Straw Dogs (2011) (Blu-ray)

Firstly I truly loved the original version.This version which I watched in the cinema did have some merit and some excitement but compared to the original it simply falls flat.Sam Peckinpah's version for it's time was brutal and contained nudity, this version contained some violence and tense situations - no nudity by Kate Bosworth here and the rape scene was no where near as graphic as the original.It seems this version is simply to tame.I am surprised this is getting an 18 rating as I have seen much stronger 15 rated films recently .There are a few differences here and not to give too much away - some of the character names as with the original remain the same and the story has moved to America.This started out on the right track but then feels hurried, when it came to the end I felt cheated big time.My advice would be to just watch the original again...

To find that the original 1971 cult classic was being remade and Americanised was greeted by an out-cry from the legion of fans from the 1971 movie. But no matter how much people love the original it has obviously dated badly in parts. Take the acting it's truly aweful only Hoffman tries to act and what was found scandalous way back in the early '70's now seems tame. Add to the fact that the original film did not get recieved well in the states due to it original English setting, so I had no problem with a remake that is if they update it and be respectful of the original and the simple fact is that Straw Dogs always had a story worth re-telling.
On release Straw Dogs 2011 bombed at the box-office and as expected was savaged from the fans, but now the dust has settled it's a good time to take another look at this hated remake. Kate Bosworth is the new object of desire and she plays the updated role well, no longer is she just bait, she shows that she's a strong woman and not happy to be mentally undressed by the locals. Alexander Skrsgard also is great as the ex-boyfriend and leader of the locals hired to fix the roof of the barn of newly weds Kate Bosworth and James Marsden, Marsden also makes a good stab at the bullied outsider, but never is believable as Hoffman as he just too buff, and looks like if pushed could handel himself, this time changing his proffession from a mathmatision to a Hollywood script writer is un-neaded, but it's James Woods as the towns abusive ex-football coach who steal every scene.On the down side we have to deal with Dominic Purcell as the towns simpleton as for a key character his role is so underused it makes the climax to the film seem a bit over the top and the best said about the CGI deer the better.But the relocation to the deep south in the middle of a sizzleing summer is good as there is no eason to keep it in the UK as you could place this story anywhere in the world and it'll still have the conclusion. The film slow burn tension is well played and has the temperature rises so to the tension, first the intimidation from the locals is psychological but then takes more sinister turns, this all leads to the abuse of Bosworth from ex-boyfriend Skarsgard, gone is the "she hates it but then wants it" from the original this is just assault and it's played very well from both leads in a very demanding scene and still is difficult to watch. The film simmers nicely all the way to the siege of the house where the locals want in by any means possible and Marsden has to make a stand, the violence errups and the bear traps get sprung. No matter what version you like, and the chances are it'll be the original, but for the sake of a hundred minutes just pretend the 1971 film never happend and give this a chance as it's still a dark tale very well acted and told.
The new dogs still got teeth!
See if you like.....
The Last House On The Left (Remake)
I Spit On Your Grave (Remake)
Eden Lake.
Southern Comfort.

To find that the original 1971 cult classic was being remade and Americanised was greeted by an out-cry from the legion of fans from the 1971 movie. But no matter how much people love the original it has obviously dated badly in parts. Take the acting it's truly aweful only Hoffman tries to act and what was found scandalous way back in the early '70's now seems tame. Add to the fact that the original film did not get recieved well in the states due to it original English setting, so I had no problem with a remake that is if they update it and be respectful of the original and the simple fact is that Straw Dogs always had a story worth re-telling.
On release Straw Dogs 2011 bombed at the box-office and as expected was savaged from the fans, but now the dust has settled it's a good time to take another look at this hated remake. Kate Bosworth is the new object of desire and she plays the updated role well, no longer is she just bait, she shows that she's a strong woman and not happy to be mentally undressed by the locals. Alexander Skrsgard also is great as the ex-boyfriend and leader of the locals hired to fix the roof of the barn of newly weds Kate Bosworth and James Marsden, Marsden also makes a good stab at the bullied outsider, but never is believable as Hoffman as he just too buff, and looks like if pushed could handel himself, this time changing his proffession from a mathmatision to a Hollywood script writer is un-neaded, but it's James Woods as the towns abusive ex-football coach who steal every scene.On the down side we have to deal with Dominic Purcell as the towns simpleton as for a key character his role is so underused it makes the climax to the film seem a bit over the top and the best said about the CGI deer the better.But the relocation to the deep south in the middle of a sizzleing summer is good as there is no eason to keep it in the UK as you could place this story anywhere in the world and it'll still have the conclusion. The film slow burn tension is well played and has the temperature rises so to the tension, first the intimidation from the locals is psychological but then takes more sinister turns, this all leads to the abuse of Bosworth from ex-boyfriend Skarsgard, gone is the "she hates it but then wants it" from the original this is just assault and it's played very well from both leads in a very demanding scene and still is difficult to watch. The film simmers nicely all the way to the siege of the house where the locals want in by any means possible and Marsden has to make a stand, the violence errups and the bear traps get sprung. No matter what version you like, and the chances are it'll be the original, but for the sake of a hundred minutes just pretend the 1971 film never happend and give this a chance as it's still a dark tale very well acted and told.
The new dogs still got teeth!
See if you like.....
The Last House On The Left (Remake)
I Spit On Your Grave (Remake)
Eden Lake.
Southern Comfort.

Straw Dogs is a remake of the 1971 Sam Peckinpah classic. The cast of the remake includes James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgard and James Woods.

I expected this remake to be awful and at times I was right but there are also some pretty good things about this movie. Most notably James Marsden, he's terrific as the meek writer and even better after he's been pushed too far.

Skarsgard too is very good bringing a likable charm to a dangerous character. Woods gets unleash in the most over the top performance. Only Bosworth seems to struggle. She lacks the maturity required in such a difficult role and you never believe she is worth all the men fighting over.

Director Rod Lurie (The Contender) is smart enough to include all the classic moments from Peckinpah's original but there in lies this movies biggest problem, its all been done before.

This movie is pretty good but it lacks the bite and shock value of the original. Its worth a watch but in no way should you choose this over the superior original.

the original was indeed a cult-classic, made at a time when film-makers were pushing the boundries to see just how far they could go at that time.
films like 'straw dogs' 'the exorcist' 'soldier blue' and 'a clockwork orange' to name a few were among these, and in time were eventually banned or and subject to scene cutting, obviously in this no-holds-barred age of movies many of those films do no longer have 'the shock' element, however around 40 years ago, we'd not seen the likes before.
this version, for me, lacks the tension of the original, also many of the characters are not as convincing in the roles.
'david warner' played 'the village reject' convincingly in the 1971 film, the 'james wood' ( the coach ) role wasn't anywhere near as strong and convincing as the 'peter vaughan' ( tom ) portrayel.
overall, in my view,most if not all the original cast were far more convincing.
the story line did follow the pattern of the 1971 movie, however the location moved from a sleepy community in 'cornwall' to a 'backwater' community ( blackwater ) in 'mississippi'
overall, i have to say the 'dustin hoffman' and 'susan george' ( david and amy sumner ) version is far superior to this one.
i guess if you've not seen the original to make a comparison, you may well find this okay ?