Spike Lee To Direct 'Oldboy' remake

[Gianakin_]

Nobody really knows the original except people from Asia and the genre buffs here in the states and maybe Europe. To everyone else it will just be a new movie. You aren't going to get a lot of "Spike Lee raped my childhood" with this one because not enough people were aware of it.

I don't get it. Because it's not well known it's ok to remake it?

 

[Gianakin_]

Why does everyone keep brining up Akira? The difference here is that Akira was manga and anime, and was actually dubbed into English, and it was facing an American live-action remake. That in itself was enough to wonder how it would fair considering the subject matter of the anime.

On the other hand, I love Oldboy, and I've honestly never watched any of Spike Lee's films, so I can't judge him as a director. I still am pretty doubtful on this though.

One thing, it isn't so much me worried about them messing this up, especially if they draw more from the manga than the original film, but I'm worried it won't have the same impact. When I finished Oldboy, I was completely blown away. The entire thing was fantastic, and quite a bit twisted in its own right. I'm just afraid this is gonna come out, and just sort of exist without the things that made the original so good. Not actually saying it won't be good, just not be able to deliver the impact like the original did.

I'm telling you, this is gonna be another "Das Experiment". Good talent involved, but ultimately it'll be inconsequential. And not many more people will care.

 

[terry78]

I don't get it. Because it's not well known it's ok to remake it?

Basically. Who would lose sleep over it?

 

[Gianakin_]

Nobody would lose sleep over any remake, if they're in their right mind. But since we're in a board talking about stuff like that, I'm just saying it sounds like double standards to me: If it's Citizen Kane or The Godfather, don't touch it. If it's Oldboy, go ahead.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Remake what you want. If I wanna see it I'll see it, if not, I won't.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Nobody would lose sleep over any remake, if they're in their right mind. But since we're in a board talking about stuff like that, I'm just saying it sounds like double standards to me: If it's Citizen Kane or The Godfather, don't touch it. If it's Oldboy, go ahead.

What's your view on True Grit, a movie that was seen as a John Wayne classic but was remade and (in my opinion) was better. Also, what about Dracula? I know it's an adaptation, but it's the same situation in which you can say that a lot of the actors that played Dracula after based their performance off the 1931 movie with Bela Legosi. It's the same situation in which this movie could be interpreted as a remake, but it's sounds like it's going to be more faithful than the novel while appropriating elements from the Korean movie, which personally shouldn't be much of a problem considering the Dracula example.

And with remakes, nothing's untouchable to me. I guess it's the art/film school in me talking, but we a civilization recreated many works of art in several different ways. Musicians have covered the most classic and "untouchable" of songs in a multitude of ways. Artists have remade painting with their touch on it in an attempt to appropriate the original. We are living in a post-modern world where everything is appropriation, whether direct or indirect.

All I'm saying is that despite everything, it's never not okay to remake a movie in general. I'm not talking about individual opinions, but is there any serious consequence to remaking a movie. There's no crime in remaking it. The worst you'll get out of me is an, "I really don't give a s**t". I guess one of the movies that changed my mind about that mentality was The Karate Kid remake. I was flat out against a remake, and when I saw the trailer my reaction (which is on a post on the hype) "I'm not seeing the movie in theaters, but it's good that they seem to at least be trying to make a good movie". Then I saw it on DVD, and loved it.

I do understand where you're coming from, though. If they remade Rocky, I wouldn't have cared about the pre production and all that jazz. If it ended up being a good remake, I'd watch it, but if it failed to add anything unique or new to it I wouldn't care for it in the end.

I think this Old Boy remake will add something new, as they are both remaking and adapting more from the manga than the Korean adaptation did. It worked for Coppola's Dracula and the Coen's True Grit.

 

[Gianakin_]

What's your view on True Grit, a movie that was seen as a John Wayne classic but was remade and (in my opinion) was better. Also, what about Dracula? I know it's an adaptation, but it's the same situation in which you can say that a lot of the actors that played Dracula after based their performance off the 1931 movie with Bela Legosi. It's the same situation in which this movie could be interpreted as a remake, but it's sounds like it's going to be more faithful than the novel while appropriating elements from the Korean movie, which personally shouldn't be much of a problem considering the Dracula example.

Adaptations are not the same as remakes. Not at all. Now, I realize Oldboy is touted as an adaptation from the comic, just like B89/BB, SM1/TASM, StM/MoS, the various Draculas you mentioned and stuff. But hey, Total Recall did just that, and it turns out it was a remake of the Verhoeven film.

To answer your question, I did not like the new True Grit.

And with remakes, nothing's untouchable to me. I guess it's the art/film school in me talking, but we a civilization recreated many works of art in several different ways. Musicians have covered the most classic and "untouchable" of songs in a multitude of ways. Artists have remade painting with their touch on it in an attempt to appropriate the original. We are living in a post-modern world where everything is appropriation, whether direct or indirect.

And I disagree with all that. Just because everyone's doing it, doesn't make it right. It just makes it the norm and me a whiney minority. And f**k post-modern.

All I'm saying is that despite everything, it's never not okay to remake a movie in general. I'm not talking about individual opinions, but is there any serious consequence to remaking a movie. There's no crime in remaking it. The worst you'll get out of me is an, "I really don't give a s**t".

Yeah, it's not like I'm advocating a law to ban remakes from the new President of the USA or the EU or anything. But we're in a forum and we share opinions, so that's what I'm doing. I'm sure you've complained about movie news of any kind. And my opinion is "f**k remakes". For Caviezel's sake, people are complaining about the Ernie remake, but they're all cool with Oldboy. Again, that's very hypocritical imo.

I guess one of the movies that changed my mind about that mentality was The Karate Kid remake. I was flat out against a remake, and when I saw the trailer my reaction (which is on a post on the hype) "I'm not seeing the movie in theaters, but it's good that they seem to at least be trying to make a good movie". Then I saw it on DVD, and loved it.

I liked the Karate Kid remake just fine. The scene where the Miyagi equivalent is drunk and the kid forces him to train together is more powerful in the remake than in the original. And? The fact remains that some people got paid unfairly in a business that desperately needs new ideas. I'd be fine if someone made a martial arts movie influenced by Karate Kid at parts, or paid it tributes.

I do understand where you're coming from, though. If they remade Rocky, I wouldn't have cared about the pre production and all that jazz. If it ended up being a good remake, I'd watch it, but if it failed to add anything unique or new to it I wouldn't care for it in the end.

The very fact that you, or anyone, says "add anything new" is exactly my problem with remakes. It's ironic how people put "new" and "remake" in the same sentence.

I think this Old Boy remake will add something new, as they are both remaking and adapting more from the manga than the Korean adaptation did. It worked for Coppola's Dracula and the Coen's True Grit.

Firstly, new isn't necessarily better. I'm sure it'll add something new. I don't expect Lee of all people to do a frame-by-frame adaptation of the Korean flick. Secondly, the Dracula comparison, like I said, has merit IF they are indeed trying to do the comic and we're not dealing with a Total Recall scenario (which is probably what I think is happening, to be honest).

 

[Naked Shia]

New is always better because Barney Stinson said so. Regardless, I don't think a remake is a good idea in Oldboy's case.

 

[Gianakin_]

Dammit, I hate you Leo. I hate you with a fiery passion of 1000 sweaty boobs.

 

[Naked Shia]

Actually, I am saying this about any classic story.



Maybe it should be released and advertised instead of getting remade?

Millions and millions of people are thinking differently. That makes you wrong.

 

[Gianakin_]

Millions and millions of people are thinking differently. That makes you wrong.

I will find you Leo, I will find you and I will remake you, 'cause nobody knows who you are outside of your house.

 

[Naked Shia]

I will find you Leo, I will find you and I will remake you, 'cause nobody knows who you are outside of your house.

I think the real question is:

should Oldboy never be seen, because some people don't want to watch foreign movies, or should it be remade, so that said people can at least witness some of its awesomeness? (I do think the korean movie is flawed btw).

 

[Gianakin_]

There's a 3rd way: Audiences can be educated to watching movies with subs and watching movies about and with people from other countries and cultures.

 

[Naked Shia]

There's a 3rd way: Audiences can be educated to watching movies with subs and watching movies about and with people from other countries and cultures.

Maybe people have better things to do than watching foreign people do weird things? At least, with the remake, they will delete some stupid ideas.

 

[Gianakin_]

Foreign movies make women sterile: Fact.

 

[Naked Shia]

foreign movies are the devil's work!

 

[Gianakin_]

But you have to remake the Devil in a foreign movie, 'cause he won't be recognizable.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Maybe people have better things to do than watching foreign people do weird things? At least, with the remake, they will delete some stupid ideas.

and thus removing what made the original special.

 

[Naked Shia]

and thus removing what made the original special.

and thus, making the remake its own version, instead of a carbon copy.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

and thus making the remake another generic film.

Your move

 

[Naked Shia]

and thus making the remake another generic film.

Your move

So because a movie is not asian it is generic?

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

A remake of an asian movie without the asian touch is. ( IMO )

 

[Naked Shia]

I guess that's why million and million of people loved the departed, while hundred liked infernal affairs.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Quantity even if it rythmes with quality are not the same

What I meant was that I think that Oldboy story is typical of how Asian can go very deep in their twisted revenge.

I didn't saw The departed nor Infernal Affairs.

 

[Naked Shia]

Quantity even if it rythmes with quality are not the same

What I meant was that I think that Oldboy story is typical of how Asian can go very deep in their twisted revenge.

I didn't saw The departed nor Infernal Affairs.

That's an answer only someone who is in the minority would give.