1. Avoid all US remakes/re-tellings of Japanese/HK films as in all cases the original is better. For example:
7 Samurai > Magificent 7
Godzilla > Godzilla
Ring > The Ring
Yojimbo > Fist full of Dollars
City on Fire > Reservoir Dogs
Etc etc.
2. In any historically acurate film there will be a token Yank dropped in to make it sell at home. Like:
The Great Escape > Steve M
The Last Samurai > Tom C
Titanic > both the main characters
U-571 > The entire cast
3. In all Hollywood films the baddies will be played by the British:
Die Hard
Star Wars
Silence of the Lambs
Passenger 57
Cross of Iron
The Desert Rats
North by North West
The Lion King
4. Finally, on occassions where the British actor isn’t a baddie he will be a member of either the army or a government/secret agent:
James Bond
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Ipcress File
Johnny English
The Rock
For more golden rules about how Hollywood massacres history see “Churchchill the Hollywood Years”.
There are a few exceptions, which always make for interesting conversation, can you name a big one?











