A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
07-29-09 | 02:00 AM
#1
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DVD Talk God
A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1
Sony Pictures Classics is continuing its relationship with filmmaker Zhang Yimou, agreeing to distribute his planned remake of the Coen brothers' comedic thriller "Blood Simple" domestically and in several major foreign territories.
The untitled redo will be set in a Chinese noodle shop in a dune-specked desert, rather than a bar in an unnamed Texas town, and revolve around the restaurant owner's plan to murder his adulterous wife and her lover.
Pic will be the first Zhang has helmed since shepherding the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
SPC will unspool the "Blood Simple" remake in North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
"Blood Simple," released in 1984, was the first film the Coen brothers helmed together.
New version will be produced by Bill Kong, who has a long relationship with Sony Classics. SPC, co-founded and run by co-prexies Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, has distribbed five Kong-produced films, starting with Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" in 2000.
New pic will be the 11th from Zhang that SPC will have released, dating back to 1991's "Raise the Red Lantern." Others include "Shanghai Triad," "House of Flying Daggers" and "Curse of the Golden Flower." Sony Classics also owns the rights to Zhang's first film, 1987's "Red Sorghum."
I'll probably watch this whenever it's released. I'm a fan of Zhang's work. Is this a 1st, re-making an American film for a foreign audience? Has this ever been done before?
Sony Pictures Classics is continuing its relationship with filmmaker Zhang Yimou, agreeing to distribute his planned remake of the Coen brothers' comedic thriller "Blood Simple" domestically and in several major foreign territories.
The untitled redo will be set in a Chinese noodle shop in a dune-specked desert, rather than a bar in an unnamed Texas town, and revolve around the restaurant owner's plan to murder his adulterous wife and her lover.
Pic will be the first Zhang has helmed since shepherding the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
SPC will unspool the "Blood Simple" remake in North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
"Blood Simple," released in 1984, was the first film the Coen brothers helmed together.
New version will be produced by Bill Kong, who has a long relationship with Sony Classics. SPC, co-founded and run by co-prexies Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, has distribbed five Kong-produced films, starting with Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" in 2000.
New pic will be the 11th from Zhang that SPC will have released, dating back to 1991's "Raise the Red Lantern." Others include "Shanghai Triad," "House of Flying Daggers" and "Curse of the Golden Flower." Sony Classics also owns the rights to Zhang's first film, 1987's "Red Sorghum."
07-29-09 | 02:11 AM
#2
DVD Talk Limited Edition
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
There have been tons of Bollywood remakes of American films, and lesser ripoffs that will just blatantly steal footage and intercut it with their actors.
07-29-09 | 02:21 AM
#4
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Oh okay thanks
07-29-09 | 05:08 AM
#5
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
No, it's nothing new (e.g. BLACK CAT, 1991, the Hong Kong remake of LA FEMME NIKITA/POINT OF NO RETURN), but it's poetic justice that Zhang Yimou's remake of BLOOD SIMPLE comes on the heels of a steady wave of recent Hollywood remakes of Asian films (THE RING, THE GRUDGE, ONE MISSED CALL, THE DEPARTED, etc.).
07-29-09 | 09:55 AM
#6
DVD Talk Hero
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Connected came out last year as well. That was a Hong Kong (Benny Chan) remake of the US flick Cellular.
Last edited by RichC2; 07-29-09 at 10:00 AM.
08-17-10 | 09:28 AM
#8
DVD Talk Reviewer
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Trailer's up:
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08-17-10 | 09:55 AM
#9
DVD Talk Hero
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
I think it looks like a whole lot of fun. But then I'm not a hater of remakes for the sole reason of their being remakes. 
08-17-10 | 04:28 PM
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From: Conducting miss-aisle drills and listening to their rock n roll
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Will the chinese version have the same opening monolgue about communism? 
08-31-10 | 12:35 AM
#12
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re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Does this fix the major problem with Blood Simple, namely that the whole misunderstanding that the film hinges on could have been avoided if just one character had said, "Wait, what are you talking about?"
08-31-10 | 06:14 AM
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re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
As much as I like Zhang (before the disaster that was House of Flying Daggers, anyway), this strikes me as a bizarre misstep, and the trailer does nothing to make me think otherwise. I'll still see it, but I'm about as excited about this as I would be for a Guy Ritchie remake of Le Samourai.
08-31-10 | 12:55 PM
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From: Conducting miss-aisle drills and listening to their rock n roll
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
What was wrong with House of Flying Daggers? Do you view it as a sell out to action film esthics or something?
08-31-10 | 12:57 PM
#15
DVD Talk Hero
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
House of Flying Daggers was generally looked down upon, I thought it was an enjoyable throwback to 70s chinese epics I just wish a certain somebody didn't stand back up during a certain battle.
I just wish a certain somebody didn't stand back up during a certain battle.
08-31-10 | 12:58 PM
#16
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
You should explain this a little further, because the only misunderstanding isn't one that I would call particularly pivotal.
08-31-10 | 12:58 PM
#17
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re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
The trailer looks great. I like how they are (apparently) tightly coupling with Blood Simple, rather than creating a loose remake that only adapts certain elements. Also, it made me want to watch Blood Simple yet again.
09-01-10 | 03:37 AM
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re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
What was wrong with House of Flying Daggers? Do you view it as a sell out to action film esthics or something?
To be fair, I only saw House once in the theater and was so disappointed that I've never been tempted to revisit it on DVD. Curse of the Golden Flower wasn't that much better, though, and at this point I don't expect much more than lush scenery, colorful costumes, and dramatic slow-mo shots. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
09-01-10 | 05:58 AM
#19
DVD Talk Hero
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Really? I'd call neither House of Flying Daggers or Curse of the Golden Flower action-adventure movies. They're both dramas with a few action sequences to either move the plot along or heighten tension. And the latter has the least action of all.
09-01-10 | 11:37 AM
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From: Conducting miss-aisle drills and listening to their rock n roll
re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
Zhang spent most of his career making dramas of the highest caliber, then made an action-adventure movie with little more than pretty sets and featureless characters. Hero was at least an effort in myth-making; HoFD was pretty and bland.
To be fair, I only saw House once in the theater and was so disappointed that I've never been tempted to revisit it on DVD. Curse of the Golden Flower wasn't that much better, though, and at this point I don't expect much more than lush scenery, colorful costumes, and dramatic slow-mo shots. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
To be fair, I only saw House once in the theater and was so disappointed that I've never been tempted to revisit it on DVD. Curse of the Golden Flower wasn't that much better, though, and at this point I don't expect much more than lush scenery, colorful costumes, and dramatic slow-mo shots. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
09-01-10 | 01:03 PM
#21
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re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
09-01-10 | 03:00 PM
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re: A Woman, A Gun And A Noodle Shop - Zhang Yimou's remake of "Blood Simple"
After kissing Communist China's ass with Hero and then participating in their Olympic Games hoopla, I'd imagine that Zhang has more latitude than any other director in the nation. I won't psychoanalyze his motivations for moving away from poignant dramas, but he's not been the same director since The Road Home, which conveniently coincides with his transition from director to national treasure of China.
