Parasite (2019) is a Korean movie which got international success and was rated highly due to sharp social commentary on class inequality with a thrilling, genre-bending plot combined together, but the dynamic of the movie is expressed from a SK point of view about economic pressures and modern class divides.
There are also cultural contexts to keep in mind that won’t translate into American culture such as:
- Banjiha housing: The Kim family reside in a semi-basement apartment, which is a distinct urban housing type in Seoul born from historical 1970s civil defense laws.
- Jjapaguri: The upper-class Mrs. Park orders jjapaguri (a mix of two instant noodles, Chapagetti and Neoguri) topped with expensive Korean beef Hanwoo, a specific local comfort food combo.
- National health exams: There are specific plot points relying on South Korea’s public health system and annual medical checkup schedules.
- Suseok: The gift of a decorative viewing stone satirizes traditional Korean middle-class aspirations for wealth and prestige.
Even if they could recreate an English-language remake of Parasite, would there have to be adjustments in order to suit American subculture? As in, Suseok isn’t a thing in America and Westerners don’t eat Jjapaguri, so they may replace that with something entirely different or swap Jjapaguri for another noodle dish or pasta.
Will a US remake really carry the same impact as the original if it were to be created? Would it be good or turn out terrible as it’s hard to capture what makes the original special for audiences?
They’re generally not.
They’re typically an improvement in production quality. They only place they’re weaker sometimes, is when they try to make substantive changes to the story. That can be hit or miss.
I mean I agree that there’s plenty of good to decent American remakes, but higher production value doesn’t necessarily make for a better movie man. Movies are an art form and there’s all sorts of things like style and tone that money isn’t necessarily going to solve for you. Sometimes a movie’s lower production value can add to it even if the filmmakers are inventive enough.
Provide some examples? The only recent (“recent”) remake I can think of that was better than the original is…The Office lol
American Office is unwatchable for me
Girl with the Dragon Tatoo
Let Me In > Let the Right One In
The Ring > Ringu
The Italian Job
Insomnia
12 Monkies > La Jetée
True Lies > La Totale!
The Departed > Infernal Affairs
They all have better production quality. Most keep the same story with minor alterations. A few make real story improvement or expansion.
Thanks, didn’t realize those last 3 were remakes.
I liked girl with the dragon tattoo but was kinda meh on the rest. Only saw the original of the ring, though
Dragon Tattoo is the one where I thought the original was better, but the remake is also very good. They have a different style