Unnecessary American versions of hit films...

[Gorn Captain]

A few years ago, a Belgian movie did really great in Europe: The Alzheimer Case. It's about an aging hitman, who's slowly losing his mind to Alzheimer's, and who has to unravel a murder in which he was apparently involved.

So, they intend to remake it in the US.
But they don't want him to be an older man, because audiences want young people.
And he's not going to have Alzheimer's disease, because people don't want to see films about diseases.
Now if they change his profession to ice cream salesman, then the adaptation will be really true to the original, right?
And maybe cast Keany Reeves?

Cop: "Did you kill that woman?"
Keanu: "Wow, dude, I totally forgot...."

[wolfie]

How many unnecessary American versions of worldwide movies have there been?

Alltogether now............... ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!


However good American films have been made using a worldwide film as an inspiration which is a totally diffrent thing.

[LadyZod]

That crappy. I guess American audiences would have issue with an older lead in a movie right? I guess Gran Torino made no money.

[Mawni]

Such as…

Let the Right One In & The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

What? They can't watch a dubbed or subtitled movie.

[Cmonster]

They can't watch a dubbed or subtitled movie.

It has less to do with that and more to do with the fact that studio executives would rather not take a chance on something NEW and DIFFERENT. They're always looking to redo, recycle, remake, reboot, or my personal favorite; reimagine, instead of risking their jobs or whatever, by doing something original. This way, if the movie flops, they can look at the studio heads and say; "Hey, it was a hit in Europe..."

Please don't get me started.

SC

[Mikey]

Speaking in general, for the most part American's don't have the patients to sit down and watch a European movie.

I'm not talking about me, you or him ... I'm talking about the general viewing public.

From a general public's point of view, most European movies come off as boring and full of itself.

Americans want movies with easy to understand plots written for sit-coms, explosions, topless nudity and CGI.

[Bill]

Point of No Return at least had Harvey in it, otherwise a pointless remake. And what was the point of editing down Leon in The Professional???
I did like the American "The Strangers" better than the original French version though.

[Bill]

There are some great original American releases though, the wife and I just watched "Get Low" last weekend.

[jwyblejr]

It has less to do with that and more to do with the fact that studio executives would rather not take a chance on something NEW and DIFFERENT. They're always looking to redo, recycle, remake, reboot, or my personal favorite; reimagine, instead of risking their jobs or whatever, by doing something original. This way, if the movie flops, they can look at the studio heads and say; "Hey, it was a hit in Europe..."

Please don't get me started.

SC

Or in the case of horror movies "Hey,it was big in Asia."

[Meule]

It has less to do with that and more to do with the fact that studio executives would rather not take a chance on something NEW and DIFFERENT. They're always looking to redo, recycle, remake, reboot, or my personal favorite; reimagine, instead of risking their jobs or whatever, by doing something original. This way, if the movie flops, they can look at the studio heads and say; "Hey, it was a hit in Europe..."

Please don't get me started.

SC

And that really ****es me off so bad
Be original for a change, is that really so ****ing hard?

[ctc]

>Be original for a change, is that really so ****ing hard?

Yup. Like I said; the AUDIENCE is a big part of the problem. People WANT the same old same old. They DON'T want something different, new or deep. "I just wanna shut my brain off and watch a movie!!!" is the usual line. Hence why folks don't care for subtitles: "I don't want to READ a movie!" Is it that tough? Apparently, yes.

Don C.

[jds1911a1]

it's funny how as a generality that's true but it really is a matter of the quality given to it
as an example 2 Japese Samurai films Seven Samurai and Yojimbo
The Magnificent Seven is seen as one of the greatest westerns and is just as good as Seven Samurai

Last man standing is a terrible remake of Yojimbo and the same drama that makes a lone samurai between two gangs of warring rogue samurai is just dumb when it's Bruce Willis with 45 1911's and a thompson

[Mikey]

Hence why folks don't care for subtitles: "I don't want to READ a movie!" Is it that tough? Apparently, yes.

Don C.

I'll be the first to admit, I hate subtitles.

I don't care how good the reviews are, if the movie has subtitles i'll avoid it.

It's why I never went to see that Mel Gibson Jesus movie.

Dub it, then i'll watch it

[huedell]

>Be original for a change, is that really so ****ing hard?

Yup. Like I said; the AUDIENCE is a big part of the problem. People WANT the same old same old. They DON'T want something different, new or deep. "I just wanna shut my brain off and watch a movie!!!" is the usual line. Hence why folks don't care for subtitles: "I don't want to READ a movie!" Is it that tough? Apparently, yes.

Don C.

Don, you speak the greatest truth
and the pass on the most useful info in this thread.

And that's it... done deal with sizing everything up as it stands.

But, the future, that's the GOOD NEWS.... frustrated filmmakers
and aggravated audiences have no reason to complain comparitively
like they used to.

Making movies independently has never been cheaper and it's only gonna get more affordable.

The audiences seeking "original" stuff will have more and more to choose
from... and those that are happy watching AVATAR will continue to do that.

I don't see why everybody can't just co-exist with no bees in any bonnets...
....it's okay to be someone seeking out simplicity in film...
and it's okay to want something "new"----things are good IMHO.

[Cmonster]

Making movies independently has never been cheaper and it's only gonna get more affordable.

True. However, what that does, is enable anybody who can go buy a camera and editing software for their computer, to make an independent film... I have a basketball hoop in my driveway and go out and shoot around every now and then, but that doesn't make me Michael Jordan. Nor does it mean I'm playing at an NBA level. Just because someone has the means to do something, doesn't necessarily mean they'll be any good at it, or that they should be doing it at all. This recent deluge of super low budget films from these so called "filmmakers" has caused a huge problem in the industry because now, distributors and people who buy movies, think everything now from a certain budget range is crap. Granted, most of it is, but it just makes what I'm trying to do, much harder.

That being said, every now and then, something like "Paranormal Activity" or "The Blair Witch Project" comes along and fuels these inexperienced "filmmaker's" fire, but again; Personally, I don't think either one of those films were any good, but they did present a unique opportunity for a studio or distributor from a MARKETING perspective. Both those films were marketed brilliantly and made lots of money. But look at the quality of the filmmaking itself, and it's **** poor.

I'm in a very unique and very difficult position. With a 20+ year career in special FX and design on major, blockbuster films, I can achieve a lot for very little in my own directorial efforts. I strive to be a real filmmaker and not rely on shaky cam, flash editing, skip frame, desaturated nonsense to make my own low budget films. These types of "Paranormal Activity", ect, films are called "hook films". They rely on a hook to bring the audience in, instead of quality filmmaking. Not my bag.

The audiences seeking "original" stuff will have more and more to choose from... and those that are happy watching AVATAR will continue to do that.

I don't understand this. "Avatar" was an original movie. Its content may not have been the most original thematic material, but it's not a remake, sequel, reboot, or whatever. It IS an original film.

SC