Well, this is interesting. The remake is so different and so much the same that it's a bit weird to watch. Jessica Lange and Jack Nicholson are the rotten couple.
The plot is faithful to the original up to the point of the second attempt at murder. Also, Lana Turner was in a swimsuit a bunch and Jessica Lange is in frumpy clothes mostly. Lana was always glamorous. Jessica looks more like a sexy-nasty short-order cook. This is much grittier, with a broken down house and old fashioned kitchen and dirt, rain and a muddy yard.
I disliked the immediate kiss between John G and Lana, and the quick falling in love. In this version we get nasty sex. Apparently there is a perception that women (or men) really like a good rape scene turned into steamy sex. None of my friends say that is their fantasy, but I'll start asking around. I was turned off to the extreme, but maybe that was the point? Maybe we are supposed to see them as disgusting people? It was also a very unattractive sex scene. Aside from the rape theme, we see a long close up of Jessica's panty-covered crotch and then Jack grabbing it. And grabbing it. I did not find it sexy. And then they fall in love. Yeah right.
These two characters are much seedier than the original. Jack is a gambler, Jessica is excited at the thought of murder. She is scared, but really excited by the idea. She is clearly the instigator. Lana also instigated, but seemed a reluctant murderer. Jessica is not reluctant - squeamish is the best I can credit her with.
The Madge story line is even more unnecessary in the update. It should have been cut. And they really screwed up the ending in the new one. I would rather watch the original. Hands down.
No comments:
Post a Comment