By Felix Vasquez Jr.

I picked out ten contenders for remakes and dream casts, some of which are in development.

* In Development

Nick Castle's science fiction flick is still an entertaining little low tech epic, but it still has the distinction of being one of the many films of that decade to piggyback on the "Star Wars" wagon. With a darker tone, better villains, and sleeker special effects, a remake would give it the possibility of standing out as its own picture, and can be geared to many audiences. Remaking the game and releasing it simultaneously would also lend it some moneymaking possibilities, too. Someone like Justin Long would excel in the role of Alex, with someone like Clancy Brown or Ian McShane as one of the only star fighters Grig.

9. The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

* In Development

After so many decades, "The Creature" hasn't lost his punch or his knack for terrorizing, but the concept paired with the story is just begging for a modern vision with a proper crew at the helm. The creature could still be made with old fashioned latex paired with dynamic CGI. After watching the aliens dashing through water in "Alien: Resurrection," the creature is the perfect recruit for a remake. And someone like James Purefoy or Thomas Jane in the lead, paired with a good heroine/damsel in distress like Michelle Monaghan and we have ourselves a horror picture.

8. Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Hitchcock's film is still a twisted tale of family dysfunction with Joseph Cotton providing one hell of a villain and Teresa Wright acing her performance as a young disillusioned girl whose favorite uncle becomes her worst enemy. With a proper cast and crew, a period remake would prove successful. Bold, yes, since most of Hitchcock's films age well and need no remakes, but who wouldn't love a "Shadow of a Doubt" remake with nice guy Tom Hanks as the vicious Uncle Charlie who goes from all around family man to psychotic killer in seconds flat? I'd love either Alison Lohman or Ellen Page as young "Charlie" Newton, and Sam Mendes or Frank Darabont leading the suspense as director.

7. The Cat and the Canary (1927)

The film has been remade twice and they've been debatable in quality. I could really use another telling of this classic silent film that can avoid the pitfalls of "The Haunting" remake. Annabelle West is a banner heroine, while the remake can make way for a very darkly comedic tone resulting in a twisted horror film. The clichés can still be implements, but rendered for modern audiences. Someone like Gretchen Mol could achieve the humility and purity that Laura La Plante gave birth to as Annabelle West, our heroine in peril. While Roger Crosby can be played with devious glee by Ian Holm or Jim Broadbent.

6. Gunga Din (1939)

It's a historic film. It provided the inspiration for "Temple of Doom," and influenced many up and coming filmmakers around the world, but even I can admit it's a little dated. This film is a light and airy action adventure with a serial feel to it, and with the right crew it can retain that feeling, bring in a new audience, and do away with the racial stereotypes of the original. With someone like John Moore or Wolfgang Peterson, I could see a movie that's as visual as David Lean but with substance and thrillers. Its three leads could be played by established actors like James Purefoy, Matthew Goode, and Erica Bana, while the eponymous Gunga Din can be a dignified hero and centerpiece with a valiant journey.

5. Captain Kronos -- Vampire Hunter (1974)

Around the time Hammer Films began to show their wrinkles and age, "Captain Kronos" was released, and in spite of its premise, it was boring. Not only was it boring, it was a wasted opportunity to show vampire fighting heroes that weren't named Van Helsing. Hammer failed. "Captain Kronos" is still a concept with possibilities as Kronos and his assistant Professor Grost can make for dignified heroes who are forced to battle the youth draining vampire breed. With a slower pace, a revival of this movie in the vein of "Brotherhood of the Wolf" would work. Pairings are always great, and I'd love to see a primarily British cast for this one to keep the Hammer spirit. Sean Bean or Raiph Fiennes would do wonders with Captain Kronos.

4. Children of the Corn (1984)

True, it's been remade numerously with it's quite awful series of DTV movies, but the original film, hyped as a masterpiece, really does need a touch up and it can be scary if done right. Stow all the campy kids fighting for power, and bring in children who can act that look genuinely creepy, and have a sense of dread to them. With the right crew, it CAN be a horror movie once again and not the comedy it's become as the years have worn on. As with any and every horror flick involving children, just cast unknowns and avoid the Dakota Fanning pitfalls. Hey, it worked for John Carpenter.

3. Deadly Friend (1986)

Often an overlooked and, up until a year ago, unreleased horror film, Wes Craven's story of love a la “Frankenstein” is still a concept worthy of a great horror film. Should this be remade out of obscurity? After so many years the film is still pretty dated with inadvertent camp and a climax that simply made no sense. With the right crew, "Deadly Friend" can be a dark and violent horror film about tinkering with Mother Nature and playing god. Someone along the lines of Chris Marquette would competently handle the role of Paul, with someone like Nikki Reed or Amanda Seyfried grabbing tightly to the role perfected by Swanson as the hot undead android Samantha.

2. Masters of the Universe (1987)

* In Development

Movie goers paid to see He-Man battle Skeletor in Eternia. Movie goers paid to see all the crew including Man at Arms. Movie Goers paid to see a fantasy epic, and instead they're given a fish out of water comedy with He-Man and crew molesting buckets of chicken and trying to find a weird intergalactic synthesizer with Courtney Cox whining about her dead parents. Truly it's a product of its times and lacked any potential He-Man was capable of. Veer away from the camp and provide us with a dark and stern fantasy epic that shows He-Man battling the horrifying Skeletor for Eternia. Give us CGI a la "Transformers," Give us nut stomping sword fighting action, and give us an up and coming actor to don the sword once again, and surround him with veteran actors along the line of Alan Rickman as Skeletor.

1. Puppet Master (1989)

There’s no replacement for Full Moon’s “Puppet Master” series which were gems of the studio then and are still very good iconic killer puppet films that were copied ad nauseum by Charles Band. With the variety of personalities, and interesting story, the “Puppet Master” series would benefit from a remake/reboot with a bigger budget, and better use of stop motion, and CGI. Bring back old favorites like Pin Head, and Blade, and don’t be afraid to introduce some other new comers. It would be a blast.

Check out more of Felix's work at Cinema-Crazed.com