It will be a very different film from the original and, to my dismay, probably worse. A samurai film is always good news so, let’s wait and see.
Miike has already remade other movies and the remakes are far from the original experiences, not "nowhere near the quality’ but practically only similar in title alone.
That said, link?
—PolarisDiB
Del Toro’s film will be one to watch for considering that Lovecraft has written some very filmable material. ATMOM will be tough to recreate though.
Remaking Harakiri is like remaking Citizen Kane. Seriously, you don’t touch a classic.
What good has Miike done recently to give him such confidence?
I heard that he was making a samurai film but I definitely did not know that it would be this. I’d hate to see this film ruined by Miike version. He’s made some cool movies but he’s also made a shit load of bad ones too. We’ll see what happens.
Miike is a genius, and his recent remake of the samurai classic ‘13 assassins’ was a super awesome re-imagination. Miike is also one to not adhere to the traditional sequel/remake tendencies. He’s going to blow this movie out of the water. I’m very excited.
Eh, I don’t know how credible this news is. It sounds like an impossible pairing to me, and if it is true, it sounds like an irrecoverable disaster. Either way, Miike’s the kind of artist who seems to work on a gazillion projects (completing most of them too – which is admirable) and only generates a few worthwhile ones. I still haven’t seen every single Miike film, but it doesn’t sound too fulfilling to have to wade through 600 of his films to find one of worth, so I’ll get to it when I feel like it – his cavalier approach deserves that much.
I’m so conflicted right now. You know there is no way in hell this movie should be remade but at the same time Miike could be the perfect person to remake it.
I also don’t look forward to Miike’s remake of Harakiri . btw, I don’t like his films, so it would be a blasphemy to let someone like him to remake such a classic :(
Seeing as I will never watch this film, this does not matter to me any more than if my 13 year old neighbor attempted to remake it.
This can only be good.
I believe mr. kasman is on to something! I mean, really, think about it. IMO every remake miike has done has re-imagined the original work super brilliantly. Full Metal Yakuza, 13 Assassins, and especially Graveyard of Honor. The man will not fail with what will probably be the most iconic remake he will ever create.
Well, the re-make director lost me as soon as I read 3D.
That is terrible news.
terrible indeed. I suppose he wasn’t too happy that mostly only topknots were severed in the original.
Not sure if I’ve seen a Miike film (did he make Audition?). Anyway, I love Harakiri, and I’m not too enthused about a remake.
Harakiri is the best samurai film ever made, in my opinion not even Kurosawa’s best is as good as it (i prefer his modern settings). So if one of the cinema gods can’t compete, how can Miike?
:0
only an emoticon will do in times like these…
That Western he made years ago was complete garbage in my opinion. Has he improved since then?
I second what Daniel Kasman said a few months back.
it’s gotta be better than this? 47 ronin
oooooooh . . . arty!:
Well, personally I’m looking forward to this….
I don’t mind Miike remaking one of Kobayashi’s undeniable masterpieces but I hope he doesn’t have any expectations of surpassing the original vision. Auteur or not, I truly hope Miike is doing it for the fun of it and not for diminishing the memory of a classic.
I’m almost positive that surpassing, or imitating, the original is the farthest thing from his mind. We will get a different film, that should be judged on its own merits.
Everyone has to admit it though: that remake mania either from major studios or from individual directors is kind of pointless….I mean….did we really need yet another remake of The Housemaid? I hear they’re ready for a Fight Night remake too…I don’t know…maybe I’m the bad guy here….
In general I agree with you, of course. But at least remakes occasionally land in the hands of interesting filmmakers, who can give us new takes on old material. Most of the time, though, you are right.
The remake-ness likely affords Miike a larger-than-otherwise budget.
The Japanese film industry remakes samurai films every few years, generally the same ones over and over, plus TV versions. Miike’s part of this industry, but has decided his remake will be of Hara-kiri instead. A masterpiece to be sure, and one generally not in the remake list.
Seems to me to be a good way to keep himself motivated while ’ playing the game’ as he’s always done.
I agree with Dimitris Psahos.
Remakes are always unnecessary but I don’t think they diminish the original any. Sometimes the remake is more well known (The Italian Job, for example) which is sad, but it can’t do any real harm. I think the issue with remakes is more an emotional one than anything else.
Miike generally adapts loosely and ends up making a pretty fun film, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. I have no problem with it. Besides, samurai films and westerns are two genres which play extensively with remakes. Harakiri has very likely already undergone the treatment.
RaySquirrel
My favorite Japanese director is remaking my favorite Japanese film in 3D. I don’t know what to say about this. Next to Guillermo Del Toro’s At the Mountains of Madness this may be the first film I would actually pay the premium to watch in 3D.