INTRODUCTION

Remakes are, for almost all directors that tackle them, a make-or-break point in their careers. They offer the chance to climb even higher past the success of a film that's already a classic, or to crash and burn at the feet of an insurmountable original. Whether by success or failure, remakes are a fantastic opportunity for us as viewers and filmmakers to measure the merits of old and new concepts and techniques. More importantly, through examining remakes, we can better understand the timelessness of good storytelling. Enjoy the following articles about remakes!

About Tristan Vranizan

Tristan Vranizan is a cinema student absorbing as much information as he can in his last semesters at SFSU. His primary interests are cinematography, editing, and color grading. His interests outside of cinema are skateboarding, photography, and typography. His goals after graduation involve building up a video portfolio and establishing a website to broadcast his current work.

True Grip —Coen brother ’s Addition and Subtraction

As a highly stylized director, when he start to remake a classic film, he probably always use his personal style and idea to subvert original film, it’s like a fashion designer go through tailoring to make a old clothes to be a new fashion, so when Coen brothers start to remake “Ture Grip” I think nobody would suspect they will bring a totally different “ outside system ” work for us. So I wanna bring you guys to discover how many personalized addition and subtraction have used in this new version by Coen brothers, especially to watch how do they combine their black style and traditional western film in this new version of True Grip.

Subtraction.

1. 1 In visual style, the background of warm colors have weeded out,he bright sunshine,yellow and green of the wild,an oasis in the western plains, every bright things have replaced by overcast sky and night. I think this difference is caused by different shooting condition, the old version was made in 1969, the camera had lighting can’t compare with modern film so that filmmaker glad to choose good enough natural light to make film. However, in modern film industry, people no longer be limited in these problem, moreover, for Coen brothers, they always prefer to use dark style to be their symbolic style, in order to increase the unpredictability of events, even if you compare old version and new version’s costume style, most of people’s consume are all replaced by dead color.
2. 2 New version cut off the old version’s beginning and girl’s mother and sisters, even Coen brothers change her personality, old version is a lovely girl and her pain of lost father is not obviously, even she has little bit shameless in my opinion because she alway eats food in

others home. But new version’s girl seem like more mature and prudent, her eyes are strong and fearless, even when her arm has to be cut, the picture still dissolve with her smile into the next shot, this is a typical Coen’s style.

3. 3. New version use girl’s monologue instead of old version’s beginning and girl’s mother and sister, especially Coen brother cancel the part of Tom Chaney kill her father, the director make the film close to a revenge story more than old one, especially when the girl chase the Tom Chaney, only one thing we know about him is the guy has a little piece of black spot on his face so that when he appears on the screen in the end of the film, that black spot really contain a strong shock power. On the other hand, new version delate some scenes about have meal I think the director just wanna increase intense and rise the rhythm for film.

Cohen's addition:

1. Greatly increase the new version of the main character portrayed, and strengthen the
   character's personality, to make the characters look vivid and cool, we have already know what girl’s different between the old version and new one,the old version of the Texas Rangers LaBoeuf is incompetent playboy, and the new image which Matt Damon is no hope to become Playboy, so his garrulous more prominent, sensitive and empress gas, private thought Mate Da Mongolia is very suitable for this type of image, in the "informers" in which he would play live a long-winded, cowardly uncle. However, the biggest change is new version makes Rooster and Leboeuf break their relationship when they start to chase for a while Tom Chaney, I think this change can stress these two guys personal charisma, also their strong personality make them fall in more huge of dilemma, they still have strong justice sense in heart.
2. The new version’s style is typical Coen’s ending. Rooster did not charge girl’s money and spent a lifetime of drift from place to place in a circus, actually the circus is Fellini’s favorite, to express clutter and go with the flow of life, perhaps this fate can represent Rooster’s

whole life——cosmopolitan, lonely and strong, but also create a sense of sadness. Texans LaBoeuf survived, but with girls between life and death, actually the old version LaBoeuf was knocked head to die, Rooster and the girls make a agreement which they would bury in together after they died, the old version is the family's warmth, the new version has more lonely and sadness, each of styles have different features, the audience make the right decision.

In short, from the artistic attainments of view, the new version really have made more progress in all areas, but this does not erase the old version of the classic status, and the old version if not exciting, how to attract the attention of the Coen brothers, the old version if not exciting, how did Wayne can be the best actor? The best thing is to see the two works put together, the experience is one difference, at the same time try to figure out the director's intentions, experience movie-style tilt, it is a pleasure not less than viewing things. 

           -Dean Wu

Korean Version VS. US Version of Old Boy

Korean version pay attention on emotion and to stress atmosphere, I love the director use music to stress the sense of atmosphere and use a lot of protagonist’s monologue to spread out the story, especially he use some predictions and some sentences contain strong sense of philosophy, moreover, ant-illusion is an awesome element which bring a kind of mysterious sense for the whole film.The villain of the story as a direct participant in high school are more in line with such a profound thirst for vengeance. In the film,father and daughter’s love because arrangements, hypnosis, the incest is forced by others. But the villain’s incest is naturally occurring, also they get rejection and discrimination by ethical world, we still can go through the music to feel actually the director’s attitude is positive,but protagonist repeatedly says “ your son is your nephew” the film also exists for such incestuous love’ struggle. The Korean version of the ending, blabbermouth in the infinite suffering of incest he cut his own tongue, but finally got relief in hypnosis, and her daughter finally together. Look back titles credits to emphasize the word "even though the animals, are not eligible to survive?", Which is the creator of an acquiescence to incest, even though Nie Yuan, but love can exist. In addition Throughout the entire movie, two Avengers because love, love with his sister, and his wife love with her daughter's love, the love, sad and beautiful.

      The US version of the film is to reorganize the whole logic of clues, the story is even more coherent, realistic. Woman umbrella as a whole trail guide revenge, the main reason for men not know her daughter also explain in more detail, the male with her daughter more like a meet scheduled in blood because of reasons have feelings, but unfortunately did not think father and daughter and the possibility of falling into the trap villain. Step by step throughout the film closely, very consistent. The performance of the film when the male oppression imprisoned situation, it is more realistic performance by some of the action to reflect, such as mice, and blood-red boxing bandages and blood graffiti pillowcase. The US version of the ending is less the total collapse of the male heart of the defense and the dignity of self-injurious behavior that give up, just to show their pain by crying, the outcome is actually a more prominent villain revenge for his appreciation of the outcome, the music sounded, the villain with open arms, Embrace all join together to create their own revenge outcomes such as appreciation of their own personally made art in general, there is enjoyment expression, it is a relief, finally freed from the shadows of revenge out of pleasure. People sounded "the killer is not too cold" in the metamorphosis of police officers. Eventually the male go into exile, women in ignorance Enron survive. From the US version of the episode, including his sister incest father villain romance rush passing, villain a tragic ending, and finally with the Korean version of the male is quite different from other circumstances, the creator of American culture or incest extreme exclusion, which has been ascribed to whether there is love, entirely was a bad romance. From relatively prominent Korean version of love, the US version of "Old Boy" is biased in favor of the family, because the villain into the woods and revenge, father, daughter's family and revenge, the male is the daughter objects to write, is to regain the desire to survive Perhaps the author to her daughter ...... It is hoped that through this love and incest injuries after a huge contrast to reflect the tragedy.

        In fact, there is a difference between the two versions is the portrait of his cell, the Korean version is a messy head, then everyone says laughing smile apologetically, but a man cry tears. The US version is a hip-hop image. Korean version of his cell to create an atmosphere of fear repressed, while the US version slightly ridicule and trampling of human nature. This is also reflected in the Korea-US cultural differences. Finally, about two movies in common, is the essence of the story did not change the most, and that is this revenge. Coupled with the villain, "answered the wrong question is not terrible, terrible thing is asking the wrong question, you may never get the right answer." The male from being locked up, he has doubts that he was related reasons, came out A guide as if the two issues, but did not want to present myself to the life imprisonment, but after 15 years out of reason, in fact, these words also tell the audience, that's all thing are not just revenge. 

    -Dean Wu

Carrie

In the Horror genre there are plenty of remakes, we can talk about the 

slasher genre, with Freddy and Jason. For instance,  the first Freddy Nightmare on 

Elm Street, 2012, and its predecessor created in 1984. In this case I want to focus on 

horror films, instead of slasher horror. For instance in the film Carrie, two versions 

were filmed, in 2013 and 2014.  In this blog I’m going share the differences between 

both versions of the film, Carrie. Focusing on aspects such as cinematography, 

Sometimes remake’s of horror genre over use’s their technology that is made 

today. I say this because, the new Carrie, has too much going on. I feel like today’s 

horror genre lacks realism, due to special effects, creating films based on it. The 

narrative of the 2013 version seems to be blurred behind the visual effects of the 

awesome storyline. I feel like the old vintage film look fits a horror genre much 

better, old pictures always look creepier to stare at.

            The first version of Carrie in 1976 digs deep down in the narrative, 

highlighting the struggle of a teenage girl being pure.  In the recent 2013 version of 

the film, the message of a girl having there period blood wasn’t clear. The message 

was to let audiences know that when teenage girls go through their period, they are 

now considered a woman. Carrie has a fear of becoming a woman, not being ready 

to grow up, and let her go. Carries mother represents adults letting go of their 

daughter into the awful cold world.

-Sompong Viengvilai

300

Have you ever played a sport for a long period of time, and documented 

improvements until this day? I remember my first time as a martial artist, I recorded 

an exhibition match, when I look back and reminisce, I see the how far improved 

from my younger days. My Muaythai kick had no momentum, and thrust, I always 

take note to better myself next round. Whether its technology, culture, social 

structure, or a film, as human beings we always keep in touch with our history. 

Improvement is most important when a person needs to move on and discover new 

styles and ideas. In the film 300 Spartans, I want to compare recent 2006 version to 

its predecessor made in 1962. The films share same storyline, but have their 

differences in terms of mise-en-scene, paste, cinematography, and choreography. 

          In some cases some would speculate that the first version is always the best, 

remakes are never better than the original. In other cases, some may argue that the 

2006 version of 300 is more entertaining to watch. I would like to point out that the 

paste of both films are different, the 1962 version has a slow climax, while the 

recent 300, moves at a fast paste. The 1962 version of the 300 focuses on narrative, 

most scenes were spent talking about the politics of going to war against the 

Persians. Compared to the recent 2006 version, we have a narrator talking over the 

action scenes.  

         The recent 300 Spartan paste in action played a key role; the color grading 

was phenomenal in terms of cinematography and mise-en-scene, the color red was 

saturated, everything else had a sepia color tone. The color tone of the film 

reminded me of a Jacque Louis David painting. The special effects were on point. For 

instance changing the time speed from slow motion, to speeding it up, made 

Leonidas, the main character, look like he had super speed and power. The scene 

was a long tracking shot of Leonidas cleaning through the Persian army in a 

profiling tracking shot - blood and gore squirting everywhere. Not only were the scenes in 

the film action packed, but also horrific. Another scene, the 300 Spartans 

stacked a wall of dead Persians, and used them as a defensive ambush, the bodies 

          The 1962 version of 300 was a great movie at its time; the film was like 

getting taught a history lesson, compared to the more recent. If I wanted to open up 

a book and receive an education, I would watch the 1962 version of the film.  The 

film focused a portion of its narrative on a love story between the young Spartan 

warrior and Leonidas’s daughter. The paste of the movie was slow; everything 

wasn’t in your face, giving time for audience’s to appreciate the ambience.  Since a 

green screen wasn’t used in 1962, the amount of soldiers looked limited. Instead of 

looking like a battle, it looked like a small skirmish. On the other hand the more 

recent 300, made the Spartans look like they were going at war against millions of 

Persian warriors. Overall some mat say recent films are better than the classics.

-   Sompong Viengvilai

The Scary Flower Shop

It’s a classic. The 1986 musical directed by Frank Oz, Little Shop of Horrors managed to form its own little cult following. It is a fun movie, and it is remembered as such. However, Roger Corman was the first to make a Little Shop of Horrors movie. He made the movie in 1960 over the course of just a couple of days. But which one of these is the better film?

Both of these films tell the same story: a young man, Seymour, has found a new breed of plant that is making him famous – think Venus Fly Trap on steroids. However, this plant does not “eat” the same foods that other, normal, plants eat. No, this one eats humans. So Seymour goes out in search of food for his plant. He is not so much a killer, more of a guy who is in the wrong place at the wrong time, but still finds dead people. He doesn’t like to kill, but he needs to do it in order to keep his plant alive and keep his fame alive. There is a love interest, Audrey, and Seymour has a real mean boss – common stuff. They are both good movies, but they tell their stories slightly different.

The biggest difference between the two versions is that Oz’s film is a musical, while Corman’s is not. Yet it is this musical that became a breakout hit. In my opinion, the greater success of Frank Oz’s film is because it is more fun than the original. Especially at the time it was made people were looking for those fun movies. Little Shop of Horrors was almost as fun for audiences as The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I would say because of Rocky Horror, Little Shop managed to gain so much fame.

Having the musical aspect of the film was definitely better for Oz. It created a different platform for him to present his material. Corman’s film is more two dimensional, whereas the musical gives the film three dimensions – metaphorically speaking.

Additionally, I felt as though Oz was able to portray social conflicts better in his film than Corman did in his. Through Oz’s film, it was very noticeable that the plant was a symbol for racism – it was the alien, much like how some felt of the blacks. Also, at the end of the movie Seymour was presented with the opportunity to make “Audrey II” a plant available commercial, and, in the original ending of the film (spoilers), these plants eventually take over the world. The cast was also far more diverse than Corman’s film. 

Another big difference between the two is the endings. (Spoilers ahead) At the end of the 1960 film, Seymour runs from the police after they discover he has been killing people to feed his plant. In the end, Seymour is eaten by the plant when he gets back into the flower shop to hide from the police. In the 1986 version, the original ending had both Seymour and Audrey die at the “hands” of the plant. However, Corman received poor response from this ending so he changed it to where Audrey and Seymour fight off the plant then run off and live happily ever after. Personally, I like the original ending better.

In Oz’s film, there are many cameos from famous actors of the time like Bill Murray, John Candy, and James Belushi. And, of course, everybody remembers Steve Martin playing the crazy dentist who finds waves of pleasure in other people’s pain. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Corman’s film. However in Corman’s film, the audience will get to see a very young Jack Nicholson.

            Even though Frank Oz was able to produce something completely different in his version of Little Shop of Horrors, I would have to say that I still prefer Roger Corman’s version. Corman’s is a little more flat, but I found it to be more entertaining, and not as ridiculous as Oz’s. I do not mean this in a bad way, I mean, both of the films are pretty ridiculous seeing how they are about a killer plant that eats humans to grow. So, in this instance, the original was the better film.

-Tyler Creek