Remember the last time you saw MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, when you thought, 'Hmmm, this should be in color'' Well Denzel...

Harry here... Ok, let's take a look at this calmly...

MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE is a great film, frankly one of the best films ever made. We can talk about how perfect films should never be remade. How when Hollywood attempts to remake truly great films, it ALWAYS fails. But really, what's the point. These assholes are just going to go straight ahead with this idiocy.

Here's the thing, Casting Denzel Washington in the Frank Sinatra role from MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE... There's nothing wrong with it. Denzel's a fine performer. I don't think he has an ounce of the unspoken cool that raced through Sinatra's veins like glucose does through Denzel's. My understanding is that this is all about bringing it up to date... right?

Ok, so let's imagine that in this new version, we won't be dealing with Korea and the captured soldiers there. They'll probably be having him trying to figure out what happened in Desert Storm when him and his men were captured and interrogated. What happened to those missing days, when Al Qaeda - Saddam - Taliban tormentors brainwashed him and his crew? Oh the horror!

Or would they dare go with modern North Korea? I mean, we are posturing politically again to possibly move towards a new conflict with them. Maybe, it finally is time, in terms of propaganda, to put a little North Korean fear in the mix. While a team of U.S. Military advisors were stationed in South Korea, they were abducted and brainwashed by the new evil Nuclear Powered North Korea. They train one of the men to assemble and explode a NUCLEAR WEAPON in D.C. during a State of the Union Address! ACK!!!! The Horror! UGH! Let's see... Cast Brad Pitt and Ellen Burstyn as his controlling mommy. UGH!!!!

Ya know, what's the point in doing a remake of MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE? Does anyone involved believe they can make a better film out of the material than Frankenheimer did? Is it even possible for Denzel Washington to have an OUNCE of the sweaty Paranoia that was on Sinatra's face in the original? Would they team him up with a dame, so there's romantic tension?

There is just no frickin' need to remake this movie. The audience doesn't want it, critics will sharpen their knives... If ya have to remake a Sinatra flick Denzel... Go do SUDDENLY -- At least that one is an undiscovered classic that is greatly unappreciated. That could use the notoriety of a remake to cast attention to it. Not that you'd make a better film out of that one either. Because frankly, it is a perfect film too.

Here's the thing. This morning I was in a good mood, then James Coburn died. Then I was reading my email and got the news that Sinatra's daughter was producing a remake of MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE - which makes it all dandy... ahem... and Daddy told her it would be ok.... I'm sure John Frankenheimer would just be thrilled. Ahem. I wanted to come in here and just Nuke the project, but frankly I can't even work up the energy to do that. You see... this is just a LAME idea. They'll make their mediocre wannabe knock-off of a classic, but frankly... I still have my original print. Besides I read a story by Zorianna Kitt at The Hollywood Reporter that was an original project that thrilled me with the potential it has.

This project is a film that Mace Neufeld is developing. It is currently untitled, but it is based on a true story that has taken place since September 11, 2001 in Afganistan. It will tell the story about a a 12 -man Special Forces Alpha Team that was given the mission to take over the city of Mazar E Sharif by themselves in 6 months. They did in two weeks, and did it on HORSE-BACK --- Old School Cavalry-style, because the terrain wasn't suited for jeeps, tanks and what not. So, they rode in armed to the teeth on the backs of mounted steeds with the highest tech weaponry that you could fire from the back of a horse!

Ok... Now, this is a great fucking idea for a movie. I'm so intrigued by this story that I'm dying to hear all the details of what happened, how they did it and I want them to cast the hell out of this thing. Go serious Dirty Dozen on our asses. Just don't call it HOOFIN' IT! Heh. Neufeld told the Reporter - "Essentially, this is a story about the 1st U.S. Cavalry Charge of the 21st Century!" Ok, I'm so fucking there it isn't even funny. Personally I hope they open it the same weekend as the regurgitated clinging shitball of a project that Denzel is doing.