Josh Brolin says "Oldboy" remake will keep octopus-eating and hammer fight

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

So many actors and actresses have been linked with Spike Lee's "Oldboy" remake that we have trouble recalling which ones actually scored the roles but things look to be settling down with "District 9" star Sharlto Copley joining Josh Brolin, taking the villain role last week, while Elizabeth Olsen is eyeing the female lead. From early in its conception, the project has been noted as drawing more from the graphic novel source rather than being a direct remake of Park Chan-wook's film but the biggest question has always been where and how Mark Protosevich's script differs.

Speaking with SlashFilm for "Men In Black III," Brolin has taken the opportunity to clear up a few points noting, when asked about the possible changes, that, "Yes [we'll keep the hammer fight]. And it’s a hammer and knife and all that stuff. And then will we keep the octopus, will we keep the other stuff? There’s some changes but I think it’s really good. It still makes me throw down the script half way through. Whoa."

The hammer fight has gained quite a bit of notoriety since the release of Park's film namely for it's scrolling video game-esque take depicting protagonist Oh Dae-su brutally fighting through a hallway of dudes looking to take him out. But as producer Roy Lee said last fall, Spike will be making his own imprint on it. "There’s a sort of different interpretation of that hallway scene that is going to hopefully be Spike’s signature moment in the movie that we want to show in a way that we’ve never seen done in an action movie," Lee said.

However, Brolin also added that he has, in fact, requested and earned the approval of the original's helmer for Lee's remake. "I love 'Oldboy' and I’m close with Chan-wook Park and I emailed him a couple months ago, just asking for his blessing to do this movie because if he had said ‘No,’ I wouldnt have done it. But I really respect his movie and we’ll make a little different movie and this whole idea of a more Hollywood version of it? Whatever. We’re just going to make a different version but have respect to the initial story and premise. I’m looking forward to it, man. I’m talking about it nervously right now because it makes me nervous."

Brolin, Lee, Copley (and potentially Olsen) are certainly an exciting team and we're keen to see where things go -- and just what these "new elements, new characters and new situations" are. Lensing begins in October.


Source: ThePlaylist

Comments

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Thing is, we don't need a freaking remake of a perfect movie

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

mte

[loverboy.livejournal.com]

If they keep the octopus in PETA's going to raise hell.

[sers-sers.livejournal.com]

this.

[fizzzzzzzzzzz.livejournal.com]

I agree but its probably bc most Americans arent crazy about subtitled films.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it's about "Western ideals".
Hollywood makes shitty remake of european films too

[rinn1e.livejournal.com]

The US have been doing remakes since decades ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English-language_films_with_previous_foreign-language_film_versions

The thing with the US, it has a big population of people that doesn't want to read subtitles. Dubbing the movie will be bad for the value of the movie. So directors tend to want to have a go at some foreign films that they deemed as profitable in the US. Most of the movies that the US remake in some way, has some western ideals in it already that they can somewhat fix. That's why you see them remaking movies from modern time, horror, romance and action rather than going for an Ancient History movie. Unless the movie is an adaptation of a manga/anime or a fantasy book (Last Airbender).

The US versions do give credits to the original, but everyone is more fixated on the US version because it came from Hollywood. It's not the US being dominant, but it's Hollywood that is known around the world, granted that Hollywood became known because of the US status decades ago, but still, it's from Hollywood, lead by big name actors, directors. And, it takes two to tango, if you gonna ask why the US keep doing remake, then why don't you ask the writers/owners of the original why they sell it to the US? They have a choice, to sell or not to sell. If they sell it, then the US will do a remake. If they don't sell it, then no remake.

[unlickdbearwhlp.livejournal.com]

Bet Lizzie Olsen's role will be expanded, 'cause ingenue. OTL She'll probably be in even more danger, with splosions and stuff. Mebbe not. Ionno. Spike Lee's done alright by "action". I wouldn't have really described the original as such tho. More a thriller, and then some. Action to me just means unnecessary noise and collateral damage. I'm happy to be wrong. Keep it tight.

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

If they remake SFLV...

[asth77.livejournal.com]

why does Hollywood want to make remakes


I mean, I love remakes especially when it is from an old film and the interesting part is that modern directors are going to adapt it with our time.
But Old Boy is not that... Old.
So, why does Hollywood need to make so many remakes or US versions and shit.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Because the american audience doesn't seem to like subtitles

[unreal.livejournal.com]

Because people like to watch brainless movies. And with Asian movies they need to think to much. So they rather have an US version that is brainless.

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine Oldboy with non-Korean actors.

[uledy.livejournal.com]

I will forever be against this no matter what. And I'm sorry, you had no choice but to include the hammer scene. The world would rage if you didn't (yes, it's that serious).

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

This remake is unecessary and we all know they're not gonna put "that" part in the american version so there is no point at all.

I'm a HUGE fan of the korean version which is AMAZING and I hate the idea of a remake.
If they wanted to make a new adaptation of the manga, okay but remaking the movie is utterly stupid

[o13blackcats.livejournal.com]

This is gonna be a disastuh.

But on another note, I tried live octopus while I was living in Korea, and it is actually pretty damn tasty if you only eat the tentacles (...and chew really quickly lol).

[kissuholic.livejournal.com]

Hollywood just has to ruin all the good stuff -_- None of their remakes, be it a remake of an Asian movie, or European, had outdone the original. They sucked.

Old Boy is perfection in its most cruel form. i doubt Hollywood would even understand the whole thing about this movie.


thou, i will gladly add the remake to my list of movies that sucked hard. Together with all the other remakes.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I absolutely hate remakes, they lack the love and effort put in to the originals. The Thing remake/prequel being the most awful thing ever made.

[pladpuss.livejournal.com]

Its because people are to lazy to watch the movies with subtitles. My friends wanted to watch tae guk gi and in the english dub which is bloody horrendous. I tried to make them watch it with subs but of course they told me they're too lazy to pay attention. Their loss honestly.

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

ugh, i'm having the hardest time trying to convince my friends to watch "headhunters" with me, so i totally understand :(

[anoukinparis.livejournal.com]

it's just funny to me cause i honestly /love watching foreign movies with subs. languages are beautiful and i want to hear them and all the nuances in someone's acting, not some really awful dubbing. dubbing is just super distracting and takes a lot more away from a film than having to read subtitles imo

[nene718.livejournal.com]

i don't know why spike of all people is whitewashing. maybe all of those courtside knicks tickets have made him desperate.

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

mte - of all the directors to direct a whitewashed Oldboy, I never thought it would be him. :/

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

at this point i'm already sick of complaining so i'm hoping that spike lee puts a fresh spin on it and it won't be a scene by scene copy.

i hated the departed (remake of infernal affairs) and when i come across other people saying how good it is, i get kinda pissed off. the original was sooo much better in terms of acting, pacing and story. even accomplished directors like scorsese can't replicate the greatness of a masterpiece.

[rinn1e.livejournal.com]

Just cause The Departed came from Hollywood and won Academy Award for Best Picture... OTL.


And, well, you can't do much if the owners of the original sell the rights to Hollywood.

[sakatamarie.livejournal.com]

Seriously, Hollywood has to stop these shitty remakes.
I mean, Dragon Ball Evolution wasn't flop enough? lol

[phililen3.livejournal.com]

AAAAAAH Dragon Ball... I would slit my throat gladly thank you very much.