Remakes and amnesia...

[fajrdrako]

I just went and looked at fannish5, and this week's question means nothing to me, but I realize I missed last week's. This week's item is Name 5 remakes that never should have been made. I find that kind of meaningless... the world is full of movies that should never have been made; but on the whole, I've seen a number of remakes I've liked - more than that I have disliked, probably because in most cases I've seen the remake but not the original. I did like the later versions of The Lion in Winter and Born Yesterday, for example. I even liked the American movie Shall We Dance? as well as the (admittedly better) Japanese version.

I just don't have any problem with remakes. I like seeing the same material from different points of view, or done in different styles. How many versions have I see of movies based on one of my favourite novels, Jane Eyre? I hated some of them and have loved one of them and liked at least one more - I'm glad they kept remaking it, and I hope they continue to do so.

This week: What are your five favorite instances of amnesia, in canon or fan fiction?

Until recently I'd have probably said I didn't like any amnesia stories. I know of none I like in fan fiction; I'm open to recommendations. But in canon... well!

1. In Doctor Who: Captain Jack lost two years' worth of memories, and resents it, and wants them back.


2. In Torchwood, Captain Jack has invented Retcon, the drug that gives people selective amnesia, and he administers it wantonly and ruthlessly. I love the irony,the contradiction.


3. in The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett, near the beginning, Francis Crawford of Lymond is hit on the head and temporarily forgets his own identity, while a prisoner in the custody of Christian Stewart. There is some lovely banter through this chapter; a sense that Lymond can be himself as we seldom see him, because for once he has been able to forget his troubles. Sometimes I have wondered to what extent he was faking it. Sometimes I have wondered at various implications of the section. But I do love it.


4. Brat Farrar, by Josephine Tey. I liked the TV movie based on the book, too.


5. I can't think of a #5... give me time, here....

Comments

[order_of_chaos]

There's always John Smith and Professor Yana, and I'll second the one from Mirror Dance.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

John Smith and Professor Yana - quite right! Interesting cases, both of them.