How come when a show or movie from the U.S that is popular in the U.S we get the show as it is, well a few months late but overall the same

But if a show/movie from anywhere else you reshoot everything for American tastes.

Examples of this would be The Office, Life on Mars, The Grudge (Ok a movie but still the same deal), Quarantine (An american remake of .REC), ect

Just wondering why this is always the case?

Iunno, can't understand the accents?

It's about profit, plain and simple. Now maybe I am being a bit to general, but the bottom line will be profit in importing anything from movies to basic spices in some cases.

That and they also assume some people can't handle certain stories. My case and point? Ring/Ringu. Ringu is the Japanese movie based off the novels, which mentions somewhere in there a psychic. Psychics? That aren't red headed and hot? American movie makers think no one will want to see it.


Now if you could kindly explain why the heck the Doctor seems to be getting YOUNGER with each season then I'll be grateful.

Dr Who? He can change forms.

To be totally honest, I don't think it has to do with taste.

I think it has to do with average American intelligence. I don't think the average American would 'get it' unless it was reshot, used less syllables, and had some big name actor/actress thrown in topped with some CG for good measure.

And before I get sacked for saying that, let me say that this view applies to nobody here.

Because we do everything better a-hole!

I don't know, I guess because Americans have a different taste, and by taste I mean usually dumbdowned. I'm actually surprised the Office does so well here, even after being "Americanized" because it's still not the typical comedy. And I think most shows they try to "Americanize" end up being cancelled pretty quickly.

I mean look at movies....Hollywood hasn't made much original stuff in a long time. Most stuff that makes money is either a sequel or a remake.

Oh I understand that perfectly, I meant why do the actors for Dr. Who just seem to be younger and younger as time goes on?

right.

im really getting tired of this america is stupider than the rest of the world vibe.

Whoops, let me rephrase that. It did sound kind of America bashing.

In my experience, when I have tried to show certain types of media from another country, they usually just can't wrap their brains around the differences. Especially with humor. I'll use Eddie Izzard as an example. I love his act, and besides myself, I know zero other people that enjoy it. So I think the intelegence crack was based more on my personal experience rather then a objective opinion.

For a long time in America, all we were spoon fed was Hollywood. The fact that most Hollywood movies follow some sort of cookie cutter formula doesn't help the matter at all. Same with television. It's tattooed in our brains since childhood what makes a movie/tv show good, funny, or whatever. Hollywood knows that, so they have to make some alterations to the material to make sure the American audience will find it enjoyable. Not only that, but they usually put in a big name to draw more people to it.

Hope that clears it up.

I believe it's because American's can. Hollywood has huge budgets and can make things a lot more flashier and new than the original. Whether the finished product is better or even as good as the original is up to interpretation.

However, a lot of Americans can't relate to foreign problems or humor, that's why things are for the most part changed.

Because Geordie Accents are hard to pronounce, that's why Ant & Dec aren't popular here... yet (They're Hosting "Wanna Bet?" and possibly "American Idol")

I have a geordie accent and I can't stand Ant and Dec, either.

This is something I've personally noticed from a lot of people I've met when speaking about foreign film/tv: They generally get a sour look on their face. I think it has to do with that "America is the best" attitude that's been drilled into almost American "native" since childhood. It also has to do with what some other people have mentioned here, average movie goers and tv watchers are pretty dumb. They're used to very thin plots and get confused easily. It's pretty sad, but it's this sort of docile state that much of the population is positioned into, in no small part, thanks to the consumerism movement since the 50s.

in all honesty, it has more to do with who has the resources to make these movies. hollywood has all the money, thats why we see a lot more "american" movies. if any where else in the world had nearly the same amount of money and resources...the same garbage would be made in a different languages. we have the benefit of seeing the cream of the crop from other countries when we get tired of our own cinema. i think what people forget is that most of the stuff that gets made is for entertainment and for movies to be entertaining it doesn't have to tickle your intellect.

I think it should also be noticed that in general American audiences feel like anything that is foreign is by default considered as "Art House." It really depends on the genre.

I mean gameshows and pop idol it just seems like a duh move not to do an Americanized version of it.

As far as comedy, it is very hard for American audiences to get, but some shows like The Office have been able to really come into it's own.

Life on Mars looks exactly the same as the British version, I am for a loss at that one except there might be more nostalgia for 70s cop shows here.

Oh and you can't do an American Doctor Who, it's just one of those shows in which that is the charm of the whole thing.

On and I'm sure liscence fees have a lot to do with stuff. You could never get away with government funded tv over here people would cry that is was socialized television, hell they wouldn't even pay for PBS so kids could have some safe educationial programing.

Exactly.

It really boils down to capitalism and marketing (felt strange typing that...when did capitalism become a bad thing? weird). For instance, let's say you own the rights to distribute a popular book that comes from Britain. Yeah, it's in English, but the slang is obscure to Americans and it's printed in a goofy font. Instead of Times New Roman you have Old English Text MT. You could sell it 'as is' and hopefully develop a cult following, or you can change the words and adapt the font to suit American eyeballs. Now you have a cash cow with very little work.

I know, I know. Lame analogy, but it rings pretty true if you translate that into film and television.

I agree, it is a complete regurgitation of art with zero sparks of creativity. I don't think it's an inherent need to Americanize entertainment so much as the fact it reaches a larger audience and gives those who own the rights more bang for the buck.

I'm trying to think of a time where this has worked in favor of art...I know it's happened so maybe someone can make a suggestion. All I can come up with is Yojimbo and Fist Full of Dollars - which is Italian, but a good example of how the art of film can be reinterpreted into a standalone masterpiece. Any other examples?

At the same time I feel like Americans are growing up in their tastes for entertainment abroad. Take the success of Pan's Labyrinth for example. Would it be as widely accepted if it was made 20 years ago? Would we have even heard about it?

When investors and distributors develop a little more faith in the tastes of the American public then I feel like we will begin to see less repackaged, Americanized movies and shows. I would love to see cinema return to an outlet for artists and not just a source of income for some uninspired corporation. Damn that capitalism.

Yojimbo - Fist Full of Dollars - Last Man Standing

Seven Samurai - Magnificent Seven

Hidden Fortress - Star Wars

Macbeth - Throne of Blood

Lol, seriously?