tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post3742511640704639011..comments2024-03-26T03:31:06.199-04:00Comments on Ask a Korean!: Ask a Korean! News: Hollywood to Cure Oldboy's Deficiency by Removing All AsiansT.K. (Ask a Korean!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/07663422474464557214noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-32761135524363699602008-11-25T13:36:00.000-05:002008-11-25T13:36:00.000-05:00As a black guy who was blown away by OLDBOY, I fir...As a black guy who was blown away by OLDBOY, I firmly agree with 'mr. the korean'. this was a top flick, and although pretty disturbing, is one i recommend to people all the time...and only with subtitles, the voice over ruins the sound of the korean speech, which sounds amazing, even if it is unintelligible to me.<BR/><BR/>that said, can't wait to see the korean version of 'the colour purple'.<BR/><BR/>oh dae-su doesnt know when to shut up. me neither.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12030315656708774743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-67599071615402038782008-11-24T03:09:00.001-05:002008-11-24T03:09:00.001-05:00Oops, I forgot to mention his name. Roy Lee. http:...Oops, I forgot to mention his name. <BR/>Roy Lee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Leeloopyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03970884737664240086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-17348692294171850632008-11-24T03:09:00.000-05:002008-11-24T03:09:00.000-05:00I just found this site and I love it. That being s...I just found this site and I love it. That being said, I'm ignorant of what you do and don't know, so don't yell at me if you already knew this fact. I hate that all these remakes of Asian movies are being made, but what is worse that the man behind many of these remakes is actually Korean. I don't think he's behind the <I>Oldboy</I> remake, but he was an executive producer for <I>The Departed</I>.loopyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03970884737664240086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-78827119971018203542008-11-13T11:05:00.000-05:002008-11-13T11:05:00.000-05:00Here's the mother of all arguments against crappy ...Here's the mother of all arguments against crappy Hollywood remakes:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/thepinkpanther2/" REL="nofollow">Why!?!</A><BR/><BR/>Let us forever put this matter to rest.I am, therefore I think.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03036468014467526897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-58430265195522407092008-11-13T11:02:00.000-05:002008-11-13T11:02:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.I am, therefore I think.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03036468014467526897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-67461476859209161872008-11-13T02:58:00.000-05:002008-11-13T02:58:00.000-05:00I'm sure I'm talking to the wrong crowd here consi...I'm sure I'm talking to the wrong crowd here considering the snicker "My Sassy Girl" got from and earlier commenter... but it is interesting to note that it was made into not only a Bollywood movie (which I didn't realize until I started to watch said Bollywood movie and went "huh? Haven't I seen all of these scenes somewhere?") but also a very recent American remake. It is a fairly repeated character set in Korean romantic comedies: quiet, submissive young boy and a belligerent girl... and they are the same characters across all three movies. But it was very interesting to note the cultural differences brought to each one. I couldn't even watch more than half of the American one. It was so god-awful that I had to try twice to watch it at all. The scriptwriters had to actually add to the story to explain why the guy is polite and doesn't sleep around. I can understand when some things are re-made because of cultural references and ways of relating, but for the most part they just don't need to be done at all. What's wrong with Oldboy as it was? If the story was good enough for someone to want to re-make it... why not just show the original (which is the point of this blog). Same goes with ANY other movie that has been re-made. For the most part it seems to be an unnecessary and lame attempt to cash in on someone else's ideas. Racism may be part of it, but I think it is more specifically a culture thing. No, Will Smith will probably not scarf down a whole octopus, Americans don't relate to eating octopus at all. Anyway, I agree, it's going to suck and if I could I'd like to apologize on behalf of my greedy, discriminating fellow citizens. We're not all bad :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11174102121287722257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-15091397903039527712008-11-12T19:50:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:50:00.000-05:00@chris,let me try to enlighten you then. I'm not a...@chris,<BR/><BR/>let me try to enlighten you then. <BR/><BR/>I'm not all that familiar with Korean artists remaking American songs, so I'm not judging her comment for that particular statement.<BR/><BR/>I'm also ok with her opinion that "Oldboy" is boring. People have, after all, different levels of sophistication when it comes to personal taste.<BR/><BR/>What I have a problem with is her last point. Nobody here advocated more Asian people in Hollywood movies. The problem is how they portray us. I'd rather have no Asians at all in Hollywood movies than what we have now.<BR/><BR/>And there aren't white people as main characters in Korean movies because they're not a significant part of the population. The majority of westerners living in Korea are probably English teachers and military personnel. Both groups were represented without any prejudice in Korean movies.<BR/><BR/>And, come on, the teacher in "Please teach me English" was not loose at all. She was portrayed as a very correct person. Had she been loose she would have slept with the male lead.<BR/><BR/>That movie sucked, by the way.ksojehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229169889322752019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-90580316041819588482008-11-12T19:18:00.000-05:002008-11-12T19:18:00.000-05:00I guess I'm confused. Is the purpose of making an...I guess I'm confused. Is the purpose of making and releasing movies purely to create a great film, or is it more to make a profit? If it is the former, I guess many of you may be right in your arguments about how awful and potentially racist remaking Oldboy could be. But, I'm guessing that the real reason to release a movie is to make a significant profit. I don't think there is any racial intention here by Stephen Spielberg and Will Smith. Something tells me that a remake will make much more money than the original, regardless of how crappy the film turns out. I think that Mandykat was absolutely right that it needs to be dumbed-down to American audiences so that they can understand it. I will still probably prefer the original Oldboy, but that really doesn't matter, does it?Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570192107878364968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-76356328307460416522008-11-12T13:06:00.000-05:002008-11-12T13:06:00.000-05:00That's as civil as I can get when faced with such ...That's as civil as I can get when faced with such an idiotic comment. =Pksojehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229169889322752019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-20631281999482554632008-11-12T11:45:00.000-05:002008-11-12T11:45:00.000-05:00civility please.civility please.The Koreanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328000772620833495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-4627594657099228152008-11-12T10:07:00.000-05:002008-11-12T10:07:00.000-05:00"...I watched this movie with a group of American ..."...I watched this movie with a group of American friends, and we all felt the same way. I think this particular movie would need to be remade for it to be popular among typical American movie-goers."<BR/><BR/>The whole point of this particular topic is arguing against taking well-made foreign films and dumbing them down to suit the taste and sensibilities of "typical American movie-goers" that keep making stars out of no-talent ass clowns like Kate Hudson and Jennifer Aniston and their agonizingly predictable cookie-cutter movies. Yet you waste your time and precious brain cells to log in to tell us that Old Boy will have to be remade so that you and your friends can enjoy it better. I'm sorry, but am I missing something here???I am, therefore I think.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03036468014467526897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-58217634861968854952008-11-11T23:48:00.000-05:002008-11-11T23:48:00.000-05:00@mandykat,congratulations! Your comment now tops m...@mandykat,<BR/><BR/>congratulations! Your comment now tops my list of the most stupid shit I've ever come across in the Internet. An infinite number of mentally handicapped monkeys in front of a computer for an infinite number of years wouldn't be able to produce something like what you wrote.ksojehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229169889322752019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-24390559129656642682008-11-11T20:22:00.000-05:002008-11-11T20:22:00.000-05:00You've made a good point about Americans re-making...You've made a good point about Americans re-making Asian movies. Is it any different than all the re-makes of American and English music I hear in Korea? Why not just play the original music instead of copying our sounds?<BR/>Also, I think that Old Boy could be made better. In my opinion, it should be edited. Many scenes could have been cut down or eliminated. I think American audiences would grow bored with the movie. Also, the movie was slightly difficult to follow. I watched this movie with a group of American friends, and we all felt the same way. I think this particular movie would need to be remade for it to be popular among typical American movie-goers. <BR/>As far as including more Asians in American movies - maybe. I don't see any non-Asian faces as main characters in Korean films. The Korean shows I have seen with white people rely on white stereotypes. For example, the "loose" female teacher whose curves were the subject of jokes about her eating habits! (I'm talking about the funny Korean comedy "Please Teach Me English." I enjoyed the movie but took offense to the stereotypes used for the Australian teacher.)<BR/>As far as Asian-Americans in films - - not sure. It seems like we need more Hispanic people in films considering the demographic shift in the US. I don't think the US population as a whole has more than 10% Asians.MandyKathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13061959312087575814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-4526478600717407282008-11-10T20:45:00.000-05:002008-11-10T20:45:00.000-05:00I'm already wincing at spielberg and smith being c...I'm already wincing at spielberg and smith being connected to THIS story. Sorry, but a movie like Oldboy needs a wacky, edgy director, like David Fincher (fight club) or Darren Aronofsky (requiem for a dream) or Christopher Nolan (momento), and character actors with real talent and a bit of edginess, who don't just ride on their personal charisma, like notwillsmith.<BR/><BR/>they should leave this one alone.Roboseyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308196436612993379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-82989811384220767462008-11-10T17:27:00.000-05:002008-11-10T17:27:00.000-05:00I've seen Oldboy. Great movie, but not a flick th...I've seen Oldboy. Great movie, but not a flick that was very palatable to the American taste bud, if you will. And to compare it to La Vite e Bella is silly. They were each given very comparable starting opportunities at American box office screens. Oldboy didn't go wide because it did not get the buzz from audiences that it needed. In the end, Oldboy grossed $705,000 while Life Is Beautiful crushed it with $57,000,000 in gross sales.<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, what Korean productions are lacking is strong global marketing and distribution. Filmmakers also need to get out of their mode of trying to confuse or shock audiences. It simply doesn't translate well when you're also trying to absorb differences in culture, language, and you're reading the dialogue.<BR/><BR/>Siworae (later remade into The Lake House) is another example of this. It was a great movie, but confusing when you have the translate the storyline and changing timeline while reading the captions.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570192107878364968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-26624165743234107372008-11-10T10:16:00.000-05:002008-11-10T10:16:00.000-05:00ksoje,What I found unique about the plot is that a...ksoje,<BR/><BR/>What I found unique about the plot is that an ex-cop turned pimp becomes the protagonist searching for the female victim, which is quite a departure from the run-of-the-mill Hollywood serial killer films in which the "chaser" is either a lover or a family member of the victim or a tired and emotionally-conflicted cop delaying his retirement to catch the killer. Further, the pimp is searching for his girl purely out of greed — to collect his money — and not out of some high-horse morality. Knowing this, though, it amused me that I was forced to root for him to find the victim for the victim's sake. What happens to the victim at the end, too, was another surprise that you'd rarely see happen in a Hollywood flick. Yes, there have been some Hollywood flicks that show less-than-wholesome characters finding redemption, but none really pops to my head as being memorable or done in such a no-apologies manner as The Chaser. Again, the movie has its flaws (the dubious portrayal of the killer, mainly), but it still is a terrific Korean film compared to the most of the Korean films that feature sappy love stories or comical 조폭 goons. <BR/><BR/>As for The Old Boy, I completely agree with you that any remake of the film will be suck in comparison to the original. I was just saying that if it has to be remade, than there are directors other than Spielberg that can mimic the hard-edge intensity and dark humor of the original.I am, therefore I think.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03036468014467526897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-84584771880590565282008-11-10T00:30:00.000-05:002008-11-10T00:30:00.000-05:00iatit,do you mind elaborating a little more on the...iatit,<BR/><BR/>do you mind elaborating a little more on the uniqueness of the plot? To my amateur eyes, most movies about serial killers have similar plots and atmosphere, and "The Chaser" is no different.<BR/><BR/>Also, despicable human beings who find redemption is a huge Hollywood cliche. Some actors made whole careers out of it.<BR/><BR/>On "Oldboy" though, I'll have to cordially disagree with you again. It's hard to imagine a remake regardless the director, since the movie was indeed a masterpiece. I think anything they produce will be a watered down version.<BR/><BR/>You may email me if you feel we're going too stray from the original subject.ksojehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229169889322752019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-63985370443812635602008-11-10T00:14:00.000-05:002008-11-10T00:14:00.000-05:00In general, I don't care much for Hollywood films ...In general, I don't care much for Hollywood films anyways. Remake or fresh from the box.<BR/><BR/>I have always enjoyed foreign or independent films.<BR/><BR/>Maybe Korea could do a blindside by taking a famous American movie and remake it, then watch it flop.<BR/><BR/>;)JIWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14828166111322700393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-83913950720377354632008-11-09T23:41:00.000-05:002008-11-09T23:41:00.000-05:00ksoje,I guess we'll agree to disagree on The Chase...ksoje,<BR/><BR/>I guess we'll agree to disagree on The Chaser. The movie is not without its flaws, but I still like the unique plot and the irony that the protagonist is a thoroughly vile and despicable human being that ends up a "hero." As for the total incompetence of the Korean police depicted, it is very hard for me to give them a benefit of doubt when I read some of the newspaper articles coming out of Korea on how they bungle the cases of kidnapped/murdered/abused children.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of Korean masterpieces, I also would like to put Memories of Murder and Failan up there. <BR/><BR/>As for the remake of Old Boy, I would have preferred a director with a little more gritty edge like Christopher Nolan over Spielberg whose movies, while meticulous and polished, are nothing like the look and feel of The Old Boy.I am, therefore I think.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03036468014467526897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-20360788011573372792008-11-09T19:06:00.000-05:002008-11-09T19:06:00.000-05:00Just read the previous post about The Departed. An...Just read the previous post about The Departed. And In-F-ernal Affairs. And it's not Korean. I'm a dope, yes, duly noted. <BR/><BR/>But a remake will still suck.<BR/><BR/>Why, Hollywood, why?!?!adabeiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528653783425665623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-15907449606589887762008-11-09T18:58:00.000-05:002008-11-09T18:58:00.000-05:00I think I can settle this argument once and for al...I think I can settle this argument once and for all. You guys are over analyzing. There's a simple truth behind remaking movies, whether it's remaking old American movies or more recent foreign films. Here it is:<BR/><BR/>The movie being remade are just too good to be marketable. I mean, come on, real emotion? That's not Hollywood. Lack of one-liners? I gag! We've got to water it down so it can be viewed by the widest possible demographic so it can be profitable, it's got to be mind-numbing because we're averse to anything thought-provoking, and any emotion which can't be easily categorized or any situation which can't be sold as sound bites is simply too demanding. What are we supposed to do, learn from a movie? Expand our awareness of ourselves, others, and the world around us? Movies are supposed to remind us why we don't need to change and why we should never wonder if we're missing something in life by being the same person day in, day out. Successful movies have to blandly remind us that what we're doing is right and that whatever it is that we are is perfectly sufficient.<BR/><BR/>That said...<BR/><BR/>This remake is bound to be truly, truly horrible. Oldboy? Spielburg? Really? He obviously hasn't even seen the film, otherwise he'd know what he was getting into.. or maybe he does, and he's relishing the idea of destroying something that's truly twisted in a magnificently artistic kind of way. <BR/><BR/>Ah, commercialization: it's the American way.<BR/><BR/>I haven't seen Internal Affairs, though.. and I'm definitely intrigued. What's the Korean title? Maybe I can find a copy in the Gangnam subway...adabeiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06528653783425665623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-32359526895890679962008-11-09T15:43:00.000-05:002008-11-09T15:43:00.000-05:00@iatit,(If the Korean will kindly allow us to disc...@iatit,<BR/><BR/>(If the Korean will kindly allow us to discuss movies here).<BR/><BR/>I considered your first comment on this thread as a recommendation and watched "The Chaser".<BR/><BR/>Maybe my expectations got high when you praised it so much, but although it is above average, it's far from what I'd call a Korean masterpiece, which in my opinion should be reserved for movies like "Oldboy" and "My Sassy Girl" (holding back hysteric laughter).<BR/><BR/>I thought the plot was reasonably interesting (although the main point of interest is that most of it was based in a real case) but the execution was quite mediocre. <BR/><BR/>The bad points:<BR/>- Too many long scenes in which the "hero" was being restrained by cops (some of them in slow motion, which prolonged the pain).<BR/>- Melodramatic performance by the actor playing the "hero".<BR/>- I've heard about the Korean Police being incompetent (although I don't know if it's true) but in this movie they exaggerate it. No police force in the world can be this incompetent and still maintain civil order.<BR/>- No development on the killer's motives.<BR/><BR/>Good points:<BR/>- Realistic on-foot chases. In Hollywood movies people never slow down or get tired while in those chases.<BR/>- The gory scenes. I'm not into watching people getting killed but those hammer&chisel scenes were great and reminiscent of the superior "Oldboy".<BR/>- Superb performance by the actor who played the killer.<BR/>- The exchange between the killer and the female detective. It was kinda distasteful but it also was unexpected, funny and well executed.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't mind if they fixed some of the problems and remade this film in Hollywood. But I reiterate my opinion that the main point of interest of the plot is that it was based on a real case.ksojehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229169889322752019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-40562218802779819002008-11-09T08:12:00.000-05:002008-11-09T08:12:00.000-05:00Haha how ridiculous. I say to let them try it. It ...Haha how ridiculous. I say to let them try it. It would have to be a completely different story and this would be new levels of darkness for either of them. It's obvious that this movie will be "Lost in Translation" so to speak. Some of the things just do not transfer over. I honestly don't them even trying for this and will go a much "safer" route. The movie's mind crusher effect is huge, but the scenes are brutal. b I guess if people can handle Saw, Seven, and Stigmata then this shouldn't be a problem.Can Will Smith do it? Completely wrong actor in my opinion. Now if Jack Nicholson were a bit younger then I'd think it would have a shot, but this formula just doesn't add up to success in my mind. I'd be interested in their interpretation, but that raw fluidity of the movie is what makes it special and somehow I don't see that being emulated and put into an American environment.Mike Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904016062910615782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-63833133222485608782008-11-09T08:05:00.000-05:002008-11-09T08:05:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mike Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00904016062910615782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36405856.post-76328774336370306182008-11-09T03:00:00.000-05:002008-11-09T03:00:00.000-05:00Korean,Below are four remakes that the Kaiser watc...Korean,<BR/><BR/>Below are four remakes that the Kaiser watched and fall into your request (short time between original and remake; original a huge success in Europe).<BR/><BR/>- "Bella Martha" (2001)<BR/>- "No Reservations" (2007)<BR/><BR/>- "Nikita" (1990)<BR/>- "Point of no return" (1993)<BR/>In this case the Kaiser watched both and the original is way better.<BR/><BR/>- "Les Visiteurs" (1993)<BR/>- "Just visiting" (2001)<BR/><BR/>- "3 hommes et un couffin" (1985)<BR/>- "3 Men and a Baby" (1987)<BR/><BR/>The Kaiser also forgot to clarify that he doesn't watch "America's Next Top Model" (not that there's anything wrong with that).<BR/><BR/>(Hey, this 3rd person writing is kinda fun.) =)ksojehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229169889322752019noreply@blogger.com