There will be an American remake of this film next year starring Zeta-Jones and directed by Scott Hicks ("Shine"). I can't imagine who they'll get to play Mario, or if it will even be one-tenth as appealing as the original. Why can't Hollywood leave well enough alone?
shareNOOOOOOOOO! Please no remake.
This a such a sweet little movie, with such a strong lead actress, noooo!
Please let the audience watch the original!
NOOOOOOOOO! Please no remake.
This a such a sweet little movie, with such a strong lead actress, noooo!
Please let the audience watch the original!
Actually I can imagine Zeta-Jones being very good in the role--though Julianne Moore would be better still. I agree that the original movie is fine & doesn't need to be remade. On the other hand, the subject matter, unlike that of "Shall We Dance?", is not so culture-specific that it won't survive a transplant to another country for the English-language remake. The director, and the casting of Mario and Lina, will make all the difference to whether the 2006 version is worth seeing or not.
shareAmen. The actors and the script will make or break the film. I think that I worry most that the American screenwriters will lose a lot of the subtlety of the original film, and bring in a lot of cliched material. One of the things that I loved most about the original film was that it didn't paint with a broadly comedic/melodramatic brush as much as a typical American-produced movie would. It was more like life... less like a staged Hollywood world. The performances will also be the turning point of whether the remake will be watchable when compared to the original (which is one of my favorite films period.) I worry about the counterpart to Lina most of all, I think. Child actors are a tricky lot. The original Lina was quite good, if not perfect. Subtlety, folks...
I worry about Mario's counterpart too... I feel like I can have faith in Catherine Zeta Jones, though.
Martina Gedeck was quoted about the remake of "bella martha" in the german magazin "neon" by saying that remakes of european films are "modern american colonialization". She brought it to the point, i think.
shareI was privileged enuff to see this film one late night on ifc some years ago and was really wowed...even enriched after seein it. I think I am apart of the few of american movie seein public who take chances on foreign films. So when I saw the trailer for the remake I became outraged as I abhor american remakes of things that were right the 1st time. I think they are countin on the ones who never saw the original and will be blinded by the star power and not really care about the substance actin on the film which is a shame.
shareI just saw this movie last night for the very first time. I liked it. It was sensual and heart wrenching. Of course, I have always been a sucker for (a) foreign films and (b) films incorporating cooking. I'm not sure if Catherine Zeta-Jones will be able to convey the anguish, but who knows. As far as who would play Mario's part, that is hard to say. Knowing Hollywood, they would pick whomever was the most popular at the time, regardless of whether or not they would fit the part. Just my opinion.
shareWhy do the Americans tend to remake European movies. Why not watch the original one? AAAAhhhhhhh
Just think on all the nice French movies and then think on the boring American remakes (like a bad copy of an Degas painting)
Claudi
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+1
"i have a dream....of revolutionary times wherein all fans of little foreign movies will take over the industry by force, destroying all copies and original footage of every filthy remake ever made, executing every person who was ever involved in a remake....
o glorious times it will be!!" - Mnemosyne9
"Power to the people who punish bad cinema!!" - Cecil B. Demented for president!!
Part of the appeal of Mario was his voice, which was dubbed. But Aaron Eckhart is too much of a pretty boy to be believable as a sous-chef. And CZJ can't act her way out of a paper bag. I plan on being first in line to miss this one. I think, if they are really going to be stupid enough to remake this one, it should star Janeane Garofalo. She is a much better actress, much more believable, and in her brainy way, much more appealing. Not so much a touch-me-not-type stunner. Mario? My kids like Jack Black, but he's a bit too homely. How 'bout Tim Allen? No, no, just kidding! This may be kinda offbeat, but I think Tony Shalhoub would do a very nice job, albeit a bit old for the part. Don Cheadle would be magnificent. He can do anything but act badly, and I bet he would be a very convincing lover.
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I also groaned at the thought that Hollywood was redoing this marvelous film. Even one of my favorite directors, Cameron Crowe, couldn't leave well enough alone, and re-made the Spanish "Open Your Eyes" into "Vanilla Sky." Two other awful remakes: "Wings of Desire/Der Himmel Uber Berlin" destroyed as "City of Angels," with Nicholas Cage; and "The Toy/Le Jouet" very poorly imitated as "The Toy," with Jackie Gleason and Richard Pryor.
shareWell, the remake is currently getting a rather Rotten Tomato. But I was happy that it pointed the way to the original. I like German films, so I'll have to add this one to my NetFlix. Sehr gut!
shareWell, you know, if they don't remake the non-US movies (they do remakes of other movies than just European movies; Japanese, Mexican, Chinese... You name it), then the audience might have to read subtitles (oh the horror!) and watch the plot at the same time. That's almost as complicated as chewing a bubble-gum at the same time as walking, or figuring out that coffee is served hot and not exactly the ideal thing to place in your lap while driving. Wouldn't work, now would it?
And when it comes to action movies, they just have to remake the movies; after all, who would believe in an action movie where cars didn't explode as soon as they collide? I mean, everyone knows that a carcrash always results in an explosion, right?
The thing is, most Americans aren't this stupid, but Hollywood and the US legal system seems to believe it, so the farce goes on.
Hi!!
Nothing against Zeta-Jones but NO. No remaking please!!
It never works. Just refreshing you memory: didn't work in Nikita and City of angels!!...
Who authorized the remake??
A luta continua
If they have to do it, we can't stop them. Someone sold the rights, so at least there is one person who wants a remake.
sharetranslation: there's at least one person who wants to (re-)make money >:-(
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
"Power to the people who punish bad cinema!!" - Cecil B. Demented for president!!
Personally, I hate American remakes of foreign films. I prefer Abre Los Ojos to Vanilla Sky, Shall We Dansu? to Shall We Dance?, and Nikita to Point of No Return. And don't even get me started on American remakes of French films (The only succesful American remake of a French film I can think of is The Birdcage).
I remember hearing they plan to remake one of my favorite foreign films, The Dinner Game, and was disgusted by that.
Anyway, I wish they would leave Mostly Martha alone. It doesn't need to be remade.
MM
I remember the first time I saw this movie in German class. I loved it as did my whole class. No one today, at least in America, can make their own movies. Every movie today is either a remake of an old movie, a foreign remake, a continuation of an old movie or practically the same as another movie. This movie is excellent and now it's going to be ruined and all of the kids will know of the American version and never hear of the German version. Or if they do, they'll be too stubborn and close-minded to see it.
shareHi! So... don't you think that a lot of the previous posts are being a little over dramatic? Yes, I agree that the American version will probably pale in comparison to the original, but I reject the notion that a bad remake will in any way effect how wonderful this movie is. Besides, no one is going to force you to go see the remake so if you don't like it, why not just ignore it?
Also I think an American remake can actually have the ability to direct more people back to the original who would never have heard about it otherwise.
In summary: Calm down and get over it.
I just finished seeing the movie, it is a great movie one of the best movies I’ve seen in along time.
I think the remake idea is totally ridiculous, and I am sure the remake will fail. When you have a great movie like that you cant make one better or even the same quality, imitating is not art and this movie is a fine piece of art.
Kais
While it is rare that remakes improve upon originals, they do not "ruin" the original. The original is still there, untouched, and available for viewing.
Usually, the remake almost always brings attention to the original film. In fact, I never heard of this film until I linked to it from the remake. I will make a point of renting this original as a consequence.
A Fistful of Dollars didn't "ruin" Yojimbo--you can watch either one, both, or neither, and they are both highly rated films in their own right.
Abigail Breslin (an academy award nominee) is Lina.
Aaron Eckhart (sp?) is Mario.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOtcL1ba0Co
I love the original, but this one doesn't look that bad.
Ben: Jen, are we gonna die?
Me: We're not gonna die.
Jack: I'm driving.
Me: Ok, maybe we are.
Had an inkling the new movie would be a remake of Mostly Martha which is a gem I saw and taped a few years ago and re-watched last night. Sorry to hear that it is.
I like Aaron Eckhart's(sp?) work generally and Zeta-Jones in some things. but that kid as Lina...no match for the little girl who originaly played her.
M.M. is a light drama with a serious note. I'd hate if if they made this into a Hollywood style romantic commedy as they are prone to do.
I have wondered how they would translate the frigid distant German chef, the warm full of life Italian. I bet CZJ just purses her lips and tries to scowl under a botox face. Eckhart is a laid back California dude. As for the kid I bet they go with her doing the cute smart ass kid pouting act. This has been done before... Baby Boom. Don't think I'll see it until it gets to the $1 theater.
Well it will be an opportunity to say "Well you should see the original."
The young woman wearing black clothes (and I think make-up too, not sure 'though') that approaches CZJ's character and Zoe (CZJ's character's niece) in the trailer telling either or both of them something... Well she aint Abigail Breslin (Zoe, Martha's US' version's niece, somewhat younger than 11 years old) the equivalent to Maxime Foerste (Lina Klein, Original Martha's niece, 10 years old or slightly younger than that).
So... Who is she? She aint the niece nor the aunt... She is not Zoe, Lina or Martha... Mmm... Must I wait the few days that are due for data in the corresponding page?
Catherine is the only thing that is going to make the remake worth watching. I love you, CZJ!!!
There are few romantic films that can have appeal to me... Althought I certainly doubt this film could be such film I was brought here by desire to know a li'l bit more about a character that exists in the remake, a black-clad lady that adresses CZJ in the trailer when she's with Zoe, or she adresses Zoe (CZJ's character's niece). So... You see, somehow the existance of the remake made me conscious of the film itself... Partly 'cause "new" films, even remakes, made in Hollywood receive advertisement that brings attention towards them... Sad thing it seems only those films receive advertisement more than 90% of the time, when they are garbage more than 95% of the time.
share*possible spoilers*
The problem with a remake is neatly illustrated by watching the German trailer and the American trailer for the original Mostly Martha.
The German trailer is fabulous and really captures the essence of the film and the fact that it is really about Martha, her personality and her relationship with Lina.
The American trailer is vile, shows absolutely every key moment in the film including - unbelievably - the kiss between Mario and Martha - in the trailer for godsake!!! It also presents the story (with the cheesey voiceover) as being a love story. Lina barely gets a mention.
This captures the difference in film philosophy. This film is beautifully done and so subtle. The relationships are all unfolded slowly and cleverly. Hollywood will focus on and beef up the romantic relationship and it will be done with the subtly of a road hammer.
Be surprised if that beautiful moment when Mario nearly kisses her but doesn't appears in the American film.
There is no way that an actress like CZJ will be able to convey the subtle emotions that this part requires and which made the film so perfect.
Ok, you are right, Hollywood stinks I agree... But tell what you know or guess about the young woman wearing black clothes (and I think make-up too, not sure 'though') that approaches CZJ's character and Zoe (CZJ's character's niece) in the trailer telling either or both of them something.
shareI was complaining to my friend about how much I hate how hollywood movies are not creative and can only either make a remake or a sequel, etc.
and then she really made me mad when she said, "well think about it, movies have been around for a long time, since the '20's, producers are running out of ideas."
I just wish that all the artistic independent movies and foreign movies were popular for Americans.
Producers aren't running out of ideas. I mean seriously you have screenwriters. Producers have to answer to investors. Hollywood is a business they have to make money.
shareI know I just saw the commercial for this movie and I was like WTF? Do they think we are so dumb that we won't notice that they remade this movie? Well, maybe this will help people see the original...just like vanilla sky and abre los ojos.
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