Friday, July 23, 2004
BY THE WAY...I WAS RIGHT, WASN'T I?
From a post on June 22nd. Given the news today about the opening of the movie, I thought I would take the time to say, "See, I told you so..." (with apologies to Rush Limbaugh)
I'm a big fan of the original 1962 thriller starring Frank Sinatra...The Manchurian Candidate. I'm also a big fan of Denzel Washington and Jonathan Demme. I've seen the trailers of the new version of the movie (based on a 1959 book) and I'm impressed...BUT...I have a couple of predictions to make about the film based on the current atmosphere in Hollywood. Of course, I could be wrong (I haven't seen the film), but my experience suggests the following:
1. Korea vs Gulf War - the original movie and book took place in the context of the Korean War and (without giving away too much of the plot) a soldier returning to collect a Medal of Honor only to find that the others who served with him are brainwashed by the "manchurian" communists. According to the teaser, the remake takes place in the Gulf War. I don't know how you get a manchurian (def. - "of or relating to or characteristic of Manchuria or its people or their culture") from an area of the world that has very few Chinese or Asian citizens. How can they change the race of the "villian" and not change the title of the movie? Why not still keep it based in Korea? North Korea is still full of communists last time I checked. That's Hollywood, I guess.
2. Commies vs Right Wing - my guess is that Hollywood wouldn't be able to live with themselves if they left the original villian a commie plot to assassinate and infiltrate the US Government. Based on past experience with other PC-washed villians, this one won't be ethnic or communist. Most likely, it'll be a white guy either influenced by neo-nazi's or right-wing business or political interests (all part of the same group according to the liberals). Those, it seems, are the only kind of villians Hollywood can accept these days. Anyone remember "The Sum of All Fears" and the PC-washing of the Arabic terrorists in favor of some cultish Nazi group in Germany? That's Hollywood, I guess.
I really hate to see re-makes of already classic films, but I like most Hollywood productions these days because we can update the intensity and ability to bring aspects of the plot we weren't able to portray into the mix...primarily because of the better special effects. No one would doubt, for instance, that the re-make of The Lord Of The Rings shouldn't have been done because it already had a movie to it's name. In some sense, I believe Hollywood has been doing re-makes out of laziness or lack of original writing...but there's a hidden reason or two. Some current directors think they can improve on the original with their "vision" - like "Psycho" or "Oceans 11." There's even a rumor that they're re-making "Flight of the Phoenix" - I think an offensive slap at one of Hollywood's greats, Jimmy Stewart.
The other reason is to "update it for our times" which means defend liberalism. And it coming out at the height of the political convention season is no coincidence. Don't forget, the original movie came out in 1962 - and there were some false stories that it was "pulled" from the theatres because Frank Sinatra was so upset by the killing of JFK...(it was never true).Let's face it, Hollywood is embarrassed by their past nods to patriotism and pride in American virtues and values. Hollywood believes both of past movies and of most current voters, that we are somehow all duped by simple messages and patriotic slug lines...if we only had the "vision" of what things "really are like" after careful studying (with liberal glasses) we would see the light.
Remember I posted this...then see the movie, and tell me I was wrong.That's Hollywood, I guess.
From a post on June 22nd. Given the news today about the opening of the movie, I thought I would take the time to say, "See, I told you so..." (with apologies to Rush Limbaugh)
- Drudge Report story
- Variety story - Director: "This is a movie about political brainwashing, and we're right back there again now'
I'm a big fan of the original 1962 thriller starring Frank Sinatra...The Manchurian Candidate. I'm also a big fan of Denzel Washington and Jonathan Demme. I've seen the trailers of the new version of the movie (based on a 1959 book) and I'm impressed...BUT...I have a couple of predictions to make about the film based on the current atmosphere in Hollywood. Of course, I could be wrong (I haven't seen the film), but my experience suggests the following:
1. Korea vs Gulf War - the original movie and book took place in the context of the Korean War and (without giving away too much of the plot) a soldier returning to collect a Medal of Honor only to find that the others who served with him are brainwashed by the "manchurian" communists. According to the teaser, the remake takes place in the Gulf War. I don't know how you get a manchurian (def. - "of or relating to or characteristic of Manchuria or its people or their culture") from an area of the world that has very few Chinese or Asian citizens. How can they change the race of the "villian" and not change the title of the movie? Why not still keep it based in Korea? North Korea is still full of communists last time I checked. That's Hollywood, I guess.
2. Commies vs Right Wing - my guess is that Hollywood wouldn't be able to live with themselves if they left the original villian a commie plot to assassinate and infiltrate the US Government. Based on past experience with other PC-washed villians, this one won't be ethnic or communist. Most likely, it'll be a white guy either influenced by neo-nazi's or right-wing business or political interests (all part of the same group according to the liberals). Those, it seems, are the only kind of villians Hollywood can accept these days. Anyone remember "The Sum of All Fears" and the PC-washing of the Arabic terrorists in favor of some cultish Nazi group in Germany? That's Hollywood, I guess.
I really hate to see re-makes of already classic films, but I like most Hollywood productions these days because we can update the intensity and ability to bring aspects of the plot we weren't able to portray into the mix...primarily because of the better special effects. No one would doubt, for instance, that the re-make of The Lord Of The Rings shouldn't have been done because it already had a movie to it's name. In some sense, I believe Hollywood has been doing re-makes out of laziness or lack of original writing...but there's a hidden reason or two. Some current directors think they can improve on the original with their "vision" - like "Psycho" or "Oceans 11." There's even a rumor that they're re-making "Flight of the Phoenix" - I think an offensive slap at one of Hollywood's greats, Jimmy Stewart.
The other reason is to "update it for our times" which means defend liberalism. And it coming out at the height of the political convention season is no coincidence. Don't forget, the original movie came out in 1962 - and there were some false stories that it was "pulled" from the theatres because Frank Sinatra was so upset by the killing of JFK...(it was never true).Let's face it, Hollywood is embarrassed by their past nods to patriotism and pride in American virtues and values. Hollywood believes both of past movies and of most current voters, that we are somehow all duped by simple messages and patriotic slug lines...if we only had the "vision" of what things "really are like" after careful studying (with liberal glasses) we would see the light.
Remember I posted this...then see the movie, and tell me I was wrong.That's Hollywood, I guess.
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