by TheMadDreamer

Created on: May 13, 2008

There is no reason for a movie to remade, none at all. In writing, if something is re-written again, we call it plagiarism. Even if the writer confesses to copying the work we don't let them continue to call it theirs. So why, when a film is remade, do we reward the film makers, and applaud them for their good choices? New actors, more action, better script. It's true that some films have been improved upon in their remakes, but this is only because the benefit of hindsight has allowed the film makers to see what can be improved upon. The fact is that these films were good to start with. The reason that they are remade is because the studios know that what has been successful once, will be successful again. Because there is a 'pre-existing fan base' for these films, there are people who are ready and waiting to see a sequel or a remake.

The fact is, is that movies are only remade so that the studios can gain maximum capital on 'property' which they already own. Think of it this way, when you're copying something, very little effort has to be put in to the work, because its already been done. Plus, because the industry know that there is an existing fan base for the film they don't have to worry to much about advertising and PR. They can also benefit from the fact that some people are just dumb enough or young enough not to know about the original, there is money to made all around.

The greatest problem we have facing us from the Hollywood film industry is that a major amount of films being released in the cinema are copies. Books, plays, TV shows, sequels, remakes... All of these adaptations and sequels are suffocating the realm usually reserved for creative scriptwriters and artistic directors. Plus, they are milking the realm of literature and television to do it. So, now they are not only running the chance of ruining old films, they are ruining books and plays as well. Adding to this dilemma is the fact that Hollywood is now not even giving a films (and in some cases, books) a grace period before they are remade. With the quality of Asian cinema increasing steadily in the past few years, Hollywood has decided to exploit what are incredibly contemporary films. At the moment a number of films are in production, remakes of Asian films which have only just gone on general release in the western world. A remake of the 2002 film 'Jungdok' is being released this year as the English 'Possession', likewise 'Gin Gwai' (2002) was released this year as 'The Eye'. 'Dark

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