Yes, folks, its the Hollywood remake of your favourite world cinema films!
The remake is that most intriguing of film phenomenon.
A reproduction of any other art is regarded as just that, a reproduction.
You cannot remake a book.
Its just regarded as a re-printing.
You cannot remake a painting.
Thats regarded as an imitation or even a forgery.
But film seems to base most of its legitimate business practices on, essentially, stealing from itself.
Directors have based their entire careers on this.
Filmmakers have remade from the very earliest days with collaborating pioneers producing a dozen versions of the same material.
However, while this practice is no longer prevalent, the idea behind it remains the same.
Cinema is there to be interpreted and adapted how we see fit.
It is not like a single creative vision has moulded the art.
The reasoning for remakes of world cinema seems clear.
Given the opportunity, most of us probably wouldnt hesitate to do the same.
Original audiences, however, often feel differently.
It is yet another co-opting of homegrown cinema by Hollywood.
These are not unknown European arthouse flicks that have failed to trouble the box office.
They are also two films whose location is a major factor in their appeal.
ConsiderLet The Right One Infor a moment.
To set it elsewhere is to rob the film of its hidden power.
But, then, this is my own form of cultural anxiety manifesting itself I suppose.
If only someone had told me that beforeBangkok Dangerous.
Every other poster on the London tube system seems to be promoting it!
Go see it, and even if it leaves you a bit cold, the third one should deliver.
(Failing that, go and read the books.)
There will be a whole host of films to interest you, I promise…
