Some remakes can work
There has to be genuine affection for the original and it has to bring something new. The point about Flight of the Phoenix is very valid, the remake brings nothing new to the table.

We've got the remake of the Dam Busters coming up, which is perfectly ripe for soemthing enw to come out of the story, perhaps a more human retelling of a story so entrenched in modern British folklore - provided of course, Guy Gibson doesn't become Mel Gibson.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Tue 22 Jul 2008, 15:09, Reply)