BUFFY HAS A 'GRUDGE'

[Scott W. Davis]

While the last two seasons of the show weren't quite up to the former glory, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER is still one of the greatest shows ever put on television (It's spinoff ANGEL has turned out to be an excellent show in its own right as well).



Since the end of the series, many have wondered what will become of the BUFFY players. Anthony Stewart Head continues to do work in Britain, although to my knowledge he has stayed away from the coffee commercials. Alyson Hannigan is prepping a sitcom. James Marsters has defected to ANGEL to join fellow BUFFY alums Alexis Denisof (Wesley), Mercedes McNab (Harmony) and perhaps our beloved Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia). So what about the Vampire Slayer herself?



Sarah Michelle Gellar has kept busy. She has wrapped the SCOOBY-DOO sequel to be released in April. Now, she has signed on to another project, one that is looking better all the time. She will be THE star in the American remake of JU-ON, a.k.a. THE GRUDGE. The original Japanese film is creating quite a buzz and has already been talked about in our reviews and in our forums.



What is also interesting about this film is that it is being directed by Takashi Shimizu, the writer-director of the original JU-ON. Not only that, he has remade this already - a guy who seems to like to fine tune his stuff or at least give different perspectives. Don't believe me? Just ask our own DevilMan or Tom Foster. Actually, ask them anything about Asian horror. The guys have encyclopedias in their brains and it's pretty damn impressive.



Anyway, back to GRUDGE, Shimizu will direct the film for Ghost House Pictures, the horror subsidiary of Senator Films that has become Sam Raimi's way of giving back to the genre that rocketed him into superstardom. Columbia will distribute the film for wide release. Also of great interest is that instead of filming in Hollywood, Romania or Toronto, the film will actually shoot in Shimizu's native Japan... at the legendary Toho Studios! Don't want to make an "East meets West" crack, but it seems like this is going to be a melding of two cinematic styles and is a remake that should peak your interest.



Looks like Sarah Michelle Gellar will have to bone up on her Japanese. Hmmm, maybe she wants to shoot a KILL BILL offshoot while she's there? Naaah...



--------



[b]Not enough self-promotion for you, than follow the link into our FORUMS and discuss the GRUDGE remake.

[Supercool]

I dont know what to think.

I didnt mind remakes that much in the past, but recently Ive gotten sick of it!

Theyre just meddling with so many great movies, whereas they could be pumping these (no-doubt BIG) budgets into new and ever more innovative films. In some cases it would just be better if they made the film and didnt acknowledge that its based on something else (Dawn of the Dead being the focus of that point!). Its like when American companies buy the rights to British sitcoms, make a new show out of it, and its NOTHING like the original!!! :crazy: What is the point!?

Then again, good things do come of remakes... The Thing, The Fly :wub: and I guess that having the same director onboard gives it some weight, even if remaking this film is all he ever seems to do! :lol:

[JohnShaft]

I think of all the "US remake of Asian Film" ideas lately this is one of the best ones.
Shimizu Directing is really good news I think. And I don't need to espouse the merits of SMG I'm sure.
At least look at it this way. All these American remakes are bringing more mainstream popular back to horror. It's easy to be elitist and say that is a bad thing. I'm not so sure it is though.

Its like when American companies buy the rights to British sitcoms, make a new show out of it, and its NOTHING like the original!!! :crazy: What is the point!?
Hahah yeah. Like that idea of remaking THE OFFICE with Brad Pitt as David Brent. That is just *INSANE*. :crazy:

[Supercool]

Originally posted by JohnShaft@Dec 17 2003, 02:09 AM
I think of all the "US remake of Asian Film" ideas lately this is one of the best ones.
Shimizu Directing is really good news I think. And I don't need to espouse the merits of SMG I'm sure.
At least look at it this way. All these American remakes are bringing more mainstream popular back to horror. It's easy to be elitist and say that is a bad thing. I'm not so sure it is though.

Its like when American companies buy the rights to British sitcoms, make a new show out of it, and its NOTHING like the original!!! :crazy: What is the point!?
Hahah yeah. Like that idea of remaking THE OFFICE with Brad Pitt as David Brent. That is just *INSANE*. :crazy:
Im gonna give it a chance and all, its just Id prefer if they took the initiative and made more original horrors :/

Brad Pitt as David Brent!?!?!? :cry: I though Brent was supposed to be an annoying pot bellied idiot, not a sex god! :crazy: They'll proberly rename it 'the sexy office' or something, oh dear.

[Scott W. Davis]

I haven't seen THE OFFICE yet, but I think if the guy is supposed to be a lame-o, keep him a lame-o. Cast the guy from our sitcom, THE KING OF QUEENS or something. It's why while I love parts of TOTAL RECALL, I could never fully get it. I can't buy Schwarzenegger as an everyman. Woody Allen kicking ass, now THAT would have been strange! :erm:

Of course, the idea that the director of the original is taking over sounds good. Still, that has not always been a good translation. The American versions of THE VANISHING and NIGHTWATCH (Actually, that one was pretty good. I just don't like Josh Brolin) were made by their original directors. Maybe Asian cinema will do better than Norweigian.

I think if handled right, it could be the most intriguing part Sarah Michelle Gellar has chosen yet... and I actually liked SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE. :blush:

[DevilMan]

I'm kinda mixed in my feelings about Hollywood remaking Asian horror films. I'm a big fan of the genre and I own alot of the original movies on DVD already but I actually thought THE RING is an excellent remake. So if any other remakes are as good as that, then I'm all for it. If not, then it's gonna be a complete bust and I'll be the first in line to slam the movie. So I guess I ride the fence until I see the film in question.

THE UPSIDE TO A REMAKE:

1. Of course, a nice, big snazzy something-million Hollywood budget always makes a movie look great, no doubt about that.

2. Any traditional Oriental nuances that the English speaking world doesn't understand get dropped in hopes of the movie making alittle more sense. See Downside #3 if this goes too far though.

3. If the film does well at the box office, interest in the remake will surely create interest in the Asian movie it was remade from and in turn, we get a great R1 DVD release of the original movie.

THE DOWNSIDE TO A REMAKE:

1. A bad choice for actors makes a potentially good movie bad. Then again, that's true for any movie, not just a remake of a foreign film.

2. Too many changes to the original storyline or plot ruins the feel of the product and in turn, makes people stay away from the original. Thus hurting the Asian cinema in the long run.

3. Similar to Downside #2 and in opposition to Benefit #2. If the original movie's nuances are completely dropped or changed too far in it's overall context, the remake becomes a generic and standard horror film without an unique sense of itself. This creates low ticket sales and the movie bombs. Again, hurting the Asian cinema.

Anyway, I hope that made sense and we'll just have to see if the next remake turns out okay.

Of course, if you think about it, Asian horror film influences are already being used in the American movie industry. Anyone think that FEAR DOT COM and GOTHIKA definitely had an Asian horror movie feel to 'em?

-Steve

[Scott W. Davis]

There is definitely an influence from Asian horror in modern horror. And I agree with your assessment completely.

I guess the only thing I have against Asian remakes is the idea behind them which is - "These films are good but Americans are too stupid to watch a movie and read subtitles at the same time." It's the principle of the thing I guess. Same thing about hearing a movie has to be less than two hours. This despite the fact that kids are even sitting for over 150 minutes each of HARRY POTTER, teenage girls flocked to a 193 minute romance called TITANIC and RETURN OF THE KING looks to outgross just about anything else this year.

[Alucard]

it's too bad if they make full english version of the movie :cry: , i wouldn't be surprised if it's going to be full english fersion.. 'cus american are like germans, they like movie but they don't like movie with subs (germans dub all shite, and americans usually ain't even watchin foreign movies :ph34r: )
i'll watch that movie even if it would be full english version :crazy:

Ps. don't mind my lil grammar mistakes ;)