The Big Picture: Americana

[vortexgods]

Hah! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

[a href="http://www.crunchyroll.com/demonbane/episode-1-i-am-providence-568214"]I am Providence.[/a]

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Interesting one, Bob. The bit about the Turkish (I think) Spider-man having an army of killer guinea pigs reminds me of that one South Park episode with the giant killer guinea pigs... the thought of which amuses me more than it should.

Anyway, good episode, can't wait for the one on the TMNT anime...

 

[Siege_TF]

I almost forgot about the anime adaptation of Harry Potter;
Naruto.
Believe it!

And Archie Comics the anime: Tenchi Muyo!

 

[Endocrom]

There is a suprising lack of Bollywood references here (just one that I saw).

Take of this what you will, I just thought it was an interesting quote.

"Financially, I would be more secure knowing that a particular piece of work has already done well at the box office. Copying is endemic everywhere in India. Our TV shows are adaptations of American programmes. We want their films, their cars, their planes, their Diet Cokes and also their attitude. The American way of life is creeping into our culture." -Vikram Bhatt [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood#Plagiarism]

 

[Mosstromo]

I am impressed Mr. Movie Bob. You know of El Santo. I know that internet bridges even the most inaccessible of cultural geo-points, but still, you had to recognise the "silhouette" to talk about the man.

On the subject proper: I think that you are correct to bring attention to the blurring barriers of re-makes or re-modellings done from and towards the USA production machine. There is nothing wrong with that, au contraire, it is a pretty healthy practice I figure... IF... not done just because it seems that the USA machine feels its citizens just cannot cope or handle any other culture but its own. I hope it is nothing of the sort. Nor a kind of desperation to find subjects elsewhere that are economically non-risky since they've proven themselves. Or even a dark and patriotic greed that figures film money should be kept within the "family" and not be give to outsiders.

In any case, as always, a very good show Mr. MovieBob, with very interesting and thought provoking observations.

 

[bloodstream]

Angry short rant incoming.

"The girl with the dragon tattoo" is a translation I've never been able to neither understand nor accept. Here we have a story with a magnificent title already, one that's in my opinion clever and interestingly telling about the story
"Men who hate women".

So what kind of asshat decided that "ooh I know, girl with dragon tattoo, yeah that'll sound cool".

To whomever made that decision
Sincerely, go fuck yourself.

angry rant ended.

 

[Cherry Cola]

You know, when I hear the title "The Big Picture", and the introduction is about Americanisation, I expect it to be an intelligent discussion about cultural imperialism. Not random references of shows and films based on American culture.

I don't think Bob has ever done any proper critical thinking over anything. He's just used his knowledge about film and tropes and it's somehow gotten him to this position.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Wonder why he didn't mention powerpuff girls z...

 

[MovieBob]

Angry short rant incoming.

"The girl with the dragon tattoo" is a translation I've never been able to neither understand nor accept. Here we have a story with a magnificent title already, one that's in my opinion clever and interestingly telling about the story
"Men who hate women".

So what kind of asshat decided that "ooh I know, girl with dragon tattoo, yeah that'll sound cool".

To whomever made that decision
Sincerely, go fuck yourself.

angry rant ended.

I have absolutely no source for this, but I'm willing to bet that that change in particular was more about genre bookstore marketing than anything else - in North America, "long-ish and vaugely character-descriptive" is the standard-format for the titles of mystery/detective thrillers in popular fiction; while "Men Who Hate Women" sounds (to a casual book-shopper) more like the title to any of a hundred relationship-advice books.

 

[KarlMonster]

Speaking of TGWtJDT, I've seen all three of the Swedish films, and they were fine, I guess. But there was a lot more material in the books to work with, which led to the trial in "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" seeming contrived and wanting. So from that angle, yeah I would be alright with an American remake.

On the other hand, Robert DiNero (I think?) appeared in the American version of another Swedish film called "Insomnia." A film which had absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I'm really hoping that Troll Hunter doesn't get Americanized. You just can't import a unique cultural cosmology and expect American moviegoers to 'get it'.

 

[munkymp3]

Haha~ I saw Turkish Star Wars. It was awesome XD However, I still don't like remakes unless they do right by the original by not completely butchering it, like the last film for Harry Potter. They did right by the book. Just because other countries are making cheap knockoffs, which I think we totally deserve for our equally cheap and racist knockoffs, doesn't mean we have to subject to the same thing. Hollywood producers can't even do right by America's own crowned jewels (referring to The Last Airbender; yes, A:TLA is a crowned jewel in my opinion and I am excited for Legend of Korra).