Reboots: Do We Need Them?

Short answer: probably not.

After a somewhat mixed reaction to the newest X-Files revamp, one must ask the question as to whether we need reboots. And why is it that studios feel the need to redo things that should have otherwise been left untouched?

Using X-Files as the prime candidate, let’s think to ourselves: what made it special in the first place? Does the extrovert and introvert relationship between Scully and Mulder (‘I want to believe’) ring a bell? It was that kind of relationship that spawned the whole concept of partners, male or female, with binary opposite personalities. Shows like Bones, Sherlock and Elementary are just a few that use the dynamic duo roles to great effect. But by now (2016), it’s a little… over-saturated.

Moving on from typical roles then, let’s look at some other IPs that really don’t need any more sequels. That’s right. We’re looking at you Transformers.

As I have previously stated, I may have a slight distaste for the robots in disguise. The first film was a fantastic reboot. A perfect envisioning of what massive walking talking robots would be like in the modern age. But then came the sequels. The under-developed characters, and Shia LeBeouf screaming:

For three films, the Mark Wahlberg doing the whole ‘I’m a nice guy really’ act for three hours.

When you over-saturate a franchise, it ends up dry and stale. There are even talks of a Labyrinth reboot. You know, that niche, sub-fantasy genre film with that really horrible out-of-place song in the middle (sorry Starman)?

Additionally, while it may be cynical to pre-empt the fail of a movie before it’s released, Finding Dory and The Incredibles 2? Really? Finding Nemo was a brilliant film, probably one of the best that Pixar has done, but now they have to try and top it. If it sucks, fans everywhere are going to be annoyed, and chances are, Disney might lose credibility, because it looks like they’ve just cashed in on one of their most successful IPs. It’s a fine line between paying fans a service, and giving them a revitalized version of what they love. A fantastic example of the awesome power of the reboot would be The Force Awakens. As I said in the review, it’s a Star Wars for the newer generation. It’s amazingly well done, and you can see the love put into it.

Star Wars worked because of how it was handled. It was handed to someone with some fresh ideas on where to take the story, and because the rest of the books are now non-canon, it gives some lee-way as to how the future directors can approach the rest of the universe.

The same applies to games, too. Look at some of the reboots that have happened in the last five years. Tomb Raider, Elite Dangerous, X-COM, Deus Ex and many many more. When a game is done right, and it recaptures what the original was about, fans will go mental for it. Take Tomb Raider: while it was considered a failure by Square Enix, it sold over 3 million copies, and brought a new-found realism to the franchise, with a realistic Lara for all kinds of gamers. Granted it was less raidery, and more action-focused, but it was still highly praised.

Reboots are a blessing and a curse, simply because you can’t please everyone. Fans differ in opinion constantly, as shown by the recent X-Files.