Christopher Webster [Celluloid 10.02.10] movie news horror



When I reviewed Let the Right One In it had just been announced that there would be a US remake. It was a rant. Granted it was before Matt Reeves was announced as the director. In classic fanboy style I was pissed. But you know what? The more I read about this adaptation, and the more I hear interviews with Reeves, the more I give a sh!%. I think it's because he is clearly a fanboy - and a smart one at that. But then again, maybe I'm just learning (yes I can admit it) that sometimes a fresh take can be of interest.

So, if any of you went to see the film this weekend I want you to LET ME IN on the haps. Was it a great film? A good film? A soul sucking piece of crap? See, I missed it at the EIFF and I haven't been able to let it go, so I need you to let me in on the secret. What did you think of LET ME IN?

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googergieger (12 years ago) Reply

It's a fact it's a remake at this point. He is giving Alfredoson the littlest amount of credit possible with his remake, and his remake is actually a pretty awful adaptation of the book. He outwardly makes Hakan(the father in this movie) a former childhood friend of Abbey.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

I boycot these kinds of US remakes on general principle. You want to remake an old movie with a new perspective, new technology or a different way of filmmaking, fine.

But to remake a great move just because it isn't fucking American is in my view an insult to the makers and the audience, both in the US (hey, you're too dumb for a foreign movie) and the rest of the world (your movies aren't good enough for us, but we've got plenty of cash to buy your ideas).

There are plenty of awesome remakes, but US remakes of recent non-US movies are very, very rarely amongst them.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

agree, the first version was awesome! there was no reason to make a remake of it.

Cletus (12 years ago) Reply

The critics seem to like it, which is surprising. But won't someone here who's actually *seen* the movie say something other than folk amerika?

Rev Wright (12 years ago) Reply

A direct comparison of the films' official trailers demonstrates the approach to the remake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZJUgsZ56vQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsWJt5tNLKg


Note the explicit exposition of narrative in the remake, the Twilight grade, the flash frame/loud noise shock tactic (one that makes up teh majority of so called US horror), also the music used in the remakes tariler, obvious guitar track that constantly builds, unlike the originals lulls

Yes, one can question teh methodology of analysing trailers, but they are heavily constrcuted to set the tone for the film and in some way reveal the nature of the text.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46817

read that

Cletus (12 years ago) Reply

Ok, I went to see it here in beautiful Fresno, California.

I saw and bought a copy of the original. So my opinion is based on that. I didn't read the book.

You can stop worrying. This version doesn't detract from or add to the original movie.

View each movie is sort of like getting a story from two witnesses of the same event. Each has a different take on what happened.

I won't go into a lot of detail, since I just saw it, I need to digest what I saw, and there any number of reviews you can read.

Here's what I didn't like: the locale and the lighting. I prefer the original's drab, dark presentation better, much better.

Here's what I liked: the acting is top rate and I felt for the main characters just as I did in the original.

This version is a bit slicker, but again, it doesn't in any way compete with the original. As I said, it's more like someone else's perspective of an event. So, I guess it's an original in its own way...

Do I recommend spending money to see it? If you've never seen the original, yes. If you're a faux-sophisticate movie snob, no. Otherwise, it just depends on whether or not you can put up with someone in the audience whispering "This SUCKS, Twilight is soooooo better!"

masque36 (12 years ago) Reply

I just saw it with some of my family last night. They had never seen the original but really liked it. I saw both and say that the original is the best but the remake did it justice. I never read the book but will try and pick up a copy.

Rev Wright (12 years ago) Reply

having read the Ain't It Cool News, it becomes apparent that the Americanisation of the original is not seen as abhorant, but instead prefered. This is a biased cultural reading, one that refuses to step into the native cinema of another country, and enjoy the different perspective.

I suppose it is less about the actual remaking of such a fine piece of world cinema, but the fact that it will be Americanised, and this act often deletes the subtle beauty that the audience loved so.

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

alright all this talk about the movie has made me want to watch the original again :)

Anonymous (12 years ago) Reply

Rev Wright: have you seen the movie or are you the "one that refuses to step into the native cinema of another country, and enjoy the different perspective"? I'm not asking this in a bad way. Of course, it's ok to not to see the movie based on principle, but then your comments don't tell us much about the movie itself.

Rev Wright (12 years ago) Reply

lol. I'd love the opportunity to address this issue from first hand, but the film has yet to be released here. Instead I'm gleaning information from all the sources I can and fusing it with my academic comprehension of the interplay between US and world cinema over the last 20 years.

My current ire is that the Scadenavians are kicking cinematic arse right now, much like the Japanese in the 90s. It is such a pity that great world cinema is not heralded with major distribution campaigns, but can be witheld until the US version can be shot and shown. (Rec vs Quarantine)

The overt Hollywood Imperialism is in turmoil, knocking out remakes of classics and oversees gems, and now with a desperate need to justify its economy with 3D (most of which are post production conversions). Thus enticing audiennces to turn away from the new breed of indie productions like 'Monsters' and the earlier 'Right at Your Door'

yes my opinion is coloured by all this and with personal current experience of the industry.

Naybe there is further discuorse to be had on the forums

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