Why, Hollywood, why?

Lucas · Jan 30, 2012

I have nothing against the USA or the American people, but one thing which really reeks me off is the uncanny habit of Hollywood of making their own versions of European and Asian films, instead of just importing the originals.

They are even doing it with British films, where you don't really even have the excuse of a language barrier. Death at a funeral and The Office comes to mind.

I find it disrepectful, both against the original creators of the artwork and against the American public. It is as if there is an assumption that Americans are so insular that they only truly can appreciate stories that are set in an American cultural framework.

jennontheisland · Jan 30, 2012

Lucas said:
It is as if there is an assumption that Americans are so insular that they only truly can appreciate stories that are set in an American cultural framework.

Yes. And it's not just an assumption.

Lucas · Jan 30, 2012

jennontheisland said:
Yes. And it's not just an assumption.

That's a bit tragic really. Given that, most Swedes are like that as well (while a lot are pretending that they understand South European, Middle Eastern, Latin American or East Asian culture). The thing is, appreciation of something that is different is highly enriching for human beings.

When American films are set in foreign countries, its usually nice buildings + stereotypes. When the films have foreign heroes fighting for their foreign lands in ancient times, these foreign cultures are usually watered down to "blood and sandals", "nice medieval villages" and anachronistic americanisms. One example is "Gladiator", where ancient Rome basically IS a sort of ancient version of (a flawed) America.

kuwisdelu · Jan 30, 2012

Lucas said:
When the films have foreign heroes fighting for their foreign lands in ancient times, these foreign cultures are usually watered down to "blood and sandals", "nice medieval villages" and anachronistic americanisms.

And when the films have foreign heroes fighting for their foreign lands in more recent times, it is necessary for the WASP-y yank outsider to take over and lead them to victory.

Toothpaste · Jan 30, 2012

Don't weep any tears over THE OFFICE. It's hardly "disrespectful" when you're the executive producer and making tons and tons of money off of something while not having to lift a finger. Ricky Gervais made out like a bandit with that one, a series that in the UK had 12 episodes and a Christmas special gets turned into a long running TV show that in its first season had more episodes all together than his ever did. He has made bucketloads of money off of it, and, you know what, it's a good show (well was, I think it's jumped the shark now).

I agree it's silly that the Americans have to remake everything, but that doesn't mean all remakes are bad.

BenPanced · Jan 30, 2012

Yeah, and considering Gervais sold the franchise to networks other countries?

Lucas · Jan 30, 2012

kuwisdelu said:
And when the films have foreign heroes fighting for their foreign lands in more recent times, it is necessary for the WASP-y yank outsider to take over and lead them to victory.

The exception being "Enemy at the gates", where the Russians (who were the heroes) were stupid, brutal and unwilling to fight, while the Germans were brutal but intelligent and heroic.

kuwisdelu · Jan 30, 2012

Lucas said:
The exception being "Enemy at the gates", where the Russians (who were the heroes) were stupid, brutal and unwilling to fight, while the Germans were brutal but intelligent and heroic.

I should have said foreign and not white.

dragonjax · Jan 30, 2012

Lucas said:
I have nothing against the USA or the American people, but one thing which really reeks me off is the uncanny habit of Hollywood of making their own versions of European and Asian films, instead of just importing the originals.

They are even doing it with British films, where you don't really even have the excuse of a language barrier. Death at a funeral and The Office comes to mind.

The UK version of Death at a Funeral is one of my all-time favorite films. I made it through the trailer for the US version and I wept bitterly. Even with Peter Dinklage playing the same character, it looked truly abysmal.

That being said, I liked the first few seasons of the US version of the television series The Office.

But don't even try to convince me that the US version of Being Human is anything close to the far-superior UK version. No. Just no.

I'll tell you what truly bothers me -- seeing Doctor Who on BBC America suddenly require a voice-over narration from Amy Pond during the opener to explain to audiences that the series is all about her and her imaginary friend called the Doctor. I'm still pissed off about that.

Filigree · Jan 30, 2012

I've used the Showtime series 'Episodes' as a darkly-funny example of how Hollywood twists original foreign programming to 'suit' American audiences.

I loathe the practice. As a literate American, I think my fellow readers and movie-goers should embrace something from beyond our borders. In a global economy, we can't go back to the mythical insularity of the early 20th Century.

Of course, I also believe that any high school student claiming they've grasped 'Romeo and Juliet' from an animated CliffsNote short should be
1) Hit with a stick, and
2) Failed from the course.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/CliffsNotes-Films.html

BenPanced · Jan 30, 2012

dragonjax said:
The UK version of Death at a Funeral is one of my all-time favorite films. I made it through the trailer for the US version and I wept bitterly. Even with Peter Dinklage playing the same character, it looked truly abysmal.

That being said, I liked the first few seasons of the US version of the television series The Office.

But don't even try to convince me that the US version of Being Human is anything close to the far-superior UK version. No. Just no.

I'll tell you what truly bothers me -- seeing Doctor Who on BBC America suddenly require a voice-over narration from Amy Pond during the opener to explain to audiences that the series is all about her and her imaginary friend called the Doctor. I'm still pissed off about that.

Then again, when The Avengers was brought over to the US, the US producers felt it necessary to film the (in)famous "chessboard" opening sequence before the credits to explain Steed and Peel. Which is even more interesting because some of the details the narrator mentions are never really brought up during Peel's run in the show.

And I haven't seen more than the first act of the first episode of the US edition of Being Human. I just can't watch more. I...just can't.

cornetto · Jan 30, 2012

But don't other countries do their own version of American TV shows? My husband is a huge L&O fan. He was sad when it went off the air, so I suggested he watched Law and Order UK. He watched 2 or 3 episodes then gave up because he doesn't know British slang and he kept getting lost. He enjoyed the Starz version of Torchwood, so he was more comfortable watching the originals, but the slang and the accents are still an issue. He still hits the pause button and asks for a translation sometimes. So yeah, there IS a language barrier there. There are far more people in the US like my husband than not.

Just because the program is in English doesn't mean the program is easy to understand. Like it or not, there are cultural differences between countries. Some things just don't translate well. Sometimes you have to put your own cultural spin on things to get the story across. Just the way it is.

Are American audiences stupid and culturally bereft because they generally prefer Americanized programs? Are all American remakes inferior by default? Maybe. Maybe not.

If no copyrights are harmed in the process, what's the big deal? If you prefer the original, watch the original.

Rhoda Nightingale · Jan 30, 2012

I agree with the OP's sentiment completely. And with Jen's, that Americans mostly don't appreciate--or more importantly, won't pay to see--movies about non-Americans.

I love me some Asian cinema, especially horror, and almost all of my favorite A-horror movies have either been remade already (A Tale of Two Sisters, The Ring, Ju-On), or there are plans in the works to remake them soon (Oldboy).

I wish I could blame Hollywood, but then I look at my dad, who is Joe Average incarnate when it comes to movies--he was annoyed when I talked him into seeing Pan's Labyrinth and it turned out to be subtitled. Didn't even occur to me that it would bother him, but I think most Americans see foreign film as some fruity, arty subgenre not worth their time.

Cyia · Jan 30, 2012

This was the complaint I had with Being Human. I loved the UK version; I can't even watch the American one. (And if the "interpretation" wasn't bad enough, they had to name the character after the actor from the UK series. THAT, to me, is insulting.)

And I haven't seen more than the first act of the first episode of the US edition of Being Human. I just can't watch more. I...just can't.

Oops, BenPanced beat me to it.

Purple Rose · Jan 30, 2012

dragonjax said:
I'll tell you what truly bothers me -- seeing Doctor Who on BBC America suddenly require a voice-over narration from Amy Pond during the opener to explain to audiences that the series is all about her and her imaginary friend called the Doctor. I'm still pissed off about that.

Seriously??? I am shocked. If that is necessary then maybe Dr Who should not be screened in America. Maybe there just isn't a market. If there is, then that group of viewers would hardly need such an introduction. This does take away the feeling of Dr Who as a cult. I've been a fan for nearly forty years.

dragonjax · Jan 30, 2012

Cyia said:
(And if the "interpretation" wasn't bad enough, they had to name the character after the actor from the UK series. THAT, to me, is insulting.)

Actually, that was the one and only thing that I could stomach watching the US version's pilot episode: the vampire was named Aiden. That, to me, was the only good thing about it. I saw it more of a h/t than anything else.

dragonjax · Jan 30, 2012

Purple Rose said:
Seriously??? I am shocked. If that is necessary then maybe Dr Who should not be screened in America. Maybe there just isn't a market. If there is, then that group of viewers would hardly need such an introduction. This does take away the feeling of Dr Who as a cult. I've been a fan for nearly forty years.

I would cry bitterly if I couldn't watch the show. As it is, I'm still angry that I couldn't get Torchwood: Miracle Day because I don't have a Starz subscription and Netflix doesn't have an agreement with Starz, so I'm screwed for the time being. I love watching Doctor Who. I just grit my teeth during the "Amy Pond & Co." voiceover at the start.

Lucas · Jan 31, 2012

kuwisdelu said:
I should have said foreign and not white.

That is true. Whenever it is a film with a foreign - non-white culture - fighting an oppressor, there's the American character that should save them all.

Manuel Royal · Jan 31, 2012

Toothpaste said:
Don't weep any tears over THE OFFICE. It's hardly "disrespectful" when you're the executive producer and making tons and tons of money off of something while not having to lift a finger. Ricky Gervais made out like a bandit with that one, a series that in the UK had 12 episodes and a Christmas special gets turned into a long running TV show that in its first season had more episodes all together than his ever did. He has made bucketloads of money off of it, and, you know what, it's a good show (well was, I think it's jumped the shark now).

I agree it's silly that the Americans have to remake everything, but that doesn't mean all remakes are bad.

Besides the U.S., The Office has been redone in France, Germany, Canada, Chile, and Israel. As Ricky Gervais put it, he's making tons of money for "doing fuck-all".

All in the Family was an American version of a British show. Some comedy translates well, but you have to let it take on the flavor of its country. The American version of Coupling fell completely flat, maybe because it was too close a copy.

dragonjax said:
I'll tell you what truly bothers me -- seeing Doctor Who on BBC America suddenly require a voice-over narration from Amy Pond during the opener to explain to audiences that the series is all about her and her imaginary friend called the Doctor. I'm still pissed off about that.

So, instead of being glad that Doctor Who, a British show you're fond of, is broadcast in America, you're upset that they're trying to attract new viewers?

dragonjax · Jan 31, 2012

Manuel Royal said:
So, instead of being glad that Doctor Who, a British show you're fond of, is broadcast in America, you're upset that they're trying to attract new viewers?

Of course not. I am upset that A) the Powers That Be assumed that an American audience is too dim to understand the show without that intro -- even though they effectively started over with a new Doctor and a new companion, so there was nothing necessary to explain; it all unfolded naturally, and B) the wording on the voiceover makes it sound like the show is about the companion, who has the Doctor as a sidekick, and that is simply untrue.

Gilroy Cullen · Jan 31, 2012

dragonjax said:
I'll tell you what truly bothers me -- seeing Doctor Who on BBC America suddenly require a voice-over narration from Amy Pond during the opener to explain to audiences that the series is all about her and her imaginary friend called the Doctor.

I knew there was a reason I stopped watching the new Doctor Who's.

The Doctor, Imaginary? Blasphemous!

randi.lee · Jan 31, 2012

The Samurai starring Tom Cruise is a nice example of this.

crunchyblanket · Jan 31, 2012

or there are plans in the works to remake them soon (Oldboy).

WHAT?

Grrarrgh · Jan 31, 2012

Rhoda Nightingale said:
I wish I could blame Hollywood, but then I look at my dad, who is Joe Average incarnate when it comes to movies--he was annoyed when I talked him into seeing Pan's Labyrinth and it turned out to be subtitled. Didn't even occur to me that it would bother him, but I think most Americans see foreign film as some fruity, arty subgenre not worth their time.

There are a lot of people like this. I invited my mom over to watch the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because she'd mentioned wanting to see the American version, and apparently, even though I said "on Netflix" she still had it in her head that I had gotten a pirated copy. She was completely shocked when it started in Swedish with subtitles. Until then, she knew about the books, but she had no idea it had already been made into a movie anywhere but here.

Which is, I think, another part of the problem. Most Americans are exposed to American movies (duh). But they just aren't exposed to foreign films at all. It's not even that they wouldn't be interested (though some certainly wouldn't), it's that they don't know the movies are out there. The biggest mainstream remakes of the last ten years - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Let Me In (Let the Right One In), and The Ring (Ringu) - showed up in American theaters and a lot of Americans didn't even realize they were remakes. I can't give exact figures, I can only speak to the people I talked to, but there were several who had no idea. Yes, they know that other countries make movies, but that's about as far as their knowledge goes. They're just not promoted or advertised anywhere, and we Americans are programmed to always choose that which is currently being shoved down our throats with the most force.

ChaosTitan · Jan 31, 2012

The US isn't the only country that buys rights to shows and remakes them, you know. There was a successful series in Spain called Fisica o Quimica which was remade in Russia, and as a telenovella on Telemundo called Relaciones Peligrosas.

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