Yesterday, the Korean online search engines were washed with news that Park Sihoo-ssi’s first movie “Confession of Murder” would be remade into Japanese.
I was of course absolutely delighted by this piece of good news and the amount of media coverage it generated. What crossed my mind then was the phrase that Irish poet, playwright and author, Oscar Wilde coined.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”
I remember my university days studying and analysing the “Japanese miracle”, of how the Japanese rose to greatness in world business post WWII. One of the strategies they adopted in manufacturing and later even into business management was “imitation” or more appropriately “imitation to perfection”. They took what was best in class products from the Western world, tore them apart, improve on them, manufactured them more efficiently and sold them to the world more economically. This was one of the driving factors for the rapid growth in the Japanese economy and making it the 2nd largest economy in the world at one stage. Certainly flattery for those products they imitated.
The same might be the case for “Confession of Murder”. A remake is definitely a genuine compliment to the team which was involved in the original 2012 Korean movie, including stars Park Sihoo-ssi and Jung Jaeyoung and director Jung Byunggil.
There must be strong, compelling reasons why a Japanese remake was decided upon. And when you look at “Confession of Murder” and how well it had done in Korea, Japan, across Asian markets and even making good inroads into Europe and the Americas, we can understand why. It grossed strong box office in Korea despite its 18+ rating. It ran for over a year in cinemas across Japan and still continued to be supported. It won many critical acclaims and accolades worldwide. Despite very little marketing and publicity spend, the movie still continues to enjoy strong support and viewership, even showing at film festivals around the world till this day.
So why not remake a successful Korean movie, especially when the idea originated from Japan where the real murders took place?
Imitation is definitely the sincerest form of flattery for Korean movie “Confession of Murder”. I consider it also flattery for the then first time movie actor Park Sihoo-ssi. Most of you would agree that the movie was an interesting one, with strong storyline and was well produced. However, one of the biggest draw of “Confession of Murder” was Park Sihoo-ssi’s Lee Dooseok. Even though he was a rookie movie actor then, he played this character to perfection. Just thinking of his beautiful eerie smile and his deadly charisma give me goose bumps!
Flattery indeed! I wonder if the Japanese remake will make waves too?
Youtube Video – Confession of Murder Official Trailer 2012
Tudou – please click to view 请点入观看
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/nYSaLP62-cY/
真诚的奉承
昨天,韩国网络搜索是满满的新闻关于施厚君的第一部电影“我是杀人犯”(“我杀”)。“我杀”将被翻拍成日本电影。
对我,这当然是个好消息,为所产生的媒体报道量感到非常高兴,觉得这也是对施厚君的演技的一个认可。当时穿过我的脑海的是爱尔兰诗人,剧作家,作家奥斯卡·王尔德Oscar Wilde 的一句惯用语。 “模仿是最真诚的奉承,是伟大的认同。”
我记得大学时,读过也研究过“日本奇迹”,讲的是在第二世界大战后,日本是如何转型,提高自己在世界商业,成为当时的世界第二大经济强国。从制造业开始,后来甚至在企业管理上,日本采取的战略就是“模仿”,更应该说“完美的模仿“。日本人把西方最好世界一流的产品,把他们拆散,升级,更有效地制造,并更经济的销售到世界各地。这是日本经济快速增长,成为当时世界第二大经济体的因素之一。当然,这就等于奉承了他们所模仿的产品。
翻拍绝对是真诚的赞美了原先2012年韩国电影”我杀“的戏组,包括演员施厚君和郑在勇,还有导演郑炳吉。
日本决定要翻拍必定有强力,令人信服的理由。当妳看原来的韩国电影“我杀”是如何在韩国,日本,整个亚洲市场,甚至在欧洲和美洲取得良好的成绩,就可以理解为什么了。尽管在韩国是一部18岁以上评级的电影,它取得强大的票房。在日本全国电影院“我杀”上映了超过一年的时间,到目前仍然继续得到支持。“我杀”也赢得了众多世界性的好评和赞誉。虽然花了很少营销和宣传费用,电影仍继续享受大力支持和收视率。
一个成功的韩国电影,为何不翻拍呢?尤其是这个想法起源于日本,真正谋杀案发生的地方?
模仿是最真诚的奉承给韩国电影“我杀。肯定,也是奉承首次电影演员施厚君。看过这部电影的人,应该会觉得“我杀”是一部有趣,具有良好故事情节和制作精良的影片。不过,“我杀”的最大的卖点之一应该是施厚君饰演的李斗石。尽管是一位电影新人,施厚君把这个人物演得非常完美 - 他那美丽怪异的笑容,致命魅力,一想起来都会感到鸡皮疙瘩。
日本翻拍,可是真诚的奉承!不知道日本的翻拍会不会也兴风作浪呢?
Credits – Many thanks! Youtube video by One Ring Korean Film Trailers; Photos – Confession of Murder – The Movie, Showbox, Twitter @megumin8942
14 Comments
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COM is my top 1 like of PSH’s works. I remember after stumbling upon him in QOR, when I started to learn about PSH, after learning the names of all his works, COM is THE ONE that I was most keen to watch before all the rest of PSH’s works. To me COM script will really tell me if PSH acting is good. QOR is very good but then those are still rather within the norm kind of roles. COM will definitely be one that is out of this world acting challenge to PSH, that’s what I told myself back then. True enough, I gave COM and PSH 10 out of 10 after I watched COM. This latest Japan remake would mean those interested enough about this thought provoking movie when after they watched the Japanese remake, will then go out to seek out to watch PSH’s works as a comparison. Similar notion when I like Pride and Prejudice so much, I would watch all the different actors different cast acting out Pride and Prejudice, for my own comparison and my own analysis. This remake is indeed good news not only is a sincere flattery, but it will also mean PSH’s COM will always be there in future generation of Japanese viewers’ awareness and viewing once they have been made aware of such a unique film from their own country.
The news that “Confession of Murder” will be remade in Japanese is indeed a surprising and pleasant one. Yes, imitation is a form of flattery and PSH must be flattered, but we all know that the remake of “C.of M.”, Japanese version,will never be as awesome as K. version. Yes, copying is a form of flattery and so they are free to copy, but “C of M”,K . version , is the Original. I wonder why people remake movies. Is there just a lack of imagination out there, that they can’t come up with an original idea.? “Maybe for some producers it’s easier or safe to go to a remake of a succesful film. It’s less chancy than taking fresh idea.”[R. Zamuck] But they must keep in mind that to do a remake of a movie is a whole different thing. Because everyone will always remember the first movie, and they will always compare it with the second one. As I’ll do! If they want to make a good remake, for their audience , they need to respect the original one, and don’t just take the title and change everything else. In my opinion ,even if the Japanese will do a good job of remaking “C of M.” nobody can top PSH! It just isn’t the same! They will feel a lot of pressure because people always love the original. As I do! Even the remake of K.version into Japanese version for which PSH must be flattered , being his first movie that has achieved an immense success and continues to enthrall the audience, I hope, Japanese team wil not do the remake purely for commercial reason. But just to remain as a piece of art for excellent interpretation ,as the Korean “Confession of Murder”, where the actors are the best. Especially Park Si Hoo!
I do agree with your view Stefania, even though I tried to sound positive in my comment for this latest news. I personally hold the view that the Japanese actor doesn’t look as perfect as PSH for that role. Just base on look alone PSH already the perfect image to fit that role in K script of COM. Unless Japanese script is to deviate from the very obvious fact of the Korean version of why PSH is so perfectly good looking in COM. Acting is something I can’t comment before watching both movies.
My opinion is that Japanese imitation will not live up to the movie with PSH because this talented actor is impossible to equal, especially Japanese actors. PSH by his talent and his smile never specific you can be called, is unique, and movies get from him something that no matter the subject, our hearts reach with unrivaled ease. Sure when it will be unveiled this movie will be compared and Korean masterpiece not successful. The original is always the best, and directors and actors foarfte Koreans are good, especially in this film. We will live and we will see if the Japanese had a good inspiration.
I don’t know about Japanese dramas and actors but from what I understand, these two are popular actors and have presented good works. I don’t think their version would be 100% similar to the Korean version as most remakes and adaptation go. We wait to see the remake as I am sure it will help to drive interest and viewership also for the original, which will be good too! But me being absolutely biased, I can tell you now that my biased view is that nothing compares to that of Park Sihoo-ssi’s. Kekeke! 🙂
Of course, it is great that PSH’s first movie has been chosen for a Japanese remake.
Although the theme will be the same, the story will be modeled to Japanese society with Japanese actors. So I don’t think we should compare these two movies with each other when the remake is ready to be released. The sisterhood will always be biased. I don’t know the Japanese male leads, but my first impression is that they will do a good job. and I wish them the same success with their movie as PSH and JJY have had with theirs.
Congratulations Nance, this morning your readership is 1,007, One Thousand plus the magical number Seven, the number that we had spoken of late as we watched PSH favourably chose his number 7 cap to put on whereever he goes.
There is indeed overall heightened interest on PSH and increased activities around him in past months and at escalating pace past weeks via FB, Twitter, Instagram. His band of loyal fans round the globe has definitely played a huge part to promote this fabulously wonderful Korean actor and artist internationally. Great job, it augurs well for PSH and let’s continue to unite and do woo hoo to the greatest fame and popularity. This peerless and incomparable PSH deserves every bit of it!
Thank you ladies…good to see a small climb in the Likes and hopefully more to come 🙂
Congratulations and may more readers of the blog!
Thank you Stefania Lupu
Looks like the remake of Park Sihoo-ssi’s COM is creating alot of excitement in the Korean entertainment industry and also among Park Sihoo-ssi fans! Good to have this positive news and heightened interest in our favorite man. Let us keep up with the momentum, ladies and spread every bit of good word for our Park Sihoo-sSi! Thank you !