how about we don't... |
Alfredson's film revolved around Oskar, a 12 year old social misfit who could only find happiness & understanding by befriending a 12 (going on 200+) year old vampire "thing" named Eli.
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Reeves' movie centers around Owen, a 12 year old twink who falls for a 12 (going on 200+) year old vampire girl named Abby.
After leaving the theater, with Let Me In still fresh on the brain, I began discussing the differences between the two films while eating King Taco with my girlfriend. I literally played both films side by side in my head as I ate and slowly but surely my mild disappointment with Reeves' film turned into an all out rage. My girlfriend thought I was nuts because she saw both movies and claimed to enjoy them almost equally, with some elements of Let Me In eclipsing the original she claimed. Turns out I'm not insane and this article illustrates nearly all the points I laid out at King Taco. The reviewer, Brit Mandelo says:
The word I would use to describe Let the Right One In is “quiet,” or perhaps “poignant.” The word I would use to describe Let Me In is “clumsy,” maybe even (and this is cheating) “trying too hard.”Never truer words spoken (or typed). Alfredson's film is slower, giving bits of dialogue when needed. The camera doesn't move too much either but with Let The Right One In's amazing cinematography you won't even notice. It's literally a beautiful film to watch. You could pause any shot in the movie and frame the image on your wall and I'm not even joking. Reeves' movie is faster paced, almost to the point of feeling rushed, filled with more dialogue, camera tricks/CGI and pop culture references (80's music). The best thing about Let Me In in my opinion (aside from the gratuitous tit shot in the beginning) is Reeves' filming of the car wreck sequence. That's some dazzling directing going on right there. And that's what pisses me off the MOST about this movie. The best thing Reeves' adds to his version is a still a big cop-out compared to Alfredson's work. In Let The Right One In, Eli's henchmen gets stuck in a pretty hairy situation and decides there's only one way out of it, resulting in a gruesome yet extremely touching scene. Reeves' take on this results in a cool to watch car wreck sequence that lacks the emotional power of Alfredson's version.
There are so many other things that bother me about Let Me In, like the total glossing over of the original's implicit sexual undertones and replacement of Alfredson's social commentary about the horrors of modern society with Reeves' bland battle between "Good & Evil," dribble. I'm starting to get all worked up again. Once more, be sure to visit Mandelo's article for a complete breakdown of why Alfredson's film > Reeves'. In conclusion, Let Me In is not a horrible movie...it will just be forever overshadowed by it's far superior Swedish cousin, Let The Right One In. Reeves' did make the genius decision casting Elias Koteas in his movie though. So if you have to, go see Let Me In and show CASEY JONES FROM NINJA TURTLES (excited?!) some love.
let HIM in |
Ohhh looks like a great film! I'll definitely check it out!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteoriginal was GREAT, lets see how this one turned out :P
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review, I really enjoyed it :)
ReplyDeletelooks good film...
ReplyDeleteI saw let the right one in and thought it was okay, not amazingly awesome, but good none the less.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'll see the remake, just because I enjoyed the original.
This is great!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't look like my type of film, thanks for the review though. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteOh sure I'll let him in!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those films where I'm staying away from only for the fact it's a remake of a PERFECT FUCKING FILM. Not many people will even see the original and say the remake was amazing. Give some respect, dammit.
ReplyDeletemovies with kids are always scarier.
ReplyDeletethis looks like something I need to watch
ReplyDeletenice review!
ReplyDeletelooks pretty scary, thanks for the review!!
ReplyDeleteNice review! I'm a bit over all these vampire movies though =P
ReplyDeletethis is a really good review
ReplyDeletenice review man.
ReplyDeletejust so sick of little girls and vampires.
ReplyDeletedidn't they already make this?
ReplyDeleteGreat movie and I liked the review sweet blog you got here
ReplyDeletethanks for the info dude
ReplyDeletegreat post & really awesome blog :)
ReplyDelete