Film Articles
Three Movie Remakes to Compare with Their Originals
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A remake is most interesting when it gives you a reason to watch both versions. Matching plots are only the beginning. A new place, a different performer or a changed sense of humor can shift what a story asks the audience to care about.
12 Angry Men and 12: move the argument, change its pressures
Sony Pictures identifies Nikita Mikhalkov’s 12 as a remake of 12 Angry Men. The familiar structure of jurors debating a case becomes a way to examine a different social setting.
For your comparison, follow how a speaker earns or loses credibility. Does authority come from confidence, experience, status or close attention to evidence? You do not need to decide which film is the “correct” version to notice how the room’s balance changes.
Ocean’s Eleven: compare the company as well as the caper
The 1960 Ocean’s Eleven and its 2001 remake invite a different exercise. A heist film depends on an ensemble: individual skills matter, but so does the pleasure of watching a group coordinate, compete and perform for one another.
Watch the introduction of each team member. How quickly do you understand what that person contributes? Then consider the rhythm of the planning scenes. A smooth operation and a relaxed group of personalities can be enjoyable for quite different reasons, even when both films revolve around a robbery.
Profumo di donna and Scent of a Woman: be precise about the original
Dino Risi’s Profumo di donna is an Italian film from 1974. It should not be described as a French film; Parfum de femme is its French title. The American Scent of a Woman, starring Al Pacino, followed in 1992.
Compare how the central relationship is established before judging the larger emotional scenes. What does one person assume about the other? When does a practical arrangement become a personal obligation? Changes in setting and performance can make similar situations carry different weight.
How to plan a remake double bill
Watch in release order if you want to notice changes as they appear. Reverse the order if you already love the remake and want to discover its earlier counterpart. Either way, leave a break between films and avoid turning the second screening into a hunt for deviations.
Our Crime and Drama collections show current DVD listings. These pairings are discussion suggestions rather than a claim that every version is stocked. Check the title and year carefully when searching for a particular adaptation.