Blu-Ray Review: Fame(s)

Fame: The Original Movie (1980)
Written by:  Christopher Gore
Directed by: Alan Parker
Starring: Irene Cara, Paul McCrane, Barry Miller, Laura Dean, Maureen Teefy, Gene Anthony Ray and Lee Curreri

Special Features: Class Reunion Commentary with Branching Video Highlights and featuring the director and cast members, Vintage Featurette On Location with Fame, Fame Field Trip visits the school that inspired the movie, Theatrical Trailer.

http://astore.amazon.com/popculbea-20/detail/B002XTXFX0
Fame (2009)
Written by: Allison Burnett based on the screenplay written by Christopher Gore
Directed by: Kevin Tancharden
Starring:  Debbie Allen, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Asher Book, Kristin Flores, Paul Iancono, Maul McGill, Naturi Naughton, Kay Panabaker, Kherington Payne, Collins Pennie, Walter Perez, and Anna Maria Perez De Tagle,

Special Features: Theatrical and Extended edition of the film, Deleted Scenes, "Fame"Music Video, Remember My Name Character Profiles, Fame National Talent Search Finalists Featurette, The Dances of Fame Featurette, and a digital copy of the film.

Available on Blu-ray now are both versions of Fame.  Both the 80's original and the 2009 "reinvention" look great on the format and have some decent special features but which one is more worth your time and dollar?

Well, my money is on the original.  It's an inspirational and raw look at people chasing their dreams and it comes off so much more believable than it's current remake.   The acting is better, the direction is sharper and the script is very well done.

While the cast of the remake may be more attractive it's just too flashy and by now cliche to surpass it's predecessor.  It just doesn't have the passion of the original.  It tries extremely hard and it has moments but it just doesn't hold up.  In fact, I was more interested in the teachers than I was with the students.  There wasn't near enough of them in the film.  You have some amazing people like Bebe Neuwirth and Megan Mullally who were just way under utilized.

Some viewers may find themselves turned off by the dated look of Fame and those people should probably watch the remake so they can get their fix of flashy dribble.  But those who can get past the dated look will find themselves inspired by a classic film and an incredible soundtrack.

Is the remake all bad?  Not at all. It's still enjoyable if cliched but it simply fails to live up to the original.  Still, it is worth a rental while the original is worth a purchase.

Fame and Fame are both available on Blu-ray and DVD now and you can pick them up from the Pop Culture Beast store!