21 Years Ago, Ethan Hawke And Laurence Fishburne Remade A Classic John Carpenter Movie

John Carpenter is an auteur in the horror space as the director behind "The Thing" and "Halloween," though he's dabbled with other genres. He directed the 1976 action thriller "Assault on Precinct 13," a movie following a police officer (Austin Stoker) fighting against a local gang before the precinct closes for good. The film did well critically, so it should come as no surprise that it was remade for the next generation. The remake, which released in 2005, stars Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne as a cop and gang member, respectively. 

"Assault on Precinct 13" is one of Carpenter's highest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes, second only to "Halloween," with a 94%. This score is, in part, thanks to the cult classic status of the project and the agreement that it highlights what became part of Carpenter's style as a director. The action movie features a long tracking shot as part of the opening sequence that, when combined with the electronic music he often used, helps both establish tone and create tension over the battle that's to come. 

Despite the original "Assault on Precinct 13" being there to draw inspiration from, the 2005 version didn't impress critics or audiences, holding a 59% and a 48%, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes. Many didn't enjoy the tone of the film, which some describe as coming off as a bit absurd. Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe writes that it is "not always silly enough to be diverting," while LA Weekly's Ella Taylor calls it a "puppyish homage" to Carpenter's work.

Others feel the remake was unnecessary, especially because it doesn't live up to the 1976 movie. The sentiment is best explained by Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post, who ended her review with the phrase "Thou shall at the very least do justice to the original, or thou shall not be made at all." When combined with the odd tone, it's clear that director Jean-François Richet didn't improve on the original work.

Though the overall critical consensus is negative, critic Roger Ebert reviewed the film more positively than most. He argues the remake has "a couple of new twists" in Richet's hands and that the cast give "strong performances," resulting in a 3/4 stars. Critic Sara M. Fetters agreed, writing in a review for MovieFreak.com that "while it doesn't offer much in the way of anything new, it boasts an outstanding cast."