The World Beyond BetterMost > Anything Goes
Why does the US do remakes?
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: David925 on December 14, 2006, 03:04:55 pm ---I wasn't trying to make a blanket statement Jeff. Not at all. There are many great remakes in this country. I cited "Queer as Folk" as one example (I don't really care for it, but many people do). But there are some pretty bad remakes included in the mix too.
You mentioned "All in the Family". I remember watching this show when I was a child. I remember hearing a toilet flush for the first time on television while watching this show. (When I was young, they never even used the word "toilet" on television, much less show a toilet or hear it flush). I loved that show and I still watch the reruns on TVLand.
I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression Jeff.
--- End quote ---
Oh, by no means! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I thought you were. My intent was just to say that I think it's unwise generally to condemn remakes, and The Magnificent Seven illustrates why it's unwise--it is considered a classic in and of itself, even though it's a remake of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. Sorry for any misunderstanding!
You remember watching "All in the Family" as a child? OK, now I feel ... old. ... :-\ ;D :laugh:
Mikaela:
Starboardlight, thanks very much for replying to my question. :)
starboardlight:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on December 14, 2006, 03:34:18 pm ---Oh, by no means! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I thought you were. My intent was just to say that I think it's unwise generally to condemn remakes, and The Magnificent Seven illustrates why it's unwise--it is considered a classic in and of itself, even though it's a remake of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. Sorry for any misunderstanding!
You remember watching "All in the Family" as a child? OK, now I feel ... old. ... :-\ ;D :laugh:
--- End quote ---
you're right of course. not all remakes are bad. The recent The Departed is said to be pretty good. My problem is these remakes give very little credit to the originators. Magnificent Seven became a classic, while the Kurosawa's involvement is largely unacknowledge by the American public. There's something wrong about that to me.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: starboardlight on December 14, 2006, 08:01:34 pm ---you're right of course. not all remakes are bad. The recent The Departed is said to be pretty good. My problem is these remakes give very little credit to the originators. Magnificent Seven became a classic, while the Kurosawa's involvement is largely unacknowledge by the American public. There's something wrong about that to me.
--- End quote ---
I'm with Mikeala et al, who say it's not because of lack of ideas or imagination, but that the original movie/TV show concept was good but producers in the States think the comfort level would be better if the movie/TV show was Americanized. I think the saying is, 'Well, will it play in Des Moines?' If you can't imagine the dour Midwestern small town folk 1) able to understand the accents and 2) get the references, then perhaps that's their thinking as well. Movie/TV producers are trying for revenue and that means numbers. They are notorious for dumbing down and underestimating their audiences, but hey, 'The Simple Life' has been renewed for another season, so I think they come by their MO honestly.
I loved 'The Wicker Man' original as well, but it badly needed to be updated and we pagans were pretty up when we heard the news it was going to be remade, then promptly were immensely disappointed when we heard about all the changes and that the director was trying to appeal to a 'Christian' audience who didn't want a movie with a message that all religions have problems when people become fanatics.
David, as a child I very much enjoyed the reruns of America's "Steptoe and Son" aka "Sandford and Son". :-*
Isn't Bollywood famous for their remakes?
I agree with star, it is a shame that the original works and moviemakers go unremarked because the majority of the newer generation don't realize they ARE remakes, but of course, that's been a problem since day one. Even Kurosawa's movies I think were influenced by stories he read/heard in his own country, so I guess even his movies are 'rehashes' of original works.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: starboardlight on December 14, 2006, 08:01:34 pm ---Magnificent Seven became a classic, while the Kurosawa's involvement is largely unacknowledge by the American public. There's something wrong about that to me.
--- End quote ---
Agreed! (Jeff nods head vigorously.) Especially the part about the lack of acknowledgment by the American public.
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