Weekly Written Analysis 1

A current topic in regards to pop culture that interests me is the film industry’s seeming inability to produce an original screenplay anymore. Aside from rentals, I cannot even remember the last time I saw a film that was not a remake or an adaptation. The current market is almost entirely devoid of any new and engaging works. Between remakes and adaptations of novels, studios are now turning to videogames and “graphic novels” (in other words: comic books) as cinematic fodder as well. There are probably numerous other sources I am neglecting to mention.

One of the most recent cases that I find particularly aggravating is the remake of Japanese director Takashi Miike’s One Missed Call. First of all, the original was intended to be taken as satire. Apparently when the rights to the remake received its greenlight, somebody was completely oblivious to that fact. Takashi Miike, who is more well known for his extremist depictions of violence and sexual taboos (imdb.com, 2007), made One Missed Call as a statement about all of the ridiculous J-horror films being released at that time. Hollywood either didn’t understand or just chose to ignore that fact and saw it as a money making opportunity just to cash in on the success of Japanese horror remakes such as The Ring, The Grudge, etc.

Sometimes a remake can be appropriate given the right context. Take for example Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong. The original (and to a lesser extent, its ’76 remake) is known for its “pioneering special effects using stop-motion models, animatronics and evocative story" (Wikipedia.org, 2007). Peter Jackson’s 2007 remake followed in that same tradition and won three Academy Awards for visual effects, sound mixing, and sound editing (Wikipedia.org, 2007). I am generally not one for big, over-the-top summer blockbusters but I can at least appreciate the film for what it is.

Remakes and adaptations have been around since the very beginning of cinema. However, I find it absolutely unbearable when every new film inundating the mainstream falls neatly under one of these two categories. It is a larger epidemic than the majority of people seem to realize because, often times it seems, titles are changed and the films are not even acknowledged as a remake. Drawing influence from a work is fine but, in my opinion, there is little to no artistic merit to be found in a direct remake. They exist primarily as a means of making money. But, after all, the film industry is a business and making money is their objective. I, however, desire more out of film. I’ll take Antonioni, Bunuel, Bergman, or Fellini over Michael Bay any day.