Patrick Swayze delicately balanced these pieces of the character so that it wasn’t just Baby who fell for Johnny. Millions of woman world wide wanted to make his world an easier place to be.

I feel sick when I think of someone else in these roles.

Can anyone imagine someone else with the ‘Mickey and Sylvia’ scene.

Loverboy...

Johnny: Sylvia?
Baby: Yes Mickey
Johnny: How do you call your loverboy?
Baby: Come here loverboy
Johnny: And if he doesn’t answer?
Baby: Oh loverboy
Johnny: And if he still doesn’t answer?
Baby: I simply say
Baby: Baby, oh baby, my sweet baby, you’re the one
Johnny & Baby: Baby, oh baby, my sweet baby, you’re the one

Can you imaging the movie without this scene?

Uh…uh !!!!!!!

Cry to Me is a sweet tender romantic moment. It is innocent. It is sensual. It is the way a love scene should be made.

It is probably already screaming at the injustice of someone trying to redo it.

Baby: Me? I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I'm with you.

It is my favourite scene.

When he flicks her top away – so much restrained power and emotion in that gesture.

I’m wobbly just thinking of it.

“Saying yes to this project was a really tough decision for me, and one that I wrestled with for a long time,” said Kenny Ortega who was also the choreographer on Dirty Dancing. He should have wrestled some more.

Leave it alone people !!!!

Johnny: Now, the most important thing to remember in lifts is balance.

This little movie that became a cult hit and a classic deserves to stand alone – at least until I am dead.

Hell, I think I’d turn in my grave even then.

Now I've had the time of my life No I never felt like this before Yes I swear it's the truth and I owe it all to you

#

p.s.

From a masculine POV.

“Dirty Dancing” Remake: Can We Please Just Write An Original Movie Now?”

Worth a read

and a hearty belly laugh.

***

They have now set the release date for this abomination at July 26, 2013.

***

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

37 Comments

  1. NO!!! However, if Kenny Ortega does it, hopefully he will use some of those fantabulous dancers on “So You Think You Can Dance.” But no one can replace Patrick Swayze – enough said!

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    1. You are so funny. LOL It is what MTV is saying. Here it is: UK bookmakers have tipped the Friends With Benefits actor to star as Johnny Castle, made famous by Patrick Swayze in the 1987 original. Justin has odds of 3/1 to win the highly sought-after role, ahead of Thor actor Chris Hemsworth at 6/1 and Zac Efron at 8/1. ZAC EFRON is even scarier.

      Like

  3. I love this movie, seen it a billion times. JT has Johnny? No,no,no. Who’s playing baby?
    They should just leave this movie alone, Patrick Swayze did a fabulous job, I’m sure he’s turning in his grave.

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    1. No word on who may play Baby. Though apparently Ortega likes “So You Think You Can Dance” finalist Melanie Moore’s skills and told her live on the air that she has a role waiting for her in the film if she wants it.
      1
      How could anyone replace these two?
      It is yukky here today – still sick – so I curled up in bed with Dirty Dancing.
      Wanted to howl at the thought of a remake with…anyone. 😦

      Like

  4. Good thing I didnt have a marker near by. Upon seeing that horrid timberlake pic I said EEEEUUUUWWW and wanted to put a big black X over it. And the movies clips gave me memories of high school dances. good times. Im noy to sure I could stomach a re-make.

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  5. I’m with you. This is a great movie no need to mess with it. Can’t Hollywood write original stories instead of just remaking movies over and over.

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    1. I am so with you on that. There are so many great writers, and so many great ideas, and stories. Why are they so afraid of anything new? Why do they keep rehashing the old? Why are money mad people running an industry that is – or should be – about creativity?

      Like

  7. I agree with you, and I can’t even really consider myself a Dirty Dancing fan. My wife, on the other hand? She’s already made it quite clear that this is blasphemy!

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  9. Well you know, Pirates don’t dance. I tried it a few times, but every time, me peg would get stuck in some darn knothole on deck. There I’d be, like a cork stuck in ‘ bottle ‘o rum. Speak’n ‘o rum, the more I had, the more I’d start spin’n ’round that darn hole trying to get free, Kinda like a spin’n top, ‘cept with an eye patch an a parrot hang’n on for dear life. Trust me Jo, it ain’t purty.

    Like

      2. Then you might simply just grab your hat while skipping. And in your best english accent say,.. youve got to pick a poket or two.” I’d add the vignette but I dont know how… Jo?

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  13. Dirty Dancing is a classic. The reason it was a hit are not just the cool songs but the actors chemistry. Swaze vs timberlake? Are they crazy! There’s a difference between a serious actor and a pop star that can dance. I won’t even go to who would be j. Grey… I have some female pop stars in my head but all would be ridiculous for the role.well said. Wonderful post.

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    1. Well – I am in total agreement. Some movies just can’t be remade – or shouldn’t be.
      I am not saying there aren’t some good remakes out there.
      I loved “The Italian Job” for example – but mostly they SUCK…

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  17. Agree! Agree! Agree! DD is my fav movie of all time, and I couldn’t stand the thought of it changed in any way. I was a dancer, and that was me jumping up into that final lift on stage (it was called a “high bird” when I learned it in acrobatics). Still gives me “chicken skin” (aka: goose bumps if you don’t live in Hawaii) to see it.

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