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The Wicker Man - 8/12/2006 10:34:58 PM   
NakedOnMyChain


Posts: 2431
Joined: 11/29/2004
From: Indiana
Status: offline 		I'm sure that quite a few of you have seen the commercials for the remake of the movie "The Wicker Man", starring Nicholas cage.  However, some of you might remember the original.  It came out in 1973 and starred the ever-fantastic Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle.  The island's inhabitants follow a religion loosely based on modern Wicca (I say loosely because we obviously don't sacrifice people), and the events occur around Beltane (Mayday).  If you'd like a better plotline, click here... http://www.steve-p.org/wm/plot.htm

I love the original.  What bothers me is that the remake is made out to be some kind of supernatural thriller.  The original isn't at all, really.  The focus was more on the relationships of the characters and how a very traditional psyche deals with being surrounded by very non-traditional people.  The new movie puts the focus on shock value and mysteria, with the little missing girl having died and reappearing as a ghost. 

My question is, does anyone think they lost something in translation to make it "interesting" to audiences now?  Why did the film makers feel the need to take something that was fantastic in its original form and warp it to the convenience of an easy ticket sale?  From the previews it seems as though most of the meaning has been utterly lost.  I won't pass final judgement until I've seen it, but I suppose something deep in my sentimental self is a bit wounded by how the film appears to have been warped.


And now, for a favorite quote:

Lord Summerisle:  "We are a deeply religious people."
Sergeant Howie:  "Religious?  With ruined churches, no ministers, no priests, and children dancing naked?"
Lord Summerisle: "They do love their divinity lessons."
Sergeant Howie:  "But they're naked!"
Lord Summerisle:  "Naturally.  It's much too dangerous to jump through a fire with your clothes on."

_____________________________

"Oh, it's torture, but I'm almost there."
~The Cure

"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."
~The Labyrinth
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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 1:17:21 AM   
IronBear


Posts: 9008
Joined: 6/19/2005
From: Beenleigh, Qld, Australia
Status: offline 		What bothers me is this will most likly have an all American cast. When the movie Hornblower staring Gregory Peck (great actor) was made, you had the problem of a British Naval Captain with an American Accent.. The Wicca Man (The film script was almost word for word from the book both of which I have), is a UK oriented story and it would be sad if the actors irrespective how good they are use a US accent. Perhaps Hollywood should do considerable research regarding the traditions and history behind the Wicca man as such events were known in both the UK and Europe based opn Celtic/Druidic verbal traditions.. The alternative would be to film an American Documentary where the good guys build a giant wicca man and fill it with GW Bush and his right wing Christian extremist mates and torch it in the center of Central Park.. Would do much for US/World relations I'd guess..

< Message edited by IronBear -- 8/13/2006 1:19:29 AM >

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Your attitude, words & actions are yours. Take responsibility for them and the consequences they incur.

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(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 1:31:21 AM   
Dauric


Posts: 254
Joined: 7/13/2006
Status: offline 		You're all hoping too much of commercial Hollywood. Used to be called HollyWeird, but at some point the deprogrammers got to 'em, they're all wearing business suits and checking their stock portfolios now.

Maybe if everyone at CM got together we could do an indie adaptation of "The Wicker Man"......

$0.02

Dauric.

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 1:46:48 AM   
PAVANE


Posts: 118
Joined: 1/3/2005
Status: offline 		iron bear, trouble is of course its the suits who decide who is going to b in a film and where it is set. unfortunately they seem to  think american audiences will only go to see a film starring americans or set in america.
could u let me know who the author is as i would like to read the book and its title if different from wicker man.
did u know the original film was meant to b a musical btw?

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 2:49:49 AM   
meatcleaver


Posts: 9030
Joined: 3/13/2006
Status: offline 		Somehow I can't see the Brit Ekland scene being as hot in the remake as it is in the original because no doubt it will be censored to get the widest popular audience. Having got the Wicca Man in my collection, I can't see me being bothered to watch any remake as a remake would be a pointless exercise.

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 4:25:48 AM   
WhiplashGirlChld


Posts: 78
Joined: 6/18/2006
Status: offline
quote:

I love the original. What bothers me is that the remake is made out to be some kind of supernatural thriller. The original isn't at all, really. The focus was more on the relationships of the characters and how a very traditional psyche deals with being surrounded by very non-traditional people. The new movie puts the focus on shock value and mysteria, with the little missing girl having died and reappearing as a ghost.
  I have seen the original and the full trailer of the remake and I don't find these assessments to be the case, personally.  I found the original to be tense and thrilling and quite supernatural, in much the way many modern movies are.  The mindgames played on the poor man are such a turn of the screw, and I found the trailer for the new version to echo a great deal of this, though I am sure special effects are used to a much greater extent...enough to change the tenor of the movie somewhat.  In any case, I am excited to see it was remade and want to see it.  Luckily I am astute enough to know it is a movie, and not intended as a real portrayal of neo-pagan practices.  (Kinda like how "Jesus Christ Superstar" isn't how Sunday services look at my church.)  I do hope it is at least respectful and not overly focused on stereotypes.

< Message edited by WhiplashGirlChld -- 8/13/2006 4:29:40 AM >

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The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!" - Lear

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 7:39:26 AM   
philosophy


Posts: 5284
Joined: 2/15/2004
Status: offline 		.....i do find it sad though, that Hollywood feels the need to take this fine story from the cultural context in which it arose so they can set it in America. Obviously this is for commerical reasons, but i am curious........most other countries round the world have no prejudice against films being set abroad and with foreigners in them......what is it about American film that it feels the need to shield its audiences from such things? Or is it something that truly comes from audiences rather than the studios?

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 1:09:38 PM   
LadyEllen


Posts: 10931
Joined: 6/30/2006
From: Stourport-England
Status: offline 		The original is a masterpiece, even with its typically British production values - a remake will have a hard time living up to it.

On the one hand I dislike the way Hollywood steals British cultural icons and achievements to produce its wares - War Of The Worlds and the obtaining of the Enigma machine from a submarine being two examples - on the other hand its good to know that here on our little island we produce stuff and achieve things which are worth stealing!

I will await the film before saying anything more than that I hope that the remake does not portray pagans and paganism as satanic and satanism. Such a portrayal might fit the mindset in the bible belt, and sell more tickets, but if I were to make a film about christians and christianity in that way (not difficult considering the cannibalistic nature of that religion and its glorification of barbaric cruelties and tortures), I'd be sued.

E

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 1:26:10 PM   
FangsNfeet


Posts: 3758
Joined: 12/3/2004
Status: offline 		Hollywood has been out of movie ideas for a long time now. All they can do now is remake movies, turn old TV series into Movies, and pull up historical events to make both fiction and non fiction movies.

In the case of a remake, it will normally be remade with more effects, suspense, and mystery. The story line will also be altered somewhat which will either focus on a different topic or emphasize more on the origional meaning of the movie.

Anyhow, I try not to make a point to compare movies. A remake will usually concentrate more on the original written version or turn the movie into something completly different only using the original movie as an idea. The title attracts more viewers.




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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 1:36:11 PM   
Alumbrado


Posts: 5560
Status: offline 		The bottom line in theater, live or filmed, is 'butts in seats'.

If that means re-casting popular black actors like Denzel as the Prince of Aragon, or  Will Smith as  Lije Bailey or Jim West, or if that means gender bending roles such as making the hard boiled power broker in Inside Man a woman so that Jodie Foster can be added to the cast, or even sticking corn fed accents like Kevin Costner into Robin Hood's tights, guess what? 
It is a business decision.
Black people and women go to movies too, and Americans buy Shakespeare and folk tales in droves.

Anyone who wants to buck that trend is welcome to take advantage of the latest technology to make their own movie, and be as 'purist' in the casting as they wish, (and make sure that only a tiny handful of people ever see it).

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RE: The Wicker Man - 8/13/2006 3:52:49 PM   
NakedOnMyChain


Posts: 2431
Joined: 11/29/2004
From: Indiana
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: WhiplashGirlChld

I have seen the original and the full trailer of the remake and I don't find these assessments to be the case, personally.  I found the original to be tense and thrilling and quite supernatural, in much the way many modern movies are.  The mindgames played on the poor man are such a turn of the screw, and I found the trailer for the new version to echo a great deal of this, though I am sure special effects are used to a much greater extent...enough to change the tenor of the movie somewhat.  In any case, I am excited to see it was remade and want to see it.  Luckily I am astute enough to know it is a movie, and not intended as a real portrayal of neo-pagan practices.  (Kinda like how "Jesus Christ Superstar" isn't how Sunday services look at my church.)  I do hope it is at least respectful and not overly focused on stereotypes.


I guess that's the big difference.  I don't see the original as having much of a supernatural element.  It had its moments, but for the most part it seems more about mind-games, really.  I'm just having a hard time wrapping my brain around how the remake could show the girl randomly disappearing from thin air and have her still be alive.  Short of seriously messing with the plot, I don't know how they could pull it off.

< Message edited by NakedOnMyChain -- 8/13/2006 3:53:35 PM >

_____________________________

"Oh, it's torture, but I'm almost there."
~The Cure

"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."
~The Labyrinth

(in reply to WhiplashGirlChld)
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