My disdain for Hollywood remakes and knockoffs only increased after discovering that Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez and Susan Sarandon would be in the North American remake of the 1996 Japanese film "Shall We Dance?"
Call me judgemental, but I say there's no way this movie could ever compare to the original. The subtlety and emotional nuances of the original film are very much tied to Japanese culture and society, and, IMO are not suited to the typical direction styles of mainstream North American filmmakers.
And the fact that it's got Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez further increases my prejudice against the film.
Yes, I do realize that everything I've written so far is totally biased and prejudiced. Now, I'm not saying that a successful North American remake is impossible; I'm just saying that given the actors and studio involved, I don't think this particular version will do the original any justice.
If the early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are any sort of accurate indicator, I'd say that my opinions are probably justified--not the prejudice, the opinions.
Anyway, I for one am consciously boycotting this particular movie. I mean, I tend to not watch a lot of movies not by choice, but because I'm not aware of them, or I'm too lazy to go, or I don't have time, but this movie I'm making a conscious decision to avoid. But I'm not saying you should do the same. In fact, if you watch the movie, let me know what you think. And if you haven't watched the original, watch both versions and let me know what you think. I'd be interested to hear your opinions, even though I refuse to watch the movie myself.
