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| Film poster for Vanilla Sky. Copyright 2006, © Paramount Pictures (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
I was blown away when I saw the 1997 Spanish film Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes). It was so surrealistic with an intriguing mind-bending story. I told my wife that I hoped they would remake an English version. I suggested that Tom Cruise would be the ideal actor to pick for the lead role. When I heard that this was going to come to pass just as I had wished for I was thrilled.
That remake is Vanilla Sky (2001) and I think it delivers fairly well though is not quite as good as the Spanish version. This version switches a few things up from the original but the story is handled nicely. The story is about a vain pretty boy who has everything but becomes involved in a tragic accident that turns his world upside down. There are elements of alternate realities and lucid dreaming that might make the movie a bit confusing for some. For me the movie was better in subsequent viewings.
It's a crazy futuristic science-fiction trip, but more heavy on romance than techie geekiness. I find it to be an interesting excursion.
Have you seen Vanilla Sky? Do you enjoy science fiction mind trip films? What foreign films have you seen that were remade into English versions that were superior to the original?
Hi Arlee, I have to admit this movie had me completely baffled the first time... I just read a synopsis of it realise I either don't remember or didn't understand most of it - I'll take your suggestion of subsequent viewings and give it another shot.
ReplyDeleteIda
Reflex Reactions
Never saw this either. I thought The Birdcage was very well done and as funny as La Cage Aux Falles (sp?). I saw the English dubbed version of it and it was hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the ending only of Vanilla Sky. Maybe I should watch the whole thing now, in Spanish! I like crazy movies like this...
ReplyDeleteIt intrigued me enough to make me watch it again. While I still don't think I truly understood everything, I enjoyed it more the second time around. I think it is one of Tom Cruise's best films.
ReplyDeleteIda -- The movie is a bit confusing, but once you know what's going on you can pay closer attention to the details.
ReplyDeleteJoJo - I missed both versions of The Birdcage films and probably won't be seeing them.
Lisa - The Americanized remake jazzed up the story a bit where the original though still confusing was a bit more straight forward.
Sydney -- I still think Cruise's best role may be the guy he played in Collateral. It was a very different role.
Lee