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With the critical praise new Indonesian film “Catatan Harian Si Boy” (“Boy’s Diary”) has been receiving, it is clear that sometimes a remake or reboot can actually transcend the original — or at least manage to not completely bomb.

The renamed remake of “Catatan Si Boy,” a New Order-era classic, has kept everything that people loved about the original — such as the coolness of the characters — while filtering out its more cringe-worthy components — like the sexist jokes and the 1980s aesthetic.

The film is not exactly the revolutionary cinematic experience some claim it to be, but in the context of the insipid films being pumped out alongside it in Indonesia, it could well mark the beginning of a resurgence.

The remake works well because it pays homage to its roots, but is not half-hearted about modernizing its outdated elements. This is the delicate challenge at which some remakes have succeeded and others have failed.

It is never easy to appease devotees of an original and attract a new batch of fans at the same time.

With that in mind, here are a few of the best remakes and reboots of the past few decades — ones that remind us why the original was loved while also providing a demonstration of good filmmaking.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

That this boisterous western re-imagining almost managed to equal its inspiration, the 1954 film “Seven Samurai,” one of the best movies of all time, is no small feat.

With a cast that included screen legends Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn and Charles Bronson, the film, which took its title from the imported English version of “Seven Samurai,” saw director John Sturges give Akira Kurosawa a run for his money.

Sticking to the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” many of the film’s elements are borrowed from the original, even a few translated lines. And while outright duplication might not work for all remakes, in the case of “The Magnificent Seven,” it made perfect sense. Kurosawa’s lengthy masterpiece, at three hours and 27 minutes, was porcelain-perfect, with nary a fault to improve. Aside from letting non-Japanese have the same gratifying experience of the tale, the re-imagining still contains some of the best ensemble acting in movie history — and one heck of a final showdown in what is still one of the best gunfights ever directed in a western.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

This late-1970s Donald Sutherland vehicle was a remake of the 1952 sci-fi classic by the same name, which was already a phenomenon in its own right.

These days, the original is still regarded as one of the best films in the genre ever produced. The Philip Kaufman-directed remake managed to equal its source material in reverence and excitement. Gone is the alleged — though much denied — McCarthyism of the original. In its place is a thrilling film, filled with constant dread as well as unexpected twists and turns. A 2007 second remake, titled “The Invasion” and starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, bombed both critically and commercially. Which just goes to show that even the greatest story still needs to be executed well — something the 1978 alien-laden thriller version of the film demonstrated perfectly.

The Thing (1982)

This remake is also a legendary horror film in its own right. Based on the 1951 film “The Thing From Another World,” which in turn was based on the 1938 novella “Who Goes There?,” director John Carpenter’s paranoia thriller about a dangerous, shape-shifting alien from outer space stands as one of his greatest works.

Set in an isolated research station in Antarctica, “The Thing” works as something of a sci-fi whodunit. With a human-devouring space creature as the antagonist, the story’s psychological torture of its characters is contagious.

A major fan of the original film, Carpenter used footage from “The Thing From Another World” in his famous horror creation “Halloween” (1978). For “The Thing,” however, Carpenter referred more closely to the original novella’s aspect of terror, using the location’s remoteness to great effect.

Batman Begins (2005)

The character of Batman first appeared in a DC comic book in 1939. He has since been featured in a 1940s film serial, a 1960s TV series and accompanying film adaptation, a string of films and cartoons throughout the 1990s and, most recently, British director Christopher Nolan’s reboot trilogy, opening with “Batman Begins.”

After the previous foray into Batman films started with Tim Burton’s wonderfully dark “Batman” in 1989 and ended in the dumps with Joel Schumacher’s disastrous 1997 “Batman and Robin,” Nolan had a hard task ahead of him relaunching the film franchise. But it was one he pulled off with great skill. His 2005 trilogy opener is now considered by many fans to be the ultimate Batman film. Its 2008 sequel, “The Dark Knight,” received widespread acclaim and multiple awards for its emotionally complex characterization and fittingly sinister tone. The final installment of the trilogy is eagerly awaited by fans. And unless Nolan suddenly loses his impeccable touch, “The Dark Knight Rises” is almost certain to be one of the best films of 2012.

The Departed (2006)

“The Departed” was another American remake of an Asian classic, in this case, Hong Kong director Andrew Lau’s “Infernal Affairs” series.

Critically adored director Martin Scorsese took the helm and based his version of the thriller around the first two films of Lau’s series. His film successfully managed to sustain the same level of nail-biting suspense as its inspiration. The film offered a stellar cast, including a perfectly menacing Jack Nicholson, whose sadistic mob boss character rivals — though does not transcend — the original’s Eric Tsang.

With Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon in the roles of two moles on opposite sides of the law, “The Departed” is a crowd-pleaser with plenty of emotional weight. It also won Oscars for best picture and best director. For those yet to see Lau’s original trilogy, grab the first two — but approach the third film with a modicum of caution.