Hollywood Remake

I believe that after the success of The Departed, there will be more HK movies to be remade.

Hong Kong is not the only place Hollywood goes to for ideas. Remember THE VANISHING and POINT OF NO RETURN (LA FEMME NIKITA).
This is not necessarily a bad thing. It brings good stories to an audience that might not see them otherwise. Is it better to get their film ideas from novels, history, the bible, or comic books?
Foreign language films are often ignored by American theatres and viewers. Subtitles and dubbing can be distracting, making the movie less enjoyable for some.
When I am able to compare I usually find that I prefer the foreign version. Too often Hollywood alters the script to give the movie a happy ending.
Though they cannot afford the big budget special affects the smaller studios more than compensate with quality writing, directing, and acting. The plots are easier to accept and the characters are more human, more vulnerable, more believable.
As long as it is enjoyable to me I do not care where they find their inspiration. If the source of the story is important to you feel free to avoid the Hollywood version.

Dave 2007

I too liked Infernal Affairs more then I did The Departed, which I did also enjoy - it's a great movie putting aside Leonardo DiCaprio's whiney voice. I dunno, when he starts shouting his high pitched vocals gets on my nerves!

I thought Infernal Affairs was far more stylish. The Departed was a lot more tense in some places and had better character development I agree. However, I would much rather sit down with the Infernal Affairs trilogy, they just appeal to me in more ways. The plot and the way it all ties together through the three films is just inspired.

Cash Cow Hollywood resorting to remakes instead of opening it's doors to fresh ideas does not do much for the film industry in the USA. Yeah of course Hong Kong copied ideas from American cinema. But at the end of the day, does this retreading of old ideas really help anyone?

They need to take more risks in my humble opinion, it's all too easy to remake something rather then use your imagaination to come up with new ideas. Sure it makes more financial sense re-using good ideas but how much longer can an audience with any intellect take it? It's getting boring! The only people that 'need' American remakes are those who cannot be arsed to read subtitles!

Hollywood needs to inject money into projects that seem fresh and inspired. Look at Korea, they have so many amazing movies! The industry there prides itself on it's originality.

I too am a Westerner, but I tend to avoid Hollywood mostly now. Most of the stuff it churns out I have already seen usually done better in another language. Let's hope they get their act together soon!


Adrian: Why do you wanna fight?
Rocky: Because I can't sing or dance.

It's not just foreign movies that hollywood is recycling. They have also taken every single memory I have ever had of every single book, TV show, comic or even video game that I have ever enjoyed and plastered all over it with a rarely-as-good-as-envisioned piece of high budget, low creativity money grab. For a long time it was hard not to think "that's a good idea, that'll be cool". But now it's gotten to the point of exasperation concerning all the retreads. There are far fewer original ideas than there are "inspired" movies. I can't even think of one at the moment. Sad really.

What about Hollywood making a good movie by their own? The word "Hollywood remake coming soon" is present on each board for successful "foreign" films. It's really annoying!

Those shameless studio executives should stop making awful remakes based on good foreign films.
Hollywood is running out of ideas, no doubt about that, but remakes is not the solution.

BTW I enjoyed much more Infernal Affairs than The Departed.

[deleted]