Sam Raimi Producing House of Flying Daggers Remake?
Here’s a weird story that’s been popping up over the last couple of months that seems pretty hard to believe, but may very well be true. Zhang Yimou’s romantic martial arts drama House of Flying Daggers is apparently on the remake train, and the man behind the updated version is none other than… Sam Raimi?
Back in December, Production Weekly listed a House of Flying Daggers remake as one of the projects currently in development at Columbia Pictures, with Raimi attached as a producer along with Josh Donen (The Quick and the Dead, Drag Me to Hell) and Ryan Carroll (Toolbox Murders). One would assume that this would fall under Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures imprint, but there is currently no information about it on their website.
I would certainly take this news with a grain of salt at the moment, but on the other hand, the needless remake plague does not just strike older movies, but also foreign films as well. In the case of House of Flying Daggers, it is a movie that is fairly well-known internationally, received solid reviews, and stars some recognizable names. What would be the point of remaking a movie like this? What do you think, can you actually see it happening? Are foreign film remakes more or less justified than remakes of older films?
Comments (13)
Oh man. I’m getting pretty sick of the “foreign movie amreican remake.” What a crock of shit. I really don’t understand the appeal. The old movie remake I could understand if a director wants to tell the same story from a different perspective. Even then the updates are usually superficial (eg special effects, today’s actors). But this cash-grab bullshit of telling the exact same story, only without subtitles. Are american audiences really this stupid, xenophobic and shallow? Apparently we are. I have no respect for anybody involved in these remakes.
Posted by Matt on February 23rd, 2009Doesn’t make any sense…so it’ll star american actors and be set where? This was released in American theatres! Can’t be happening.
Posted by Ryan M. on February 23rd, 2009“What would be the point of remaking a movie like this?”
My thoughts exactly.
Posted by joe on February 23rd, 2009Many critics were not kind to the original. The plot twist was laughable to everyone, and I thought everyone thought the story was lame. I think a mainstream audience would like the story.
People didn’t like the title either.
Some people liked the dancing sequence.
I loved the film because of the visual style and Ziyi Zhang.
I can see how this film could be Westernized. Just look at how Infernal Affairs was Westernized.
It’s easier to remake something than to come up with something on your own. North American mainstream audiences want to watch contemporary Caucasian or African-American actors speaking English.
I love remakes. You would think that remakes should be better but human nature makes us like old sh*t.
Posted by Reed Farrington on February 24th, 2009This is a new trend i’m noticing, every foriegn film in the last 5 years is being remade. Death at a Funeral for example, you never posted about this but that to is being remade, and that came out 2 years ago! I don’t want to be the guy bitching about how uncreative Hollywood is, because that isn’t completly the case, but this is getting to be to much. But then again like Reed said this could be a new “Departed”, but I don’t know. Like you said Sean, this movie is pretty well known. Idon’t know, I’m just getting tired of the constant remake news, this will probably never even happen.
Posted by Drew on February 24th, 2009They’ll probably turn it in to a western called The Saloon of Flying Bullets.
The original blew anyway so I don’t care.
Posted by swarez on February 24th, 2009Reed: You always think critics aren’t kind to the Asian films that you like. Where did you read this bad review… Pulse Niagara?
House of Flying Daggers is sitting at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. I’d say that is pretty kind.
Posted by Sean on February 24th, 2009This is how Reed thinks. He lives life liking things that others don’t. It kills him to agree with me or Sean on anything. This is his curmudgeonly way of life. He can’t admit to actually liking things that other people do (unless it’s the Pulse Niagara reviewers, or other people of such scholarly stature) so instead, he talks himself into the idea that these things are unpopular, thus avoiding being a part of the hype. According to him, nobody likes Star Trek. The few people who do? Losers. So he places himself outside of both of these groups….he only likes star trek when nobody’s looking (Pretending to NOT be excited by the release of the trailer and denying the fact that the only theatre going experience for him last year was NOT because of the Star Trek trailer screening before the film) and he’s not a loser like those other trekkies (except for when it’s used for comedic effect).
Reed is a true loner. A rebel.
Posted by Jay C. on February 24th, 2009I like Reed though. He’s a nice and open guy, who cares what movies he likes? I do find it strange that he doesn’t indulge more in his passion for Star Trek, but I’m sure it’s better when he’s not afraid of Jay and Greg.
Posted by Henrik on February 24th, 2009Plus he’s hilarious.
Posted by Henrik on February 24th, 2009In defense of Reed, perception is a funny thing. I think its part of being a cinephile or being into culture. When I go around saying Joe Dante is the single greatest American auteur filmmaker next to Woody Allen, people think I’m crazy and out of touch. But then if you individually talk about Gremlins, The Howling, The Burbs, etc. people will say “oh I love that movie, they don’t make em like they use to†So the assumption is people who aren’t that into something take a much more micro view of it than a macro view of it. Thus from this “elevated†position its easy to go around saying “No one appreciates Joe Dante’s canon like I do†Truth is they probably do but just don’t know it.
Posted by ProjectGenesis on February 24th, 2009I love it when people talk about me. It’s been a while since I got a compliment from Henrik. I thought he didn’t like me anymore. Thx, Henrik.
Seriously, I didn’t realize that HoFD was rated so high on Rotten Tomatoes. Maybe I saw two or three bad reviews that influenced my perception. Did HoFD make any money in NA? I thought it did poorly.
Jay, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s you and Sean that don’t like anything that I like. I know I’m a loser, but I have to believe I’m not in order to make it through the day.
As for Joe Dante, I don’t think he ever grew up. I hear his Masters of Horror entry was the best. I still haven’t seen it, yet. Anyone know why he gave up on the business? I don’t recall him making a bomb that caused him disfavor in Hollywood.
Posted by Reed Farrington on February 25th, 2009Anyone who didn’t like the original House of Flying Daggers keeps all their taste in their mouth. It was an amazing film. Seeing this movie got me into the whole Asian genre and I have bought dozens of films since then.
I can’t imagine Sam Raimi remaking it, though. He’d probably cast Bruce Campbell in it and that would be enough to keep me from seeing it. I have nothing against Bruce as Ash or Autolycus but not as a serious actor. If Ted Raimi ends up in it somehow, that would definitely remove all credibility as would recycling the cheesy sets and costumes from Army of Darkness/Hercules/Xena.
Posted by Joe on March 4th, 2009Leave a Reply