Asia Goes Hollywood

The Eye

With a spine-tingling plot that equals The Ring, the Pang brothers spin a terrifying web about a girl named Mun (Angelica Lee) who has an eye operation and suddenly acquires a third eye and the unwanted ability to see dead people. Sounds familiar? But with the Pang Brother’s excellent story telling skills and wonderful shots, the movie has been a huge success in Thailand and other parts of Asia.

Take Two: Gothika screenwriter Sebastian Gutierrez has been tapped to do the US version of The Eye.

The Grudge

Audiences thought they’d seen all the Asian horror movies, then came Ju-On, or as it more popularly known, The Grudge. Takashi Shimizu wrote and directed this chilling story about a vengeful spirit who inhabits a house. Anyone who enters the house is tracked down by the cursed of the Ju-On.

Take Two: Shimizu still remains at the helm of the American version, still set in Japan and which has TV’s vampire slayer Sarah Michelle Gellar in the lead role.

Infernal Affairs

One of the biggest movies in Asia is a cop story about the never-ending war between the police and the triads of Hong Kong. There’s a cop who infiltrates Hong Kong triad; and a triad spy who pretends to be a cop and has moved up the ranks. It’s a cat-and-mouse game as both undercover agents try to find out each other’s identities. Its one of those movies every serious film buff ought to watch.

Take Two: This award-winning film has caught the attention of many Hollywood players when it came out in 2002. Big names like Brad Pitt (who’s one of the producers) and director Martin Scorsese are just some of the people behind the US-version, called The Departed. Matt Damon and Leo Di Caprio are rumored to be taking on the lead roles.