Hollywood has been remaking films since forever…taking a successful film and remaking it…sometimes with a whole different take, a new interpretation of the original plot…or just the same copy of the original… frame by frame…yes…go figure. So the trend now is to look at Asia…for more remake ideas…mostly…it has been for the horror genre…taking a successful film…westernize it…and making it more appealing to the western market. First there were the Japanese remakes…The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water, Shall We Dance and One Missed Call…Now it looks like Korean films are the next big thing in the world of remakes. Last year there was The Lake House…now…we can look forward to My Sassy Girl, Addicted/Possession and Tale of Two Sisters.
My Sassy Girl
A romantic comedy of sort…about how a regular guy meets a loud reckless girl or something like that…I wouldn’t really know…I have yet to watch this Korean flick…but it was suppose to be a huge hit in Korea…and even in Singapore…I think it did pretty well at the local box office…lets hope they’re able to keep the comedy in the remake. So when is it going to be released…since on IMDB…the status…it says its completed…then…I guess it should be released later this year…maybe be around the Christmas holiday period? Who does it stars? Jesse Bradford (Bring It On, Swimfan) and Elisha Cuthbert (24, House of Wax, Captivity) plays the lead characters. Trailers…Posters? Nope none released so far…we have no idea how this movie is going to look like right now.
Addicted/Possession
I’ve no idea what the actual title is going to be...should be either of this. It’s supposed to be a remake Jungdok…which I’ve never heard of before I actually saw a trailer of the remake…and the trailer looks interesting enough for me…Jessica and Ryan are a young happily married couple…until Ryan’s brother starts living with them…then…he and Ryan both gets in a freak car accident…leaving both in a coma…And when the brother wakes up…he starts saying he’s Ryan…Creepy right…soon even Jessica starts to believe it…Hmm I’m getting a hint of Birth here…definitely curious to see what the actual deal is. So when is it going to be released? According to IMDB…it’s 29 February 2008. Who does it stars? Sarah Michelle Gellar (Cruel Intentions, The Grudge) as Jessica and Lee Pace as the brother-in-law. Sarah Michelle Gellar …hmm…she does presently seem like the go to girl to star in horror/thriller flicks eh? In the late 90’s…she was in Scream 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer then the 2000’s there was both of the Grudge, the Return and now Addicted…what’s her next project gonna be? It seems she will be playing the title role of Alice …you know the Alice who went to Wonderland…this one is supposed to be a wicked dark take of the original so it looks like another horror/thriller for her again. Anyway back to Addicted…yes the trailer is out. Check it out.
A Tale of Two Sisters
Pretty much the only one out of the 3 where I have actually watched the original Korean movie. Have to say this one differs from a lot of the other Asian horror flicks out there…Its not a horror/ghost story… with the typical pale girl with long dark hair…or a terrifying curse…no…this one is more psychological horror. The original story: Two sisters return home after a stint at a mental hospital where they now have to deal with their creepy stepmother and the tragedy that happened before they left. Also creepy stuff starts to occur within the house. Ok…Its been 3 years since I watched it, I have forgotten parts of it but I would say much of the scary factor is contributed by the rather large house…it is dark, gloomy…undeniably eerie…as if carrying the weight of a tragedy that had happened…plus the house also seemed rather isolated which further adds to the sinister atmosphere. The house plays and important role in the story…so I’m curious how the mansion is going to look…I imagined it to be large with plenty of rooms to get lost in…with heavy dark wood paneling and rich blue or red wallpapers…check out ShockTillYouDrop and IESB.net for their account of the remake set visit…its pretty interesting. Plus, I’m also curious at how much of the story they’re actually changing…and whether it would all work well ( According to IESB.net..instead of two, only one sister was sent to the mental hospital). So now when is it going to be released? 2008. Who does it star? Emily Browning (Ghost Ship, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events) will play the younger sister and Ariel Kibbell (The Grudge 2, John Tucker Must Die) the older sister. The father will be played by David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck) and the stepmother played by Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man). Trailers or Posters? None..
I am tired of how Hollywood is remaking and at the same destroying Asian films. What makes it worse is that they "dummify" it, as though the American public is too retarded to understand a little complication.
ReplyDeleteTo be completely honest im glad korean movies as well as actors are getting the attention and compliments that they deserve. I highly enjoy korean movies, especially the comedies, over Hollywood films. Im really worried about seeing my favorite korean films being destroyed though. My Sassy Girl is one of my biggest korean guilty pleasures, Its one of the funniest films i've seen and im sad to say that the actors they've chosen to play the leads have no buisness being there, I really can't see either one actually being funny. I think Kristen Bell would have been a muuuch better choice for the lead female role. Oh well have to wait and see i suppose.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the American remake trailer? Its out already. Though I'm not much of a fan...after seeing the trailer...I kinda agree with you. I found Elisha Cuthbert is a bit off, playing the girl....but Jesse Bradford seems like a good enough choice. Or...John Krasinski, Jim in the Office could have played the guy role too...don't you think?
ReplyDeleteThese popular Koreans movies that Hollywood is remaking should be left as it is. I have seen the original Korean movies and the acting, scenery, plots are excellent. However, when I see the remake it's not as good. Maybe its because after seeing the original, the remakes are never better. Does Hollywood think Americans will not go see a film with Asian cast??? Look how Crouching tiger did so well here in the US, and it even had English subtitles! If Hollywood want a hit film, they should just release the original Korean movie as it is...then it will be a huge box office!
ReplyDeleteomg i am going to cry...seriously cant america make theyre own movies???
ReplyDeletei believe they will sabotage the originals just like what they did to the japanese ones...
i love these korean movies so much and they are just going to ruin them...
it hurts to think about it...
i also agree with dreaming away in dc...they do do that and they ruin the film and the original one all togeher!
ReplyDelete