The Japanization of American Cinema
It's no secret that Hollywood has run dry with original ideas. Take a look at most of the movies coming out of major studios. They're either superhero movies, historic epics, or remakes. Hollywood has been the epicenter of filmmaking for decades. Countries around the world have been inspired by America's movies. One of the best examples is Japan. In the 1940's filmmaking gained great momentum and has been a successful venture for Toho Studios and others. Akira Kurosawa was the most prominent film directors from Japan. With the release of Rashomon, many Americans finally got to see his genius and creative storytelling abilities. Three years later he made Seven Samurai, one of the best films ever made. Kurosawa was inspired by John Ford, an American filmmaker who did westerns. In this reciprocal relationship between the two countries, America adapted Seven Samurai into the class Magnificent Seven. This remake was accepted by all, yet after thinking about it more I find it wrong. Films like Casablanca or Citizen Kane are two examples of American cinema at its best, yet you won't ever find another country trying to remake it.Fast Forward to today, and we have a growing epidemic of America stealing film ideas from Japan and other Asian countries. Most of these movies have come from the horror genre. Japanese directors really know how to tell a scary story because of their many folklores and culture. There have been a flood of movies that seemed perfect in their Asian form,which are being remade, and it makes me sick. The Ring series and The Grudge are the most salient examples when looking at this genre, but this is just the beginning. Later this year, America will be remaking horror movies such as The Eye, and Dark Waters, which were both very well done originally.
What really angers me is the news of a 2006 American release of a film called Oldboy. The Korean version was released in 2004 in Korea, and just this past January here in America (limited release). This is by far the best film of the year and that title will be hard to beat. It's the type of film that is scene for scene perfect. It's gritty and has a twisted plot. It does not need to be hacked up and remade.
What is this saying about Hollywood? That they can disrepect any other film markets whenever they want. America's imperialistic methods have been disgusting in every aspect of life, but films are my area and it really bothers me. The sad thing is people may not even get to see the originals because they heard it's the same as the remake. These remakes need to stop, does Hollywood think people can't read subtitles? just release the originals. I bet it would be a huge controversy if Japan decided to remake Gone with the Wind scene for scene, but it's okay if we do it with their films, because hey, this is America. Fuck you Hollywood. posted by psychobabbler @ 5:07 PM
