American Ripoffs of Good Foreign Films

[@kmn9568]

One thing I'd like to say, yes the hallway scene in the remake is well coreographed, but it's worth noting that they completely americanized (hollywooded?) it. In the original scene, there's a lot of focus placed on how desperate he fights, how tired he gets, in this scene Josh Brolin just savagely beats on 50 guys and gets backstabbed in the end. The point of the original was to showcase the reslience of an ordinary man, not the fighting prowess of a war machine

[@AlexBoucher]

Great point. A similar conclusion could be made for many of the scenes from the American remakes. They tend to recreate the scene at face value without considering the deeper story motives.

[@rateryte7903]

good shit, man. Was looking for more video essays on foreign films and came across this absolute masterpiece of a video. Absolutely amazing.

[@AlexBoucher]

Thank you so much!

[@ShermTank7272]

One major upside of the Internet and mass communication is that both cinemaphiles and the general audience are becoming more and more aware of "Americanized" movies like this. 30 or so years ago, very few people would know that movies like this had better original versions.

[@currypablo]

In Europe, filmmaking is less of a commercial endeavor than in Hollywood. In Europe, filmmakers receive subsidies from their respective governments and treat their audience with respect by actually writing great stories that don't go on auto-pilot; unlike in America where it's all about how much money your most recent film made the studio . In Europe and East Asia, they have a great culture where filmmaking and theater are thought of as respective crafts, which require refinement. America has a great history when it comes to cinema and theater; however, the movie business in America has become more corporate dominated in the last 30 years as compared to the hey days of the 60s and 70s.

[@carolinekamya2339]

yep! great vid!

[@jgnogueira]

I would argue that the comercial trend in the usa already started in the 70's with the new hollywood movement, that started as filmakers inovating with high budget films, until films became too expansive and the movies ended up being written by whatever was popular and Making money back in the Day, in the 80's were actions films,90's a mix of sci fi and war films, the early 2000's was mostly about fantasy with some mix with sci fi and the 2010's is the superheroes wave we are seeing now

[@fattelitirare4117]

americans.. u are clowns. u just be a copycat

[@jesustovar2549]

@@jgnogueira Nah the 70s were mostly time where Hollywood started to recruit young, unknown and promising independent filmmakers who just finnished their film studies, same with actors, now most of those are living legends by now, 80s and 90s started with popular juvenile blockbusters after Spielberg and Lucas showed what could be done with Jaws and Star Wars, there was still space for other films such as action, drama, comedy, romance, horror, biopics, etc... There's no much variety in Hollywood these days, the genres that I mentioned are all mixed up now in superheroe movies and sci-fi/fantasy/horror franchises to attract normie audiences.

[@thebasedgodmax1163]

@@jesustovar2549 90s also had a 70s style thing to it. lots of indie guys getting recognition

[@prerna_padma]

I thought this video would just some listing of the remakes but my god, it's very detailed, very well written, i think this one qualifies as a video essay! Great work, make more of these 👍👍

[@kenthwangdotcom]

Nice shout-out to subtitled flicks! Thank you, Alex.

[@Kirusei]

Its kinda funny how, as a martial arts movie fan, ended up watching The Intouchables first for a french class in high school before watching Oldboy(not exactly a martial arts movie, but famous for the hallway scene) hearing that The Intouchables was getting an american remake honestly upset me

[@approachingetterath9959]

i was looking for a video ripping into hollywood's/americans' need for making/having their own americanized version of everything rather than watching foreign movies. i guess i was also hoping for some deep psychological reason for this perceived aversion haha. "it's not better, just more american" and "taking from other parts of the world and making a more bland, sanitized, greasy version" really drive the point home of why i find most american remakes so insufferable. i really enjoyed your essay and i think it was very competently made and you had great points and obersavtions. it was structured nicely and the quality of the video overall is very good. i wish you success here for the future :)

[@aidengrips]

When they take a foreign movie and try to make a remake they just always forget that the charm of the initial culture and the authenticity of their vision were the things that gave the movie that unique aura in the first place. Trying to make the same movie in that beaten Hollywood pattern just can't deliver the same experience

[@Embargoman]

As to say the Magnificent 7 is a remake of the 7 Samurai film and yet I notice the 1998 Godzilla is not the same with the original Godzilla from Japan and this keeps going on and so on. Some American remakes of foreign TV shows come out better than the foreign predecessor but then the opposite happens. Most likely all these films including the Kaiju has it’s uniqueness and to say American remakes of Japanese big monster movies and so on even British movies and TV shows have their own remake and their best in their own right.

[@billboucher1348]

Wow Alexandre! Excellent. La meilleure analyse que tu as réalisé jusqu'à maintenant. Continue et merci.

[@AlexBoucher]

Merci beaucoup!

[@lukekingsland5851]

Are Americans just opposed to non-American things, in general? I mean what percentage of Americans watch Football (Soccer), Cricket, Snooker? And the amount of UK sitcoms that get remade into AWFUL US equivalents is harrowing.

[@trashboat5388]

To a certain extent yes. Most Americans don't have an appreciation of true art.

[@grouchypseudopod354]

Not sure how the algorithm brought me here, but damn, these are some terrific essays.

[@masterseal0418]

There's one thing missed in this: [🔴REC] Vs Quarantine(2008). The former is an amazing found footage horror flick with a shocking yet satisfying twist at the end, the latter is a shallow copy of the Spanish masterpiece whose poster spoiled the ending and the cast was "Americanized", compared to their counterparts since [🔴REC] took place in Barcelona, Spain; Quarantine was critically panned in the process after initial release all because it was 'too foreign for the USA'.

[@biotrekker]

Another thing that happens in Americanized versions of foreign films is the need for a "happy" ending especially when it comes to relationships and bad guys getting their comeuppance. I will point to the original 1972 French "The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe" vs. the bland Americanized version "The Man With One Red Shoe" w/o giving away spoilers. It's clear the American filmmakers did not really "get" the comedy of the French film.

[@justinarzola4584]

I find foreign so much more enjoyable than American films, the 80s were the last time Hollywood tried being creative, Tarantino seems to be the only one with artistic integrity these days.

[@ksenss2513]

It's such a shame the european films are shown so seldomly in the US. They could learn so much about the countries these films were made in by just simply watching and enjoying the originals. I do learn so much about our european neighbours and asian countries by watching those films.

[@Luis-vv6gw]

This video actually made me want to watch all those foreign flims

[@TititoDeBologay]

With the talks of an English iteration of Drunk with Leonardo DiCaprio for the next Oscar bait, this is a very needed essay. As a francophone, I believe Holywood, beyond the 💰 considerations, truly disrespects the audience's ability to engage with movies,in general, let alone with them piss poor "adaptation", hence the overuse of music to cue in where It's supposed to be funny or sad. Or the surface level reproduction of major scenes, completely devoid of intent. I'm still mad about "Le dîner des cons" U.S. version, what even was that?

[@lofthestars2088]

The most interesting case of this is probably Head full of honey. It is quite a good german Film and Till Schweiger, the director or producer, remade it himself for the American audience.

[@jaffersitolegaspi189]

Good analyse. Love the comedy. Keep it up. It was actually really entertaining. Quality is way too good

[@AlexBoucher]

thanks man I appreciate the comment :)

[@johnk5398]

Just got to say, I subscribed a minute into this video. Your humor and editing style is awesome!

[@Watershake99]

“Americanise, americanise, view the world through american eyes” A line from a song, made for an american remake of a japanese movie

[@Watershake99]

Also I’ve been seeing posters for ‘a man called Otto’ and I hate that

[@aztro4010]

I mean I don't mind there being an American Remake of any Foreign film, as long as it's great.

[@rikkTV]

I was so confused when you showed footage of Force Majeure, because I had no idea that Kristofer Hivju was in the original as well.

[@shinigamisougiya1576]

There is a black and white film that is important to my country. You would think that touching that film would be difficult. However, China successfully made a remake in 2006. Not only did they keep all the characters the same nationality/ethnicity as they are supposed to be because this is NOT a Chinese story to tell, but they also improved by adding extra stuff on the film that didn't feel pointless. But seeing how America has handled other stories from my country, I would cry if they ever touched that film because it would be defiled so hard.

[@Daneelro]

Interestingly, the original Oldboy itself is an adaptation of a Japanese manga which strongly deviated from its source material (leading to some disputes).

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

I have no idea oldboy was a manga

[@Daneelro]

@@kittykittybangbang9367 It's a 79-chapter manga titled Old Boy by writer Garon Tsuchiya and illustrator Nobuaki Minegishi. The story is similar, but the protagonist is much younger, there is no incest angle, the captor's revenge motivation is entirely different (and very much something out of Japanese culture), and the general tone is also different. The manga was good enough for me to read it all, but the Korean film adaptation is definitely better.

[@NerdySwede]

I've literally never even heard of the remakes but know of the originals so that's something

[@lovritos757]

Keep making videos. Great quality

[@AlexBoucher]

Thanks! I've got a new one coming up later this week.

[@banepus]

yes finally, watched old boy a while ago, then i saw there was an american version, and i thought «why?». same with the new «Otto» movie, the Swedish movie is fine

[@Hellschwarz]

Interesting, I saw this and thought "well this has to have like a million views, right?" nope, 10k subscribers, 7,6k views. This is great work. I hope you make it some day.

[@msmalice6007]

A textbook example of this is the French film LOL which has an American remake by the same director, same camera angles, same music but lacks any authenticity or even basic entertainment of the original. Instead of Sophie Marceau it’s Demi Moore and far worse instead of Christa Theret it’s Miley Cyrus

[@JacasGraphics]

And now, "A MAN CALLED OTTO" joins the pack

[@iamidnight9731]

Just found your channel and lovin' the high quality content. Keep it up. 👍

[@ambre_9774]

Hey, I’m French and I love your videos

[@sharptoothtrex4486]

Even an American version of Department Store from the 1986 Italian original Grandi Magazzini is a great one Columbia Pictures must do even if the 1986 Italian version is not English Dubbed.

[@elijahthompson1120]

It’s been looking for someone to confirm my own opinions. Thanks!

[@TheZonnyx]

Great video! Deserves way more exposure! Hollywood's time has passed.

[@Dogasupreme]

10:45 Dude is playin' Yakuza

[@lucieboily3093]

Quelle analyse juste et bien élaborée.

[@AlexBoucher]

Merci!

[@Shmeb_]

amazingly underrated vid! well done! :)

[@nobrainerneeded4229]

I watched whole Millennium saga aka Girl with dragon tattoo in its original version, then watched the one with Daniel Craig and was amazed that they even produced it. Same was with Taxi made by Luc Besson and Gérard Pirès and then they did one with Queen Latiffa and it was garbage. I think they just do remakes cos Americans don’t like to read subtitles.

[@CommonSenseBodybuilding]

Hey mate, love the content and variety, congrats on the Pumping Iron video blowing up too.

[@daniellandaverde3148]

Watch every jim carrey movie in till Sonic 3 movie

[@trevorlambert4226]

If you do a sequel to this, I imagine you could use "A Man Called Ove" and "A Man Called Otto". I haven't seen the remake, but I have a lot of faith in it being a massive turd.

[@Daneelro]

Even though I like Tom Hanks, I refuse to watch it. I live far away from Sweden but even I recognised the lots of Swedish cultural specialities in the original, these won't even translate.

[@lemon8890]

Yeah I feel that music in films nowadays so manipulative and insulting to me because it's like they try to tell me how to feel instead of sincerely work to making me feel it you know?.

[@andrzejnowak4315]

Dutch-french triller from 1988 Spoorloos (The vanishing) vs 1993 The vanishing (with Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Kiefer Sutherland) hollywoodly ripped-off by its director George Sluizer and israelian-german comedy from 1978 Eis am stiel (Lemon popsticle) vs 1982 The last american virgin (but original Eis am stiels is a little based on hollywoodian 1973 American graffiti) hollywoodly ripped-off by its director Boaz Davidson.

[@angelp4724]

Intouchable is a great film! I used it to learn French haha

[@arroys8345]

remaking a film to bring a diffèrent vision of it's thematic and story can be great, remaking a film because the original worked well is just gredy and will never be an artistic endeavor worth anyone's time. Ho and nice effort on the prononciation, i appreciate the hassle. :)

[@Astrotase]

You blowing up my nigga

[@CmotDribbler]

I saw Oldboy and Intouchables in theatre so made sure they got my money. They were both fantastic, Oldboy was a freaking mindfuck film, I loved it so much. Just know Kevin Hart, Brian Cranston and Josh Brolin are in the remakes that's enough for me to not want to watch them.

[@jesustovar2549]

It really surprised me when I saw The Upside remake, I wondered, was it necessary? the original movie was already beautiful and is very popular outside France, I don't see the point of wanting to remake a movie based on true events (if the movie was true to the story), I also remember a French movie about choir boys and a teacher that was later remade with Dustin Hoffman. But not all these remakes bad, Scent of a Woman with Al Pacino is a remake from an italian movie called "Profumo di donna".

[@nadagabri5783]

Is the departed a remake? Who I didn’t know that. Love The departed

[@ken_9359]

My dad told me the Magnificent Seven was really based on the Japanese movie The Seven Samurai. Blatant ripoff.

[@David_a_journeyman_curmudgeon]

Watching The Upside scenes gave me second hand embarrassment.

[@lemon8890]

All your videos is actually well done and well edit I'm still honestly surprised that you are not getting more views.

[@Oujouj426]

Hollywood simply doesn't have respect for the movie industries of other countries. These movies *could* be done well, they *could* be worthwhile, but no one involved in their making really cared to ever learn what made the originals work.

[@borat656]

For your foreign film list, just saying, as I must: Burning. That is all.

[@optimascrime5235]

It's called subtitles American's...And also original idea's anyone????😂

[@justins8634]

My only problem with this video is that not enough people have seen it

[@CommonSenseBodybuilding]

It’s amazing to see that The Upside is in fact so inferior yet one of my favourite movies, I guess I’m a basic bitch haha, but I’ll definitely be watching the original now!

[@AlexBoucher]

The Upside was the best of the American remakes! But yeah it doesn’t hold a bougie to Intouchable, you’re gonna love it.

[@xepfeon]

i'm dreading the american remake of Another Round, even if it has Leo DiCaprio attached to it

[@AlexBoucher]

You’re joking right? Didn’t Another Round just come out last year?

[@xepfeon]

@@AlexBoucher nope, they bought the rights to do a remake, shortly after it's oscar-win

[@AlexBoucher]

At least Thomas Vinterberg got a fat check and another round will get a lot of attention once the remake comes out :)

[@xepfeon]

@@AlexBoucher one movie, i hope gets more attention after the oscars this year, its the danish animated documentary "Flee", i know that some american cinephiles has already seen it and love it

[@Privateinvite]

Bird Box Barcelona was freaking Terrible compared to its American counterpart Bird Box (USA).

[@paytonturner1421]

I wonder if AI will do perfect dubs of foreign films so we don't have to see awful remakes.

[@maxboucher]

Best vid yet!

[@AlexBoucher]

no way you're my favourite youtuber! loved the new vid bro

[@thejohnbeck]

don't be too mad, Hollywood has little creativity left

[@riffbaama]

99% of remakes are bad, but I'm not against them. I mean... Martin Scorsese did a remake and is even better than the original (The Departed) and Scarface with Al Pacino is also a remake, and that one is also great. So from time to time, something good happens, and I'm thankful for it.

[@lucieboily3093]

Excellent!

[@Daneelro]

Some more horrible Hollywood rip-offs of foreign films: _Shall We Dance_ (the Japanese original is a bittersweet miracle strongly tied to the former Japanese taboo of dancing in public, the re-make with Richard Gere & Jennifer Lopez is a mess that was sanitized of the attempted marital infidelity angle) _The Jackal_ (there _are_ some fans of the Bruce Willis remake, but don't they notice that most of the effort he makes is overblown and doesn't make any sense, while the original _The Day of the Jackal_ had a logic to it throughout and Edward Fox was ice-cold?) _The Tourist_ (even Johnny Depp & Angelina Jolie could not sell what Yvan Attal & Sophie Marceau did in _Anthony Zimmer_ just five years earlier) Some less awful Hollywood rip-offs of foreign films, but the originals are still better: _Three Men and a Baby_ (the French original _Trois hommes et un couffin_ was a bit more daring) _Three Fugitives_ (Martin Short & Nick Nolte could inhabit the characters and they found a great child actress, but Pierre Richard, Gérard Depardieu & the original child actress in _Les fugitifs_ were each better)

[@michixinqq]

Lmao I honestly didn't even know Intouchables got an american remake. My beloved movie which I probably saw about 20 times now. Why would they even do that?! Disguisting

[@nadagabri5783]

I have to watch the original French version of the Kevin Hart Brian / Cranston - UPSIDE remake. I very much like the remake. Although you make good points about the background music etc.

[@lionelmessi2095]

Alguien tenía que decirlo 🤟

[@nickjacobs4265]

You are good

[@mrjukeboxparty4563]

Can you really call it a rip off when the American version is better?

[@Daneelro]

Give us a single example.

[@amanbirbthe4th967]

1. Yes 2. They quite literally aren't Average american: