Americanized Remakes

[Q?]

I just saw Funny Games US yesterday on dvd and I saw a thread about the remake of Death at a Funeral from UK and I realized that this subject hasn't been covered much.
There's a lot to discuss, such as are there any real good reason for an americanized remake other than profit?
Just a reminder, foreign movies that are remade to the US!

A few examples of already made and upcoming:
Funny Games US - I think this is an exception, it very uncomfortable throughout and I thought it was well executed, maybe it's because the original director directed this? But ultimately not necessary as I've read that the original was just as good or something to that effect.
The Grudge - Well this is obvious and if you didn't like this one I recommend you to see the original and the sequel, Ju-on.
I remember I went with a friend to the cinema, we had absolutely no idea of what this was. We saw no trailers no nothing other than the poster for it.
We were both scared sh**less! Man that as a ride!
Ju-on is in my top 5 of all time and I believe that this version is leagues better than the remake, highly recommended! it's japanese btw.
Let Me In - currently remade from Let The Right One In.
I have to say BOO!!!!!!!! Don't fix it it ain't broken!

[Show spoiler]I'll just avoid it

Kingdom Hospital TV series http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324864/ - from the danish tv series Riget http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108906/.
Again I've read the original is superior but I haven't seen the remake.
Anybdoy seen the US?

In my opinion the remakes are ultimately unnecessary, the original movie or series must have already been good to have been remade.
But I'm interested to hear from you americans (and the rest of you of course)
If americanized remakes does you any good?

[P@t_Mtl]

My Sassy Girl - 2001 from Korea remade in the USA in 2008. No comparaison possible the original is a much superior movie then the remake.

Then we have all the French Remakes done in the USA

Mon Pere Ce Hero 1991 - remake as My Father The Hero 1994
Les Comperes 1983 - remake as Fathers Day in 1997
La Chevre 1981 - remake as Pure Luck 1991
Le Grand Blond Avec Une Chaussure Noire 1972 - The Man With One Red Shoe in 1985

[koontz1973]

I cannot think of one American film that is better than the original. Other maybe can, but I cannot.

Problems with the American remakes is that what is funny/scary/dramatic around the world, may not be in America. This is not to say that Americans cannot appreciate our drama/horror/comedy, they just have a different way of looking at things. (no offence intended to our American cousins)

Can a American remake be made for any other reason than money, NO!

Why?, because Hollywood is a business out to make money, and if they think they can, then why not.

[P@t_Mtl]

It's usualy the fact maybe that American are not expose a lot to other cinema. Of course some are, we see them all over this site but the majority are not. I think most studios see it as first, it's going to sell much better with American actors, two we control everything and so no need to send much money out of the USA, three make their industrie work without the need to come up with an original idea, just translate it.

The problem is that many time it just does not work.

Take the movie Father's Day base or the French Movie Les Comperes. In the French version the tough guy was played by 6 foot 3 MOUNTAIN SIZE Gerard Depardieu. The American version had the rough father played by 5 foot 11 small guy Billy Crystal. That just never worked for me. There was no way I could see him as a rough fighting guy, was actualy more hilarious then anything else. Seeing Billy Crytal head butting a bad guy is just plain silly.

[cartman781]

All of them . I hate those pesky subtitles. I mean If I wanted to read, I would grab a book.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by cartman781

All of them . I hate those pesky subtitles. I mean If I wanted to read, I would grab a book.

All of them what?

[cartman781]

Originally Posted by Q!

All of them what?

Sorry, American remakes are better. Before you get mad, it was a joke.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by cartman781

Sorry, American remakes are better. Before you get mad, it was a joke.

Sometimes sarcasm gets misunderstood...
I wouldn't get mad though... I'd respect it.

[cartman781]

Originally Posted by Q!

Sometimes sarcasm gets misunderstood...
I wouldn't get mad though... I'd respect it.

I do wish there was more originality these days though.

[child of the sun]

the remake that made me the most upset was... Premonition "starring" Sandra Bullock. The Japanese original had the exact same name!!! The American version took the original story, gutted it, then basterdized it. Soooooo please know that there is a Premonition out there that is a good movie... you just have to find it!

[Adhamhnon]

The one that I remember most strongly as completely unnecessary is "Point of No Return" with Bridget Fonda. Was an americanized remake of "La Femme Nikita", which was a great film.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Adhamhnon

The one that I remember most strongly as completely unnecessary is "Point of No Return" with Bridget Fonda. Was an americanized remake of "La Femme Nikita", which was a great film.

The funny thing is that I liked both, though I was just a kid then.
I remember being confused when I saw the other (don't remember which), I thought to myself haven't I seen this before?

[Dotpattern]

IMO, I thought The Magnificent Seven, True Lies, Vanilla Sky and The Departed were all fantastic American remakes comparable to the originals in terms of quality.

[Q?]

True Lies? which original movie is that?

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by Q!

True Lies? which original movie is that?

La Totale

I also think the idea of not fixing something that ain't broke in regards to American remakes of foreign isn't the goal. I don't think the intent is to "fix" the original, but rather give a good story a chance to appeal to a wider, albeit, American audience. True Lies is a perfect example of that. Great story that you would never have heard of or seen had it not been remade.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

La Totale

I also think the idea of not fixing something that ain't broke in regards to American remakes of foreign isn't the goal. I don't think the intent is to "fix" the original, but rather give a good story a chance to appeal to a wider, albeit, American audience. True Lies is a perfect example of that. Great story that you would never have heard of or seen had it not been remade.

Didn't really mean "fixing" but appealing to a wider audience is a euphemism for profit, that's in regard to the majority of remakes in my opinion.
True Lies is a very enjoyable action flick but ultimately forgettable and wouldn't have affected me one bit if I never had never seen it.
I do agree that there are exceptions like The Departed and Funny Games US and so on...
How funny that I thought that True Lies was original...

[masoud90]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

IMO, I thought The Magnificent Seven, True Lies, Vanilla Sky and The Departed were all fantastic American remakes comparable to the originals in terms of quality.

100 percent agree.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

I also think the idea of not fixing something that ain't broke in regards to American remakes of foreign isn't the goal. I don't think the intent is to "fix" the original, but rather give a good story a chance to appeal to a wider, albeit, American audience.

Or, as noted in the Funeral thread, it's an example of studio executives noticing a good foreign film, and, either through wishful thinking or box-office envy, wished they'd made it instead and owned it all by themselves.

Case in point, Miramax spending nine years trying to figure out how to do an American remake of Shall We Dance?--and then finally discovering Richard Gere could tap dance after "Chicago"...Despite the fact that the entire point of the original film had been about repressive cultural Japanese insecurities, and an American executive wouldn't literally fear for his job if they discovered him at dance school.
Did it matter that the story made no sense in the relaxed US (he's afraid his wife will misunderstand, oo!)?--Nope, Miramax wanted to enforce their "trademark" and remind us that they were the ones who brought the original over here; you're welcome, folks....And it's in ENGLISH now, so you can understand it!

[Q?]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Or, as noted in the Funeral thread, it's an example of studio executives noticing a good foreign film, and, either through wishful thinking or box-office envy, wished they'd made it instead and owned it all by themselves.

Case in point, Miramax spending nine years trying to figure out how to do an American remake of Shall We Dance?--and then finally discovering Richard Gere could tap dance after "Chicago"...Despite the fact that the entire point of the original film had been about repressive cultural Japanese insecurities, and an American executive wouldn't literally fear for his job if they discovered him at dance school.
Did it matter that the story made no sense in the relaxed US (he's afraid his wife will misunderstand, oo!)?--Nope, Miramax wanted to enforce their "trademark" and remind us that they were the ones who brought the original over here; you're welcome, folks....And it's in ENGLISH now, so you can understand it!

Best example so far, I saw bits and most of the japanese version.
The cultural diffrences can be huge.

[Atreyu]

I can think of a few American remakes that have been horrible. Two are TV shows.
The biggest and one of the best sitcoms ever was Fawlty Towers. There have been at least two tries to do it here in America. One bad attempt was with Bea Arthur and I think it was called Amanda's Place. And the last reincarnation was with John Laroquette titled Payne and his full name was Royale Payne-haha!
The other British sitcom I loved was One Foot In The Grave. They tried it as a vehicle for Bill Cosby after his success with the Cosby Show but was not funny at all, whereas the original one made me laugh out loud.
One movie that is utterly hilarious is School For Scoundrels with Ian Carmichael, Terry Thomas and Alistair Sim. It was botched here in America with Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder.
Yes there are others, but these are my glaring examples of where they should have left well enough alone.