As a movie enthusiast who has been around since the days of VHS tapes and Betamax, I must admit that my love for the original “Point Break” is deeply ingrained. So, when it comes to its 2015 remake, I can’t help but feel a bit skeptical. While I do appreciate a good action movie with stunning stunts, what makes a film truly great for me is the chemistry between its leads and a compelling narrative.
In October, the 2015 remake of “Point Break” will stream on Netflix, offering it to a fresh batch of viewers and potentially inviting more criticism from fans who loved the 1991 original starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves. Despite this, it’s not surprising that the movie might find success on the platform, as numerous movies have experienced renewed interest upon joining Netflix’s streaming service.
Approximately ten years ago, a theater debut took place for the updated version of Kathryn Bigalow’s popular action thriller. This modern adaptation aimed to appeal to a fresh audience by casting Luke Bracey and Edgar Ramirez as FBI agent Utah and the charming criminal Bodhi, roles previously played by Reeves and Swayze in the original film. However, due to the classic status of the 1991 release, many viewers carried fond memories of it, leading to numerous comparisons being drawn – a fact that proved unfavorable for the remake.
In his adaptation of the initial film, Director Ericson Core complexified the narrative, transforming a straightforward tale of Californian surfers involved in bank heists into a globe-trotting saga centered around eco-terrorism. This was not the sole alteration that received negative feedback; however, a significant point of contention was the apparent lack of on-screen chemistry between the film’s principal actors compared to Reeves and Swayze in the original production, which contributed significantly to the film’s success by elevating it above typical action flicks.
Point Break’s Remake Chose Big Stunts Over Character Development
2015’s reboot of Point Break focused a significant portion of its duration on crafting an array of daring, spectacular athletic feats, including wingsuit flying, snowboarding, and free climbing. While these sequences might have attracted fans of the Mission: Impossible series, the absence of the original’s deep emotional or philosophical bonds among the characters led to the movie being widely criticized by audiences.
Critics often contended that the remake overemphasized its thrilling action scenes at the expense of constructing a coherent narrative. This critical panning was evident when it achieved a dismal 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which marginally improved to 29% with audience reviews. In contrast, the 1991 original movie garnered 69% and 79% from critics and audiences respectively. Consequently, it wasn’t unexpected that the film grossed only $133 million against its production cost of $105 million, whereas the original made just $83 million but was a financial success due to its budget of only $24 million.
Regardless of its initial poor reception, the remake of Point Break now stands a chance to reach a wider audience with its debut on Netflix. This streaming platform is known for transforming box office flops into massive streaming hits. While this renewed attention often results in more reviews being posted, which may not always be positive, it is a small sacrifice compared to the advantage of attracting large viewerships even years after it seemed the film had already run its course…and vanished.
On October 1, the 2015 version of “Point Break” becomes available on Netflix. If you’re interested in the original, you can find it streaming for free on Tubi.
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2024-09-22 04:03