Warbler said:

the first two film versions of The Maltese Falcon were duds. I'm betting the original Wizard of Oz was a silent movie. Alot of classics were remakes of silent movies.

A lot of other remakes are remakes of b/w movies. Or 3:4 aspect ratio movies. "Clash of the Titans" was a remake of a 2D movie. Does new technology make a remake necessary?

I don't think it does, but I stand it's best to judge all remakes on their own merits as films.

"Clash of the Titans" was poop, not because it was a remake, but because it was a poopy movie. The new "True Grit" is amazing, not because the old one was good or bad, but simply on its own.