Containment : Why can't the US learn to leave things well alone?

The Belgian series 'Cordon', on which 'Containment was based, was one of the best things on (UK) TV last year - tightly directed, beautifully acted, credible, despite what must have been a minimal budget.

I've just watched the first episode of 'Containment' Why oh why oh why?

For those of us who've never even heard of "Cordon", I'm glad they did a US version. I've been riveted to this show but it probably helps to not have any basis for comparison.

Good point: 'comparisons are odious'!

Instead of just broadcasting the Cordon version? Sounds superior to me.

I have noticed the general populus cannot handle foreign language films/shows with subtitles as a good majority of the populus now and continue to tend toward the illiterate and will only watch dubbed films/shows. It is a sorry state of affairs and a poor reflection on education standards today compared to 20-30+ years ago, at least it is easier for those in power to control an uneducated population than an educated free thinking one.

If not for Containment I would've never heard of Cordon. Thanks to the remake, now I will be introduced to a show I may have never come across.

The same goes for me, I discovered Cordon because of Containment .. however it would have been better and not wasted so much money if the just broadcast the original Cordon with subtitles, creating a whole series/mini-series is a rather inefficient way of discovering good foreign language content.

Foreign imports usually bomb on broadcast networks just ask NBC about Merlin and hundreds of cheap Canadian dreck.

Yeah, we are suddenly inundated with Canadian stuff here (UK). I like murdoch mysteries for the historical insights (and, of course, the beautiful Julia ogden) but I'm losing count of the things that flash up CFM at the end. Must be really cheap to buy or maybe a campaign for world domination.

There are things I prefer about Cordon, but one argument you cannot make is that Cordon is more credible. Neither show could win an award for realism, but I would say that Cordon is less realistic. The fact that they let Tyl out of the cordon defies all logic, just to name one example.

"You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves . . . two grown men acting like . . . grown men!!!"

Well, maybe 'credible' wasn't the best chosen word! I guess what I meant was that, despite the obvious craziness of the plot (OK, they couldn't get past the container lorries but why didn't they just jump into the river?! - as a for instance!), I felt the whole thing was put together so well that I was able to suspend my disbelief.

Where do you guys watch "Cordon"? Is it a Netflix show?

I was fortunate enough to see it on the BBC. It doesn't seem to be available as a DVD, more's the pity!

It is available on DVD in Holland - I don't think it has English subtitles though.

Unfortunately it may not be formatted in a way that would work in other regionsand sadly without the ability to get subtitles, understanding it if it did work could become a major problem. I would love to see it with subtitles though. Some of the best films I've ever seen were in languages I don't speak.

(Anhun winks mysteriously) There are ways and means.

"You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves . . . two grown men acting like . . . grown men!!!"

Not everyone is willing/able to use those ways and means though.

Here are the episodes. I found them online.
They have English subtitles.

I quickly copy and pasted the links for you guys, so I didn't go through all of them, but at first glance, the vodlocker links definitely work. I'm not too familiar to thevideo.me, but I think it's all good there too.

Cordon Episode 1: http://vodlocker.com/3vg1jz1ui9qb
Cordon E2: http://vodlocker.com/3gat2vtkzg60
Cordon E3: http://vodlocker.com/d5bd4qu5krmq
E4: http://vodlocker.com/0wumeun2wjer
E5: http://vodlocker.com/3e416lekqclx
E6: http://vodlocker.com/i3md83sgyy6n
E7: http://thevideo.me/nlxp2xk5ka4y
E8: http://vodlocker.com/ofnusfhvemmq
E9: http://thevideo.me/8s2rwhdw1v1r
E10: http://vodlocker.com/107qluq3sa6z

I never understand why this bother's folks. You can remake it ever other year, and it still won't have any impact on how good Cordon is.

Let's be realistic. Foreign feature films that are dubbed or subtitled get very little release in this country. When I was in high school and college films by directors like Fellini or Vadim or Godard would turn up in mainstream theaters on a regular basis. I'm a major film buff, and it's a rare year when I even recognize as many as two of the Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Picture as their distribution is largely limited to cities with a population of over one million, and then in specialized outlets. Imagine if a commercial network in America tried to broadcast a subtitled tv series from Belgium.

I feel for you. We get loads of European stuff here and they are always really popular. But it isn't just the illiterate who don't watch them, it's also people who don't have time to devote their whole attention to the TV.

sometimes remakes are good or better than the original. like come together by mj.

You can't persuade fanboys. You'd be better off trying to convince a wall. ~CodeNamePlasmaSnake~

Typically a remake is updated for either the period the original took place or to weave the new country's social/political views. Sometimes you just get a blatant ripoff with new actors. For example police dramas. I've seen a few that were set in major US cities yet the law enforcement was clearly carried out according to Canadian laws. That's just lazy writing. One blatant instance in Containment was the military ordering the police around. Maybe it happens in Belgium but that is not the case in the US. Anyone see the Aussie and US versions of The Slap? The undertone of the series was the Greek community something not overtly present in the US and thus totally lost on the viewers. Then there's the differing views regarding someone disciplining/assaulting another's child.

Because the bland money-machine corporations dictate to the US and UK media programme makers there and they are only ever allowed to trot out the same tired old pre-chewed tat over and over again and so they have to look to the other Europeans now for new ideas and have had to do so some years. The UK and the US are having a dumb-off competition, the UK is winning but the US are still holding their Trump card.

'Well I've got two words for you - STFU'

I watched Cordon, then decided to give the US version a try. I gave up after 4 episodes. Okay, Cordon had plot holes aplenty but it was fast paced and tightly written. Containment is full of unnecessary padding, dodgy American accents from the Brits, and a completely uninteresting cast.

I shall sit tight and wait for the second season of Cordon.


Hey, Petey's Julienning her skinny little chicken arms.

Containment also had more episodes than Cordon did, which is probably why there was more padding.

Flu (Gamji) is superior to both and is the original inspiration.



|Statistics show that 100% of people bitten by a snake were close to it.|

Thanks for the tip - I love Korean films: now added to my LoveFilm list! (Though I don't suppose it will be as good as 'Cordon' for improving my Flemish

Hmm nice tip must download Cordon then.

Tip in return - download the new WOLF CREEK series its absolutely brilliant!


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