- the 2004 movie remake (2004) starring Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep.
Both films are worth watching and the best movie (?) is worth defending!
Original versus Remake
My Significant Other and I Agree
Regarding the 2004 Paramount Pictures remake of The Manchurian Candidate, it was given an "R" or Restricted rating which means children under the age of 17 need parental approval. (MPAA Ratings.)
Tina Sinatra, daughter of the late Frank Sinatra, was pleased with the casting of Denzel Washington, in the role previously played by her father. Mr. Washington himself, was honored to be deemed a suitable candidate, enabled and able to step into the shoes of one of America's most awesomely talented and admired actors. Respected critics - e.g. Rolling Stone, CNN, Ebert and Roeper - raved about this modernized updated version.
Oh my! Do I dare voice a dissenting opinion? I dare. I give the movie two out of 5 stars.
Star #1: Because Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep. Enough said!
Star #2: Because I thought the chemistry between Mr. Washington as Major Bennett Marco and the female agent, Eugenie Rose, played by Kimberly Elise, was much better than that between Frank Sinatra and Janet Leigh.
Sorry but the remake just wasn't all that, in my book. The updated movie was made in deference to the original; not to improve it and certainly not to serve as a replacement for it. The original is the best! My significant other agrees with me! But in case our opinions don't carry enough weight, well-known film critic Roger Ebert succinctly summed up the legacy of this vintage classic as "one of the best and brightest of modern American films".
