I am watching the 1993 version of Corazón Salvaje, and as
I’ve read viewer comments online, I’ve noticed people making jabs at the 2009
adaptation. Commenters would say that it’s a disaster, a disgrace, an
unintentional parody of the classic… you get the picture. The consistency of negative
sentiment made me curious, so I decided to take a look at the 2009 version.
Aracely Arámbula and Eduardo Yáñez star in the series.
Arámbula plays the roles of both the antagonist, Aimee, and the protagonist,
Regina. Yáñez portrays the famous Juan del Diablo. The telenovela’s 135
episodes began showing on October 12, 2009, and the last episode aired on April
16, 2010. The show also aired in the United States on Univisión, debuting on
February 2, 2010. It began in the 9 p.m. primetime spot but on April 26 it was
moved to the midnight slot. Obviously the network executives were not too
pleased with the program’s performance and audience reception.
After reading a few message boards and reviews, I have
collected the following explanations from viewers about why they did not like
the adaptation:
This version combined the traditional Corazón Salvaje story
with another story called Yo Compro Esa Mujer. It is likely that fans of past
adaptations felt loyal to the original storyline and were offended by the
changes. Although the viewers said they enjoyed the stories separately, they
felt that the combination made the plot seem forced and rushed with character
inconsistencies and unnecessary twists.
According to an Argentinean viewer, Yáñez’s depiction of
Juan did not have the necessary depth. In his words, “hair extensions do not
make a character.” Some also thought Yáñez was too old to be filling the male
protagonist role.
Viewers were not satisfied with Arámbula’s acting performance
either — at least not as the protagonist. She played both twin sisters,
and while people seemed generally satisfied with her portrayal of the villain,
Aimee, they felt that her Regina was flat and emotionless. Viewers sounded
almost offended in their comments that the antagonist was more appealing than
the protagonist — that’s not what telenovelas promise us!! In the telenovela’s
debut to the press, the actress even appeared dressed as Aimee rather than as
Regina.
A viewer in New York shared her sentiments on Arámbula’s
performance, saying: “Her early episodes demonstrate that she has an obvious
appetite for playing the bad girl, something she never previously had an opportunity
to do. However, as the ‘nice’ sister she lacks the depth of Edith Gonzáles and
Leticia Calderón, the stars of the 1990s series. Her Regina so far is a
porcelain doll dressed and made up to look like the young Leticia Calderón.”
In general, viewers felt that the telenovela was cheesy and
overacted. According to a Galician viewer, “The costumes looked like cheap
fancy dress, while the actors kept shouting over one another and twirling
around the set.” The things that most viewers praised were the scenery,
hairstyles, makeup and the entrada song. But apparently these were not sufficient
to redeem the telenovela, which left the 2010 Premios TVyNovelas without any
awards.
The version I am watching, however, won several awards,
including Best Telenovela of the Year in 1994. #eduardoandedithforever
This is so interesting to me, because Eduardo Yáñez is the protagonist in the telenovela I watched, Destilando Amor! I completely understand the comments about the lack of depth. I love him as Rodrigo, Destilando Amor's protagonist, but I think it's more that the character is made to be endearing regardless of who is portraying him. Yáñez's acting didn't blow me away. He said his lines, and that's about where it stopped. I think Destilando Amor was successful and the 2009 Corazón Salvaje was not because the role he played in Destilando Amor required a lot less immersion into the character. It's interesting to see differences in the same actor!
ReplyDeleteI almost want to believe that part of this issue boils down to pride in the original. The people who watched the original likely became attached to the characters as they were portrayed in 1993. We've seen from our consumption presentations that audiences talk about these characters as if they're real people, and I think that might contribute to the negative attitudes toward the remake. I know that when I see a movie I love, then they make a sequel but one of the actors is replaced, I'm automatically negatively biased toward that sequel because it's just not the same with another actor. I can't speak to the acting abilities of those in the sequel, but I wouldn't doubt that they already had some people slightly against them just because those people loved the original so very much.
ReplyDeleteI saw only a few episodes of the 2009 version and I could barely watch, the cheesy acting, the horrible costumes, and the whole twin thing just felt and looked horrible. It's very true when they say the acting was very forced.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing that people say these things because of the loyalty to the 1993 version, although my favorite Juan is Eduardo Palomo it's not just loyalty but it's the very obvious better acting and directing. The costumes are closer to the true form of the clothes worn in the mid to late 1800s Mexico.
The passion in Eduardo Palomos acting just makes you feel everything! Edith Gonzales acting as well, they're love in the show feels real! Aimee's deceitfulness, her jealousy, her fatal attraction basically believable!
And Sofia, I mean come on, she is evil incarnate.
Overall the 1993 novela is the best version. I saw it as a kid then multiple times as an adult, even though I know what happens, I still feel every ounce of it. Even more watching Eduardo, because knowing he's passed so young, it was his best role, I feel like he is immortalized by his character.
And every other director that tries to remake it, they have a very high bar to reach. And that was the 2009 version mistake.
I feel a lot of the novelas now a days are not at the same caliber as the ones in the 80s, 90s.
Does anyone know where I can watch the 2009 version with English subtitles? I could only find it in Spanish.
ReplyDeleteI watched 2009 version and loved it but after seeing this I was forced to watch the 1993 version I just discovered it is the best and I hate the 2009 version the horrible costume people shouting at each other for me even arambula's antagonist was not as satisfying as Ana colchero's antagonist yañez looked old the character and his Juan del diablo was not satisfying either Eduardo Palomo is my Juan del diablo port siempre
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