The Last Big Missed Chance


Jerry B.

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I've been reading a lot of fan fiction here and a lot of ideas about a possible remake of MV, from alternate actors to new plots etc. and I would like to add my view about this subject. As some people from the original cast said, it simply cannot be done, because of so many reasons, already well explained here. There's anyway an exception, in the realm of things that could have been done. I mean a single movie, not a tv series. It's what Michael Mann could - and should - have done. A movie to be released in 2004, for the 20th anniversary of the first broadcast. Not in 1994, cause people (stupid as always) was still in the mood to refuse the 80s as kitsch, corny and deepless. In 2004 people started to realize that those years were much better than what we have now. On the other hand, all the actors were young and in shape enough to carry on their original roles. I always had this idea in mind, now I have the chance to share it with some like minded people, and I think it worth a long script. Just ideas running, guys. But here it is.

 

THE CAMPAIGN Started six months or one year before the actual release, could have been strong and viral. Something like: "1984: A TV movie changed television. - And you. - 2004: They're back". I think about teasing trailers where you barely see the actors, shown just enough to recognize them. The campaign alone could have become a cult, creating a lot of anticipation.

 

THE CAST One word: original. No resurrection of Larry, but the twin idea I read on this board could work. Izzy would be part of the story too. I would add a cameo by Anthony Yerkovich (who I'd also hire for supervision) and maybe one or two of the historical guests. Phil Collins would be great.

 

THE MUSIC Two words: Jan Hammer. Original theme (in its original mix, maybe new mastering) and totally new stuff for the score. There are a lot of new virtual instruments with a retro feel and vintage sound emulation. New and vintage at the same time, plus the touch of the Master. Some of the original  themes could of course be used (Crockett's, Rico's, Dorothy's, Rain etc.), but replayed with new sounds. As far as the pop/rock songs used to underline the scenes, I see a mix of old and new (could you miss In The Air Tonight, or Heartbeat?). On the contemporary side, there's a lot of good artists and bands that have a classic or retro sound, as swedish rock band Heat, for example.

 

THE FASHION Hard point, but sure Versace could have done a great job, as he did for Nash Bridges. In 2004 he was already gone, but sure the House could have been the right choice. A mix of casual, elegance and coolness.

 

THE CAR Just another character, as important as all the other ingredients. Not a McBurnie, nor a Testarossa. This last one, though a great piece of design, would look too outdated nowadays. A California would do the job well. Black. Or White. (Mann shot its video ad, actually).

 

THE PLOT This is just a starter idea, a way to bring back the characters on the scene. Sure we have great screenplay guys here able to come up with great stories. And who knows, maybe my starter can trigger a story for someone. This is my view, a mix of cinema and television techniques.

 

Cut #1-The movie opens without credits, right into the action. Miami Dade, exterior at night. A group of trained and organized bad guys put explosives into the vice squad headquarter and it blowns up. Any idea of same impact could work. All the cut should be thrilling, some monochrome scenes, low synth sounds, an 808 playing a slow percussion sequence, echoed fuzzy guitars crying etc. You know it, right?

 

Cut 2# - Interior, daylight. A big meeting room on a high floor with view on SoBe. There's the police chief, some politicians, the mayor, FBI guys etc. There's also a veteran of the vice squad. They are saying something like: "We can't go on like this". They have tried it all to fight and catch this drug emperor that seems to be stronger than law. He's smart, clever, brilliant, fascinating, cruel (what about Stanley Tucci?). They tried all and they failed. At this point the vet says: "There's only a man able to stop him". Silence. They stare at the guy, and he puts on the table a picture of Castilllo.

 

Cut 3# - Opening credits with the Original Theme. Montage recalling the original, but new images.

 

Cut #4 - Same room, a bit of suspence before Castillo comes in. They all welcome him, but he shows no smile. He listens to all, wearing his black suit and tie, standing in front of them all, legs slightly apart, pointing his look towards the floor, looking at them once in a while, with no move of the head. As they finish to talk, he doesn't answer, but you understand that he said "Ok". Everybody in the room have a satisfction smile. Silence. Then he adds: "But I want my guys". Chaos. All the people in the room say no way, this cannot be done, they left police and blah blah. He just give them a last long look and turns back, going toward the door.

 

Cut #5 - They run to him in the corridor, beggin him to accept. He answers in his classic low tone, slightly raising his eyes pointing the guy: "My rules. My people". They are forced to accept. Then the story begins. It can be continued in many ways, but I always had this start in mind. We could have the guys gathering Rico from NY, Sonny from somewhere south etc. Larry's twin could be an expert of something, maybe explosives or whatever works. They need such a specialist and Switek suggests them Larry's twin.

 

THE REDEMPTION The movie conceived this way could have been a blockbuster, bringing back the cult of MV. The long wave created by such an event could have been lasted one year or more, maybe giving a start for a sequel or even a tv series based upon it. This one with different actors, but some of the original ones coming in as guests once in a while. Just my vision, of course, but I think this is what Miami Vice would deserve. Something to tribute and honor what's been way more than a TV show.

Edited by Jerry B.
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  • 7 months later...

Hmm, I'm not really sure about that. I don't think 2004 would have been more accepting than 1994. The further away we get from the 80s, seems like the more they are portrayed as "cheesy" and "kitsch". It's hard to go on the internet without seeing articles talking about how they despise 80s fashion and style. Just tonight, I was on pinterest trying to look for pictures relating to tropical 80s vibe and I came across a bedroom set with a pastel/tropical (that I think looks quite nice) print from a JC Penney catalog from back in 1990. The link it gave was to a stupid buzzfeed list that listed as one of the "20 most embarrassing items in the 1990 catalog". It seems to me that at least in 1994, things like that would still be in catalogs and not labeled as "embarrassing" and "faux pas".  On another forum, a young man posted a question asking what women think of the MV style because he's adopted that look likes the style, the responses he got were all making fun of him. The poor guy got told that the look is "outdated", that men "look stupid in pink", that if he wants to dress like that he should "wear khakis and polos" (yuck, boring), that they"would have an issue with his clothing if they were to date him", and that they would think he's "wearing a costume", and on and on.

I guess they prefer guys who look either like a slob or the typical bland, non-descript look of today. Like I've said before, men's style has become non-existent. While I understand that from 1994-95 onward, it was the beginning of that whole grungy era and leaving the 80s behind, at least it wasn't as bad as now where on every corner you see moronic websites like buzzfeed trying to hammer into everyone's minds that the 80s were stupid, while ironically not realizing that it's what we have today that's stupid. I guess they'd rather have pants hanging down to knees, "reality" tv and a bunch of other stupid shows, terrible excuse for music, and non-existent style, and people constantly glued to their smartphones, (to mention just a few things). No more color, no more creativity, no more distinct flavor, it's all been vigorously erased away because we live in such a bland, soulless era now, sadly. If you thought the mentality was stupid in '94, it's a million times more stupid now. 

That said, I think if they would ever do a Miami Vice film re-uniting DJ and PMT they should do it within the next few years, and you have come up with some really great ideas for how they could make it work. But definitely it would have to be movie or maybe a mini-series. I don't really think it will bring back MV, but it would be nice to see a DJ and PMT reunion. The main thing is though what would the characters be doing...the idea for some new drug lord that's arrived from Mexico and set up shop in South Florida sounds intriguing. But I just don't really see it happening...also a new tv series with new actors shouldn't be called Miami Vice...it would just tarnish the memory of the real one. I really hope they never, ever go the Hawaii Five O route. The 80s era was such a huge part of what Miami Vice is, to set it in this era just doesn't work. The entire atmosphere of that time period is long gone now, and while Miami still has some of that flavor, it would just never have the feel, and the actors they get will never be Crockett and Tubbs. What I'm trying to say is that what made MV, MV just won't be there, getting a white guy and a black guy, calling them Crockett and Tubbs, and putting them in Miami playing cops doesn't make it MV, (as that awful movie they made a while back shows)...it's the actors, the pastels and bright colors, the 80s music, the setting, the culture, the vibe and feel and style and aura that's just not there anymore.

Edited by viceystyle
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  • 1 year later...

Jerry, I like your idea for a script.  At the same time I agree with Chloe that at our current distance from the 80s it could never have the same feel and appeal.  I also don't think different actors could carry off a show that would bring me back to it every week, and DJ and PMT truly are too old (although they still look good!) to pull off an action-oriented cop show.

Not sure when the ideal time for such a revival may have been, but I do wish someone had picked up your thought a few years ago and worked it up!

For now, a Blu-Ray restoration of the original episodes would be very welcome, with the original color saturation, etc.

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I'm not so fond with the idea of a new Miami Vice movie, I mean even the director Michael Mann couldn't accomplish the 2006 movie to be succesfull and bring back that 80's feel, a trip down nostalgia lane. The 2006 movie wasn't made with real interest in my opinion and the actor, that was chosen to play the character of "Sonny", Colin Farell, I read to my surprise, that he didn't like the original TV-show. I believe, he said for him it was all style and no substance.

A new tv series wouldn't work either. Maybe as a spiritual successor to the previous one? Who, knows. Many other tv-shows, also some that I used to watch, failed in being revived. And the orginal actors were still rather young, compared to Don and Philip now. Melrose Place ended in 1999 and was revived in 2009 with new actors, having old cast guest starring, it was the same setting and the show only lasted for one season. I tried to watch it, but didn't like the new actors. It's all about money now, rather than quality. The last two quality shows I watched were Spartacus (with the exception of the brutality) and Magic City, which unfortunately was cancelled. 

If there should EVER be a revival of the tv series, (again in my opinion,) I had this idea, which I thought would be very cool and maybe even original, to have the children of the Vice cast be the "new" squad and the setting could be in the 80's again, or just a crazy thought the 70's. EJO's son could be the new Castillo, Jesse the new Crockett, PMT's son as Tubbs, one of Olivia's daughters as Trudy or PMT's daughter Imaj. Maybe Dakota as the new Gina. John Diehl's son, as the new Zito and so on.

I know it sounds crazy, but it would be original and it's not like crazyness hasen't be done before in Hollywood. My idea isn't well thought through, but I still think, that would be great to see. Though, I think it's to late to revive the show. The best thing for Miami Vice would now be a release on Blu-Ray.

And Jerry B. Thanks for bringing these threads up for discussion again!

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Yeh ... I'm in the same camp as the "nay sayers"

I loved MV but did not enjoy the movie. I feel that resurrecting the series would be detrimental to the original series. I do not mean to belittle the hard work and efforts of everyone who is writing new ideas down as they are good ones!

I can think back to a time when WKRP was airing originally on TV and I absolutely loved that show!!! When it ended I was a bit disappointed, however a few years later it came back on TV again and played Friday nights at midnight. I stayed up late to watch it but it just didn't have the pizzazz that the original series had. As a standalone, the story lines were ok and the new female dj was gorgeous, but it wasn't Johnny Fever! Sadly the series only had a short run as only die hards like me were staying up to watch it.

 

I don't think a new MV would do well. Times have changed and unless the story lines could reflect something of todays culture, it would not be relevant. It's like the 2006 movie trying to bring back the go-fast boat idea of smuggling, but we all know that could not take place with today's technology. If they did bring it back it would have to be current and believable to stay interesting, or else it be just a remake of the same old song.......................................

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Great idea, Jerry! It could have worked that way, but I fear they missed that opportunity and even worse, Michael Mann burned a revival chance for a very long time if not forever with his movie. 

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  • 1 month later...

The only way I can imagine the continuation of MV is with DJ and PMT themselves. But how? They are cool looking but... they are really too old to play the main roles now. So my way is to make a movie with Sonny's and Rico's sons Billy and Ricardo Jr instead of fathers.   Naively? May be, but all fans want the continuation. And actors-fathers also could play themselves but not as main heroes. Besides both actors have a lot of children who can act Billy and Rico Jr. PMT's son himself offered this. I think it could be very interesting.  They could be cops like their fathers were.  

Edited by Sea-light
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