Three months ago I watched the original Manchurian Candidate on DVD. I was amazed on how good this movie is, and how well it holds up after 42 years of its release in movie theaters.
So, yesterday when I watched the 2004 version directed by Jonathan Demme it was impossible for me not to compare the two films.
Without the existence of the original, Demme's effort could be defined as a good (not outstanding) political thriller and it's easy to think that this definition is compatible with the general opinion of today's audiences.
But (a big but) in reality there is an original, and it is so good, so brave, and so well written that this new version almost feels pointless.
In adapting the story to modern day Jonathan Demme made more wrong choices than good ones diminishing the power and intensity of the original.
This remake took out some key dramatic elements that work marvelously in the original film inserting some new and poorly written plot twists changing and damaging the dramatic resolution.
This version is inferior in almost every level (the only exception is the acting). It is less powerful, less edgy, and less intelligent.
Fortunately for Demme the original picture is not as well known as classics like 'Casablanca' and this will allow his film to find a moderate positive acceptance.
