Do You Believe In "Untouchable Classics?"

[Koh]

As the title plainly states.  What do I mean by this?  Well, this question has three embedded parts to it:

1.  Does there exist a piece of media that you believe could never be polished further?  And if so, why is this?
2.  Does there exist a piece of media that you believe could never be rivaled or surpassed in quality?  And if so, why is this?
3.  Does there exist a piece of media that you believe, if remade, could never capture the essence of the original?  And if so, why is this?

[SKELTON S. SKELETON]

No, not really. Hm. I think classics exist in a pretty weird state - I have some Deeper Thoughts on this but i'm not sure how to formulate them. I think....a classic is as much something that can be of quality, while at the same time as being based on the time it comes out in!

[psychospacecow]

I think the concept of "untouchable classics" is somewhat of a personal perspective, if not a slightly dangerous one. To consider something untouchable is to say it is without fault worth considering. Now, I love me some Chrono Cross, but that doesn't mean the game wasn't overly ambitious, sometimes forgetting to give a character in its extensive party roster a backstory beyond their introduction (Funguy). I love Planet of the Apes. That doesn't mean we get to ignore that the main character's uncompromising nihilism literally brought about a new apocalypse, or the movie where they travel back in time, go on a shopping spree, then the pregnant woman gets drunk. If you don't acknowledge what something did wrong, you'll just recreate the same mistakes if you ever try to emulate something from it.

[miyabi95_]

i would talk about A Link to the Past, but there's already been so much done for it. it's been ported to the GBA with extra features and improvements, it's on Virtual Console, and a recent game takes place in a similar universe...i think? (I'm a fan of zelda, but the timeline is just too weird for me to actually learn).

[puggsoy]

I personally really really love the Back to the Future films. I really can't think of anything that could be improved in them. I'm sure nostalgia plays a part (it always does) but I've watched them countless times and every time instead of noticing flaws I even notice neat things I hadn't before. The only issue is that there are only 3 films, but then again any more may have ruined the series. (The Telltale games do continue the story and aren't up to the same standard but I consider them separate from the movies, in this context.)

I think the Professor Layton games would also count for me. I have yet to play the final one but I really have enjoyed them consistently throughout and I can't think of much that I would want changed (the first game had some gameplay things that could have been better but they were improved in the following games).
I think that this is something that's harder to achieve, as well as evaluate, when talking about games. The fact that the games were quite constrained in terms of user interaction (being a type of visual novel with puzzles) compared to most other games means that it leaves little room for issues to arise and things can be polished better. There are games that I enjoy more and would go higher on my "favourite games" list (although these are pretty high), but those have things that could be modified or improved or which I may have preferred to be done differently and as such can't be considered as "untouchable". They're amazing but they could be better, while I believe the Professor Layton games cannot.

[Dolphman]

The term is so strong with Back to the Future. Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale outright forbid any remakes as long as they live.
It's very likely the Ghostbusters remake flopped because of this. With the toys going on clearance before the movie even came out.
Ditto on Total Recall, because Arnie's the man and it was unnecessary for a remake to begin with. A freaking 90s movie!

In my opinion, studios should wait until their franchises are about over fifty years old. Because it feels too soon to remake 80s movies.
American adaptations shouldn't be made either. Look how big a shitstorm the Ghost in the Shell movie is causing with whitewashing Motoko.
I also fear how the American version of Troll Hunter will turn out, as that's one of the better recent found footage movies out there.

As for a video game. I guess many Beat'um Up, original and licensed, and certain cinematic platform games should be left alone.
Turtles in Time Re-Shelled could've been better if it wasn't an ugly 3D mess. (I actually find the arcade version superior to its SNES port)
Flashback is another example, as they should've went with how Another World gets ported to HD game consoles and computers.
Hell, the Prince of Persia remake on XBLA & PSN, and Abe's Oddysee: New N Tasty did a better job than the Flashback remake.

[Kosheh]

Yes, I Believe In "UNTOUCHABLE CLASSICS".......And That Is My Lord And Savior Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!
No One Else Could Remake The Son Of God....Because He Is The Best And Perfect...I Wouldnt Change A Thing About Him.!!!!! LOL Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!Praise Jesus He Let Dazz See The Good In my Son Sams Heart....And Let Him Post Again!!!!!! Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!!

---

seriously though this is kind of a silly thing to ask, because an "untouchable classic" is purely subjective and varies from person to person and community to community. i might think 2pac's "all eyez on me" is the best album of all time but that doesn't mean shit if all you listen to is video game music, and back to the future seems perfect to us, but may seem like an awful film to younger audiences - who might think a film like - say, mean girls - is untouchably classic (whereas some of you think it's trash)


period classics - sure, but untouchable, greatest-of-all-time classics is greatly subjective, lol

Spoiler

tsr is a perfect example of a 2000's period classic

[Ton]

I believe there are films, books, etc. that are the best they can be at the time they're made. As time goes on, we may notice flaws and some of the themes and jokes may not work as well, but that doesn't mean the movie/book/whatever is any worse than when it was made.

For example, Ghostbusters is a perfect movie. The casting, the script, the concept, the pacing. All of it. It still holds up. But as time goes on, I think we can all agree that the way Venkman treats Dana is at least a little creepy and offputting. That doesn't make it a bad movie, though. The times have just changed.