Movie Remakes

Lately, a significant number of movies produced by Hollywood are remakes of an old or an international movie. Even European, Latin or Asian movies that have not been release yet in their respective countries are in this process; Some say that "they have ran out of idea", It is like to try to rewrite "Don Quijote Man of The Mancha" or repaint "The Mona Lisa".

First of all, I don't have nothing against remakes, because thanks to them I have gotten aware about good movies that I didn't even know about their existence or maybe I knew about them but I was not interested till the upcoming new version is announced. Once I heard a remake is coming I try to put my hands on it before the release of the new one.

Some movies deserve
to be renew because are too old for this technological generation and there's not need to others but in Hollywood $$$ talks. But what is exactly a "movie remake"? It is simply a new version of a movie that was successful in the past but no always is like this. In order to be consider a remake the movie has to keep the same plot, give credits to the author and keep the tone of the preview film. A remake is to reinvent (beside the monetary interest) not a copy. In 1998 Gus Van San tried to copy shot by shot Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece "Psycho" and the result was a messy colored copy coal.

The quality of a remake vary in action, plot, blood, acting, direction, ect. There are good (Ocean Eleven, True Lies, The Italian Job, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Dawn of the Dead, The Hills have Eyes, The Ring and others), regular (The Eye, Diaboliques, The Grudge, I Am Legend ) , bad (One Missed Call, Pulse, Black Christmas, The Fog), or a mess (Psycho, The Truth About Charlie, Cast Away, Invisible, Wicked Man ).

A remake can even win a Oscar. In 2007 the Oscar For Best Motion Picture went to "The Departed" a remake of a film from Hong Kong "Infernal Affairs" (2002). I finish with a list of remakes that are suppose to have theatrical release during 2008 without mentioning those that will be Direct to DVD:

  • Further Adventures In Babysitting (2008)
  • Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
  • Barbarella (2008)
  • Bad Seed (2008)
  • Creature from the Black Lagoon (2008)
  • Friday 13th (2008)
  • Funny Games (2008)
  • The Dam Busters (2008)
  • Hellraiser (2008)
  • The Incredible Shrinking man (2008)
  • Piranha (2008) ( Remake of a Remake)
  • Prom Night (2008)
  • Revenge of the Nerds (2008)
  • Shutter (2008)

Valkyrie's trailer

This is the latest Tom Cruise movie based on actual events, a plot to assassinate Hitler is unfurled during the height of WWII.

Release Date: 3 October 2008 (USA)


As my friend Enmanuel said, here is my comment about this spectacular movie. It is about a Vietnam veteran named Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) who discovers two million dollars while wandering through the aftermath of a Texas drug deal gone horribly awry, his decision to abscond with the cash sets off a violent chain reaction in a stripped. He has just stumbled into the find of a lifetime. Upon discovering a bullet-strewn pickup truck surrounded by the corpses of dead bodyguards, Moss uncovers two million dollars in cash and a substantial load of heroin stashed in the back of the vehicle. Later, as an enigmatic killer Woody Harrelson (Javier Bardem) who determines the fate of his victims with the flip of a coin sets out in pursuit of Moss.

This film will literally take your breath away not only by the story that is told, but as stated elsewhere and proved last night when Javier Bardem won the Oscar for Best Performance by a Supporting Role Actor, he was so spectacularly evil and menacing that he stealed the show. The man exuded controlled evil, that I found myself not breathing when he came onto screen, yet couldn't take my eyes away from him, a truly mesmerizing presence.

The movie is a very violent, raw and gory movie, this is the second consecutive year that the Academy awarded a crime/thriller movie type. In conclusion, it is excellent in every aspect: execution, acting, in film editing, in camera work and in script. All the awards received are deserved.

5/5 Platanos


No Country for Old Men. The Cohen Brothers film managed to siege 4 golden Oscar statuettes last night (well, a few hours ago), among which we can count: Best Film, Best Achievement in Directing for the Cohen Brothers, Best Adapted Screenplay and of course, Best Supporting Actor, for Mr. Javier Bardem.

Now, I wont lie to you, I haven't seen the picture, but Johny has he will probably post something about this latter, but let me tell you, if there ever was an award well deserved, it's Bardem's Oscar. His career has been spaning since a gazillion years ago, specially when he did that flick for Almodovar, "High Heels", its only been bliss for this very hardworking man.



Among my favorite performances by Javier, are his roles in "Second Skin", "Before Night Falls" and "The Sea Inside". "Mondays in the Sun" would also be a highlight in his career, although personally he should have been a front runner for the 2004 Academy Award, although he was nominated for a Golden Globe. I felt that was one of his strongest performances.

Now back to the Academy Awards. Best Actress went to Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose); Best Actor to Daniel Day Louis (No surprise there); and the supporting actress was Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton). Also, Best Original Screenplay was for the writers of "Juno".

Not many surprises, Oscars where as predictable as usual and other than Javier winning, there wasn't an actual "WOA!!!" o "WTF?"o "OMG!!!" moment to highlight.

Ehl.

After rumors within the fans whether a sequel was going in production or not, at last the the movie have been confirmed. The movie will be filmed in 3D in New Orleans, budgeted at $43 million. David R. Ellis' return to the series, after directing the second film. The will not be connection with the previews movies.

I am just wondering where the movie will take place... what is missing?? the train happened at the end of the third.... a ship? a rocket? a carriage? a bicycle? lol. I don't care where I just expect it to be as gory and good as the previous. The movie will be release in this year.


Here you have the list of the 28th Annual Golden Raspberry winners. I am 100% agree with the winner, not even Lindsay Lohan's striptease could save this horrible mess.

Worst Picture:
I Know Who Killed Me
(Sony/Tri-Star)


Worst Actor:
Eddie Murphy (as Norbit)
NORBIT


Worst Actress (TIE) :
Lindsay Lohan (as Aubrey) and
Lindsay Lohan (as Dakota)
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME


Worst Supporting Actress:
Eddie Murphy (as Rasputia)
NORBIT


Worst Supporting Actor:
Eddie Murphy (as Mr. Wong)
NORBIT


Worst Screen Couple:
Lindsay Lohan andLindsay Lohan(as The Yang to Her Own Yin)
I Know Who Killed Me


Worst Remake Or Rip-off:
I Know Who Killed Me
Rip-Off of HOSTEL, SAW and THE PATTY DUKE SHOW


Worst Prequel or Sequel:
Daddy Day Camp
(Sony/Tri-Star/Revolution)


Worst Director:
Chris Siverston
I Know Who Killed Me


Worst Screenplay:
I Know Who Killed Me


Written by Jeffrey Hammond
Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie:(New Category!)
I Know Who Killed Me
(Sony/Columbia)


"Wins" Per Picture:

I KNOW WHO KILLED ME = 8 Awards:(A New RAZZIE® Record!)Worst Screen Couple, Horror Movie,Screenplay, Director, Remake or Rip-Off,Actress (2x), Picture

NORBIT = 3 Awards: (All "Won" by Eddie Murphy)Worst Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Actor

DADDY DAY CAMP = 1 Award: Worst Prequel or Sequel

The first post!!!

Well, so for this first post I just wanted to let you guys know our aim. So, then I thought, the "our" implies a "We", hence, the first issue of this post is: "Who the hell is 'we' and what the fuck we're planning for this blog?".

Well, my name is Emanuel and my friend's name is Johny. This is the third blog I write for, and its Johny's first. I have my own, called "Mr. Lightbourne" and I collaborate in a third one, called "Me da pike!". Mine is writen primarily in spanish, as I am dominican. Well, we both are. I'm from Santo Domingo, D. N. and John is from Santiago. We met like 2 or 3 years ago over the net, and we've been good friends ever since. We've never actually seen each other, but still we are really good friends.

We have decided to write in english, cause we have nothing else better to do, he needs to practice his english and i write better in english than in spanish, so thats that.

But what exactly are we writing about? Movies and Music. The name was kinda thought for that "Pop Goes the Corn", as in "Pop" of music and "Corn" of popcorn. No brainer actually, but hey, it's a great name and we like it. The link name "kokaleka" is a local name we have for pop corn, it goes something like this:

kokaleka: coke-ah-leh (read e as "lend" not "we")-kah

Other than that, there is not much to explain, we will be writing a post after every flick we see, old or new; we will write after every new song we catch on the radio or tv. Bottom line: If its on film or on record, trust us, we'll have it here.

We both have VERY different tastes in both music and film, so maybe once in a while we will concur, maybe not so much other times, but you can rest assured, we will have an unbiaed, first chance opinion about whatever it is we see/hear.

If anything, leave your notes on the comments board, we'll read them, but we don't promise we'll follow the advice you leave. We just want to keep it sweet and natural.

Until next time, c ya!

Ehl.

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