NOOOOOO STOP IT! STOP IT NOW!

Now we get an American remake for 'El Orfanato'. Why? Because no studio has original ideas and the original ideas out there are not accepted by studios. So, instead, we get this. An English, American version of 'El Orfanato'.

In case you've never seen the original movie, I highly recommend it. It's creepy, scary, sad and wonderful and definitely NOT needed as a remake. Really if you can manage to bring yourself to read the subtitles, you'll be happy. It's not that hard. Or learn Spanish, either/or.

I've said this before regarding American remakes, there is nothing wrong with the originals. Remaking them is like saying the originals aren't good enough, or that because they are foreign they need to be made "right". This may be a wrong thought, but to me this is what it sounds like. I wonder if it's the thought that foreigners think when they read Americans are remaking their already great movies? Another reason they aren't needed is that in some cases, like 'Den Osynlige' ('The Invisible'), they remake them pretty much like the original and yet, somehow, manage to make them blah...And they change the ending to make it "happy". The whole damn movie is depressing, yet, let's make it a heart-felt, "American" ending.

'El Orfanato' (The Orphanage) being remade??

Reports are that the fantastic Spanish film is going to be remade (of course) for us Americans who are unable to read English subtitles while still being able to watch the action onscreen. At least I assume this is the reason, why else would you need to remake a movie from 2007? And a nearly perfect, suspenseful movie at that!

But...this might not be all that bad, oh no. You see, Guillermo del Toro himself has chosen Larry Fessenden to write and direct and we all love del Toro, so it might not be ALL bad. But really, is it needed? No. It's not needed as much as a remake of 'Låt den rätte komma in' isn't needed, which is not at all.*

*I know, I know. The remake of 'Let the Right One In' (now called 'Let Me In') isn't a remake, it's supposed to be more like the book. But it seems to be leaning towards making Eli look less androgynous and more obviously female/cutesy. Lina Leandersson nailed the role in the original and was able to meld those two sides of the character brilliantly and the last photos of the three girls possibly to play Eli in the remake fit that "cutesy girl" look. I hope I am wrong. Plus, it's a giant slap in the face to Swedish cinema to make a movie they already made brilliantly a year ago, over again with a new name. Just watch the original!


[I Watch Stuff]