I’m gonna get Biblical and quote Solomon “there is nothing new under the sun” and there isn’t but why does Hollywood feel they have to give their take on everything? I see film as an art form and as an artist I think that sometimes someone else got it right, their representation of a thought or idea says it best. Hollywood on the other hand sees someone elses work turn popular and decides they need to get in on the action. There are two remakes due out very soon and not long after their originals were rolling in cinemas.
Just three short years ago Frank Oz (the capable director of such recent classics as The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, What About Bob? and Bowfinger) released Death at a Funeral a British dark comedy starring some recognizable names- Peter Dinklage and Alan Tudyk alongside a mostly British cast. Death turned out to be a hit, well maybe not a hit but they made money on what was a small indie film in limited release. I suspect that most of the film’s success came from the fact that for the price of admission you got to enjoy a pitch perfect British dark comedy directed by a Hollywood veteran that introduced you to a few new faces on the screen.
Now three years later Hollywood has Easy-Baked you a remake starring a Who’s Who cast including Chris Rock, Danny Glover, Tracy Morgan, Martin Lawrence, Luke Wilson and Peter Dinklage. Yes the same Peter Dinklage in the same role he played three years ago. Directing this time around you’ve got Neil LaBute, who? You know he directed Lakeview Terrace starring Samuel L. Jackson and The Wicker Man (2006 remake) starring Nicolas Cage that Neil LaBute. Honestly I’m not sure who should be more offended, the cast of the original Death or Tyler Perry, one look at the trailer of the new Death at a Funeral and you’ll be left asking where Madea is (I think she’s still in jail). Hollywood is trying to squeeze every dollar it can out of your movie going pockets- don’t let them!
The second remake I’d like to question is that of the 2008′s Swedish vampire suspense thriller Let The Right One In with the Hollywood remake titled Let Me In. Easily the best vampire movie of the decade Let The Right One In needs no remake, sure it was subtitled in English but who’s complaining? In fact I think the lack of spoken English and the success of the film are evidence of just how well made the movie really was. The images told the whole story, isn’t that what all movie makers should strive for? I think so.
Whatever you do, whether you see the remakes or not, watch these two wonderful original foreign films and share your experience, hopefully your appreciation for them with us!
You hit the nail on the head with an opening statement, exposure. These were limited released films that did not get the exposure for a mainstream audience to become aware of. Remakes themselves only bring more people to the original, even if the remake is bad. Netflicks likely will say Hey you liked Let Me In check out Let the Right One In. Limited released films, which if given a larger budget likely would have brought in more audiences (advertising, more theatres), are then selling their rights. People dont realize that these films are being sold not stolen. You also have the barrier of foreign language which some people do not wish to overcome. Ask yourself in English dominate societies, how many foreign language films brought in large audiences, or the last time a foreign language song dominated the charts? It doesnt happen that often, but other countries love our Madonna, Harry Potter, Baywatch, you get the idea.
my nawme is jerry i live in corpus christi texas and i saw both original movies and i agree they didnt need to be remade the movies were prefect as they were i am a be fan off brit and other forein films the comedy is better in most cases if u ask me.
And now they’re remaking Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. F—.
I thought the original Girl With a Dragon Tattoo were actually not that great of a movie….sorry. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the sequels.
I have not seen the new ones yet so not sure if it is any better.
Let the Right one In, was definitely much better than the remake, although the remake was pretty good compared to the other “horror” crap out there right now.