I've heard they are basically the same movie, but it doesn't seem like it form that picture of Funny Games. Funny Games U.S. is a great fucking movie.
Well, yeah, it's basically the same movie. George and Paul are much better in the original. Ann, Peter and the kid are better in the US version. I still kinda like the Austrian version better, I'm not sure why. I actually saw the US version 4 times before getting round to the original.
Iunno if I believe you about that first part. Michael Pitt (whichever he played) did a fucking awesome job. It seems his performance was one of the keys to the movie's glory.