We have always seen and appreciated classic films being remade again and again to appeal to modern audiences. But sometimes, directors remake their own movies to bring back the audience and offer them a new take on the old version. Here is a list of directors who did that. Michael Haneke remade Funny Games, 2007 This was made by Haneke for the American audience as a shot-by-shot remake of the 1997 Australian version of the psychological thriller. The setting was relocated from Austria to New York, and the cast of 2007 remake included Michael Pitt, Tim Roth and Naomi Watts. Both the versions were absolutely identical apart from the language and new cast. The plot remained the same, involving a wealthy family being held, hostage. YasujiroOzu remade Floating Weeds, 1959 This was the remake of 1934’s, A Story of Floating Weeds. YasujiroOzu wanted to take advantage of the advancing filmmaking technology, including colour cinematography and sound; hence, he recreated the frame by frame copy of his 1934 version. Floating Weeds was seen as more flavorful and imaginative than the original black and white version. George Sluizer remade The Vanishing, 1993 When in 1988, Spoorloos became a huge commercial success not only in the Netherlands but across the globe; Hollywood requested George Sluizer to remake the English version of this super hit, especially for the American audience. Unfortunately, The Vanishing was not liked by the audience due to lack of nuances, a new ending which was happy and broad characters! Takashi Shimizu remade The Grudge, 2004 Sony Pictures Entertainment contracted Shimizu to remake his original film, Ju-on: The Grudge, 2002for American viewers.The American remake got a mixed response but was able to spawn a fresh American series with two consequent sequels of the movie. The movie starred Sarah Michelle Gellar, Bill Pullman, and Jason Behr. Alfred Hitchcock remade The Man Who Knew Too Much, 1956 In the words of Hitchcock, "Let's say the first version is the work of a talented amateur and the second was made by a professional.” The original version came in 1934 and was appreciated for the role of heroine played by Edna Best and villain played by Peter Lorre. The remake was seen as a more intricate and polished version! There are others such as John Woo for ‘Once a Thief’ (1991 and 1996); Ole Bornedal for ‘Night watch’ (1994 and 1997), and ‘The Ten Commandments’ (1923 and 1956). The cinephiles and film critics often watch both versions to capture finer nuances between the two works.
