The new Stepford Wives movie - what did you think?

[grinningghost]

I rented it last night. It was cute enough, and it wasn't really, really bad - but they really should have left well enough alone. I love the original Stepford Wives, and this was pretty lame.

I did love the part when Bette Midler was "transformed" into a Stepford Wife though. She cracked me up.

Did you like it?

 

[Barb D]

Spoiler here, so don't scroll down unless you want to know the end....
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In a way, I was glad it ended the way it did (relatively happily), but I have to say the original ending made you think more. I thought it was going to end the original way, and to see Joanna WILLINGLY sinking into the floor with Walter kind of freaked me out. Did she KNOW he was going to back out? Was she doing it because they had her kids?

I enjoyed the campiness of it, but I still think the original was better...partly because it was more realistic in the normal life part.

 

[grinningghost]

Yeah, the ending was rather bizarre. I mean, the whole Glenn Close being the mastermind thing was just so far gone. Although it was nice to see Christopher Walken's head get ripped off. I never liked that guy.

 

[beattyfamily]

I did not see all of the original and I didn't even know how it ended. I think I saw bits and pieces when I was very young so only knew the premise of it, not all the details so I really didn't have much to compare it to. Didn't they get killed in the original?

Anyway, I couldn't wait to rent it. DH saw it in the theater and said it was dumb he fell asleep.

So I watched it knowing what my DH said. I enjoyed it. I liked it. I do love everyone in it so that helped. I didn't have the first one to compare it to either.

DH came home and said so did you think it was dumb and I said no it was alright. He laughed and laughed at me!!

So for those of you who saw both, how were they different?

 

[Barb D]

Beattyfamily, In the original, Joanna ends up being a robot.

My DH and DS watched it today, and weren't impressed. Maybe it takes a female viewpoint to appreciate it!

 

[DizneyKaren]

I enjoyed both versions but they are definitely very different movies in spite of the same basic story. The new one I think tried to reflect a more modern approach by making all of the women very successful in business so that "giving it all up" seemed even more bizarre. Also, having the twist at the end gave the original power to a woman, albeit deranged.

The original was almost an allegory of the possible repercussions of the women's lib movement. It's been a few years since I saw it but as I recall the women were all mostly SAHMs already just not quite as servile as the men wanted nor as good at housekeeping.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Haven't seen the original, though I think we'll add it to the Netflix queve so we can view it, too.

We watched it last night and really liked it! I laughed alot, and I LOVE the cast =)

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I thought it was pretty cute I liked the scene where they were at the book review

 

[ADisneygirl]

I saw the original Stepford Wives for the first time when I was a teenager. It was on tv -- a repeat, and my mom told me that it was pretty good and I would like it. Well, I remember it really was very creepy and I was shocked by the ending.

After visiting Celebration (the Disney neighborhood) my husband and I looked at each other and said "it's Stepford". LOL Many times I have referred to things as being Stepford-like, and only after seeing the original movie can you understand that humor.

We went to see this remake in the theatre, and had read the lukewarm reviews. It was fun, campy, silly, but no where near as good as the original. Different ending altogether. If you haven't seen the original, rent it.

 

[LadyAurora]

I didn't see the original, but I read the book and I also read Rosemary's Baby by the same author. I thought it would be kind of creepy. If I hadn't expected to be creeped out, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Liked the cast, and it was entertaining, but I thought it was kind of silly, overall.

 

[FayeW]

I haven't seen either version, but whenever my husband and I are confronted with an apparent "Stepford-like" Ubber-Mom-Suzy-Homemaker we will turn to each other and say the only line we both know from the movie:" I know, I'll bake a bundt cake; I love a good bundt cake". And then we laugh and laugh..

 

[Lewski709]

Originally posted by Aimeedyan
Haven't seen the original, though I think we'll add it to the Netflix queve so we can view it, too.

I just switched from Netflix to Blockbuster and Blockbuster is soooooooooooo much better. When you return a Blockbuster movie, the post office notifies Blockbuster to tell them it has been mailed and they ship another from your queue immediately.

With Netflix, they have to physically receive the flix before shipping another.

You may want to check out Blockbuster. It's .50 less a month too. I have been getting movies left and right because I paid for Nov with Netflix and I subscribed to Blockbuster.

I also am getting Shrek II free for my subscription to Blockbuster, plus 2 free in store rentals a month.

 

[shortbun]

Totally different-no comparison, Really!
I loved both of them! Didn't you love the new one visually?
I thought the clothes were fantastic! And the hairdoos!
I thought the colors were amazing and the acting was really
fun! Nicole Kidman was even somewhat funny, especially in the
beginning as her career was going down the toilet.
Don't even TRY to compare the two films-there is no basis
for that if you've really seen both. Contrast maybe.

 

[grinningghost]

That's right shortbun. They really are two different films. The original movie follows the book very closely. The second is a spoof of the first. There weren't any true belly laughs in the first, although for anyone with a brain, the whole premise was silly, albeit a bit creepy.

I think in order to appreciate the humor in the second, you really should see the first one beforehand.

Oh, and that scene where Faith Hill "malfunctions" is a riot.

 

[pixiemomma]

I enjoyed it. I have read the book but I've never seen the original. I did think the costumes and sets were visual perfection.

 

[JKMastalski]

It was filmed in my hometown of New Canaan, CT. I watched some of it being filmed, but I have to say I didnt care for the movie at all! I found it very boring. The original was much better

 

[NMAmy]

I haven't seen the original since I was a kid so I didn't really compare the two movies. And I did enjoy the new version--I wasn't expecting it to be like the old one due to the reviews.

I thought the humor was great and I particularly loved seeing the gay couple.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I had heard from the reviews that it was REALLY horrible, so I was kind of pleasantly surprised to find it at least watchable. It wasn't great though.

If they were going to try and make it into a comedy, I think they should have taken it much further and gone way way over the top. It definately had some bright moments though, like when Bette Middler was sending her spoiled brats off to school.

I'd choose the original over it any day.