Hollywood is making an American version of this German movie I've been recommending for months-- Bella Martha or Mostly Martha-- starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, the guy from Thank You for Smoking and the kid from Little Miss Sunshine. And while that's a lovely cast, I liked the original just fine, even if I had to read the dialogue. They're also supposedly making an English version of the French movie I enjoyed-- Le Dîner de cons or The Dinner Game-- to be called Dinner for Schmucks.
I'm sure you've heard this before, but what IS up with all the remakes? Not only are they biting off films from other countries (The Last Kiss, Vanilla Sky, Shall We Dance?), they're remaking some of their own that aren't even that old and were good to begin with (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bad News Bears). There's even been talk about remaking Casablanca.
I understand that coming up with creative and appealing ideas all the time is really challenging. There's a reason that people who work in advertising have a surprisingly high rate of heart attack and that the divorce rate for journalists is sky-high. But I'm guessing all those people who move out to L.A. to try and "make it" probably have an idea or two that came to mind on the long bus ride in from Kansas or wherever. How about we give some of them a shot?
Okay, even if we do continue ripping off others, how about giving them a little mainstream credit? I found this list, and while I don't know how credible it is, I was surprised to learn some old-time faves were remakes, some of which I had thought seemed really very American. Twelve Monkeys? The Departed? Three Men and a Baby?!?
I feel a little cheated about that last one.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
scent of a woman too?! Crazy!!!
You know American creativity is in trouble when the biggest crisis in the movies is that they have run out of comic book characters.
It's hard to believe that there are people in Hollywood running around with no morals at all...
To Anonymous, Good thing they haven't run out of comic book characters yet! We still haven't seen the Iron Man movie yet. (although I understand it's in the works) And I'm anxiously awaiting a spec script for the blockbuster that will be Aquaman!
I just saw the preview for the new Catherine Zeta-Jones movie over the weekend. It looked like a good one too. I wish I liked her more though....
I find it very irritating when they remake a perfectly good movie/classic.
I just saw the trailer for that Catherine Zeta Jones movie, and it looked all cheezed up.
If they re-make Casablanca with Gwyneth Paltrow as Ilsa, or George Clooney as Rick, or Jim Carrey as Ugarte, I will KILL SOMEONE.
this isn't foreign film remake, but "Bad New Bears" ROCKS!!! i haven't seen the original but the new one totally works...
Given, but it's Zeta Jones. They could remake any movie, stick her in it and it would be fine in my book. Except maybe Spiderman 3. Even Cath couldn't save that one.
If they remake It's a Wonderful Life, I will personally kick the people involved. Tacky, nouveau riche people.
The Last Kiss was a remake of anouther country's movie? The one with Zach Braff? And The Lake House? Really? Man, those seemed American to me, but then what do I know about American-ness.
I just know that they keep remaking the horror stuff from Asia. And since Malaysia gets all the Asian horror early on, we get to live through it again with constant remakes and sequels from both parties. It's exhausting.
Post a Comment