Comments on: Remakes Without an Accent

By: Kevin (Ket)

Kevin (Ket) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:04:07 +0000

No, but non-American films themselves already suffer from distribution problems in America. The fact is most people don't know that "The Departed" is a remake. And there are enough people who do know that still aren't at all interested in seeing "Infernal Affairs". Do you know what I think is wrong with this picture?

People in America undermine foreign films. They think they're all artsy film noir affairs. They think that only the really good ones find crossover appeal (ignoring that many do find crossover appeal, just not in America). They think they're unapproachable because of cultural differences.

Even if the remake is better than the original, all it continues to do is perpetuate the myth that Hollywood influences the rest of the world, while undermining the influence the rest of the world's film cultures have on Hollywood. Did "The Departed" make people suddenly start thinking "Hmmm, maybe Hong Kong has a film industry that is worth checking out"? Or did it just reinforce the notion that Hollywood is the only film industry in the world that matters?

By: AlphaGirl

AlphaGirl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:53:08 +0000

I feel like there should be at least a couple generations between the original and the remake – like it's too soon to remake stuff from the 1980s (actually, I'm surprised no one has tried to remake The Breakfast Club or Pretty In Pink yet).

By: AlphaGirl

AlphaGirl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:46:16 +0000

It's not just Asian movies, though. There can absolutely be good remakes (I left it open to this in the third paragraph – there are always exceptions), like Scent of a Woman or The Magnificent Seven, or your example, The Departed. But, these are the exception because they manage to take the original concept and make it work intelligently for an American audience rather than simply copying it – I guess the difference is like the difference between "inspired by" and "knock-off".

True, they don't disappear (and yet, my annoyance remains. Curious).

By: AlphaGirl

AlphaGirl — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:29:31 +0000

But their accents are just so snooty and elitist. What do they think they're English or something???? The only adaptation that's been successful, I think, is The Office because it found it's own place. The Coupling adaptation was atrocious. I'm sure Spaced, if it hadn't been killed, would have been just as bad.

By: saurora510

saurora510 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:30:06 +0000

What bothers me about remakes is that Hollywood will remake a movie that doesn't NEED remaking. Why not remake an unsuccessful film instead? Why not find a way to revamp and improve a movie that DIDN'T do well (foreign or domestic) instead of sullying the genius of something that was made well? Or at the very least, remake somethingthat wasn't made 2-3 years ago, but something timely that works to update into today's modern world. It's just frustrating…

By: liz

liz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:37:39 +0000

O. M. G. The reviewers on the "Let the Right One In" video are the most insipid I've seen. And they review trailers???

By: Amalthia

Amalthia — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:42:19 +0000

I prefer subtitles personally. I think what worries more than movie remakes is them re-making tv series, and tv series from Britain at that! I mean seriously, it's not that hard to understand British english.

By: jeffrey386

jeffrey386 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:58:03 +0000

american re-makes of asian movies can be awesome! Departed anyone? Who cares if someone remakes a film? It's not like the other-one disappears from the time space continuum. Plus, any-time spielberg wants to turn a camera on, I'm all for it!

By: Rhea Dee

Rhea Dee — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:48:25 +0000

I don't think Spielberg can do Oldboy better, either. I forsee a major chickening out the subject matter front. Le sigh. I'm gonna go make myself feel better and watch Lady Vengeance or something.

And for some reason, I can't stop picturing the Let The Right One In remake filmed in shaky cam, a la Cloverfield. We'll see how this director fares when he's not under the wing of JJ Abrams.