Let the Right One in v's Let me in

[Lynott]

I find it pretty depressing that one of the best movies I've seen, well ever, was remade two years after it was released for the simple reason that the oriiginal was in Swedish.

The director of Let me in, the man responsible for Coverfield said in an interview that he loved the original, as if somehow that was going to make it alright, weel no my friend it makes it worse.

The point is really quite simple. If someone did not get the original movie, it was not because of the fact that they did not understand Swedish and therefore they are not going to get the movie translated into English.

I believe that Let me in isn't even a great remake. Apparently everything that works is a direct copy from the original and everything else is simply turning it up to 11.

This really was a very ill-judged project.

 

[Wonder Pigeon]

Remaking movies just so they can be in English winds me up. When they release Will Smith's Oldboy I think I might go on a rampage.

 

[Lynott]

Remaking movies just so they can be in English winds me up. When they release Will Smith's Oldboy I think I might go on a rampage.

Please tell me you are taking the piss?

 

[hungrywing]

Dude. Like, chillax man. All we're doin' is makin' your Eurotrash less gay and shit, you know? Cause it's pretty gay, you know. With all your tight-fitting clothes and fancy architecture. Plus you all talk funny. You don't have to get like all Euriled up about some movie just because we kicked your asses in the French Revolutionary War.

Sincerely,

USA

 

[Wonder Pigeon]

I remember it being announced a few years ago, on further inspection it seems to be dead in the water.

 

[CassiusClaymore]

I only found out the other night that the little girl vampire is

Spoiler

not even a girl but a castrated boy.

My mate was telling me about the novel and tbh it sounded far more disturbing. Anyone read it?

 

[Decotron]

Agree completely. The original is simply stunning. V. simple in many ways but genuinely a fantastic movie.

 

[Prophet_of_Doom]

I was completely against the remake, in the same way I'm completely against the remake of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

However, having seen the film, I actually think it outdoes the original. If only because it doesn't have the wtf moment of the bad-cgi cats.

 

[Lynott]

I only found out the other night that the little girl vampire is

Spoiler

not even a girl but a castrated boy.

My mate was telling me about the novel and tbh it sounded far more disturbing. Anyone read it?

Yeah, there is a quick glimpse in the movie. I was thinking of reading it but I'd be worried that it might take away from the movie which I found beautiful.

There are some dark and disturbing storyline threads in the book apparently.

 

[hungrywing]

I was completely against the remake, in the same way I'm completely against the remake of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

However, having seen the film, I actually think it outdoes the original. If only because it doesn't have the wtf moment of the bad-cgi cats.

On a more serious note:

This does seem to be the prevailing opinion amongst those who have actually seen the remake.

 

[Lynott]

On a more serious note:

This does seem to be the prevailing opinion amongst those who have actually seen the remake.

Not from the reviews I have read. The reviewers for Heat and the likes maybe.

Most I've read have stated that it missed the point of the original and simply tries to do everything bigger and more. Thevampire girl goes all Twilighty when feeding etc. Also the child actors were not believable in their roles.

 

[Mockney]

Well it's got 100% fresh rating from Top Critics on RT

Let Me In Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

That's the Guardian, The Telegraph, The NY Times etc....But I'm sure Heat gave it a good review as well

 

[R.N7]

I was completely against the remake, in the same way I'm completely against the remake of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

However, having seen the film, I actually think it outdoes the original. If only because it doesn't have the wtf moment of the bad-cgi cats.

I don't get this one, an American remake filmed in Sweden with Swedish actors in minor roles. What's the point?

Yeah, the reviews are saying it's not as bad as everyone expected it be.

 

[Mockney]

I've got a bug bear about needless remakes...I hated the Departed too which was one of the more understandable re-makes but one which completely missed the point of the original...But I still think you should probably see the film before you decide it's shite. Whether it needed to be done is a fair point though.

 

[Gambit]

Let me in isn't a remake, It was being planned before the Swedish film came out. The success of Let the right one in just meant it got the greenlight and funding easier. It's also the first film under the New Hammer horror line.

 

[Mockney]

Not true gams...

The rights for the English-language film were acquired at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, where Let the Right One In won the "Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature,". Tomas Alfredson, the director of the Swedish film, was initially asked to direct the remake, but he turned it down stating that "I am too old to make the same film twice and I have other stories that I want to tell." Hammer Films producer Simon Oakes initially referred to the film with "If you call it a faithful remake, I think that's true to say that's what it is. It's not a reimagining; the same beats [are there], maybe the scares are a little bit more scary."

It seems the director then decided to try and adapt it from the book to stand out a bit more...but the initial concept seems to have been to make a film based on the success of the Swedish one

 

[Lynott]

Well it's got 100% fresh rating from Top Critics on RT

Let Me In Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

That's the Guardian, The Telegraph, The NY Times etc....But I'm sure Heat gave it a good review as well

The reviews are fairly mainstream and alot attempt to judge the film in its own right which I'm afraid is something you cannot do. It is a remake and it is a remake for the simply reason of translating it to English.

I had to stop listening to the Guardian Film Weekly podcast because Jason Solomans was so poor. Unsurprisingly he loved it, so that would count against it in my book.

Telegraph I don't know too much about their reviewers. NY Times is bound to like an Americanised version of a Movie.

Two good critics, Danny Leigh and Mark Kermode were of a similar opinion to me although they have seen it whereas I have not. In fact they both seem furious at the remaking of this movie.

Anyway, it seems to be bombing despite mainstream good reviews.

As I said before, people who prefer the remake to the original are probably missing the point of the original anyway.

 

[Lynott]

Let me in isn't a remake, It was being planned before the Swedish film came out. The success of Let the right one in just meant it got the greenlight and funding easier. It's also the first film under the New Hammer horror line.

Come on. There are sections in the remake that are frame for frame identical to the original.

 

[Mockney]

The reviews are fairly mainstream and alot attempt to judge the film in its own right which I'm afraid is something you cannot do. It is a remake and it is a remake for the simply reason of translating it to English.

I had to stop listening to the Guardian Film Weekly podcast because Jason Solomans was so poor. Unsurprisingly he loved it, so that would count against it in my book.

Telegraph I don't know too much about their reviewers. NY Times is bound to like an Americanised version of a Movie.

Two good critics, Danny Leigh and Mark Kermode were of a similar opinion to me although they have seen it whereas I have not. In fact they both seem furious at the remaking of this movie.

Anyway, it seems to be bombing despite mainstream good reviews.

As I said before, people who prefer the remake to the original are probably missing the point of the original anyway.

So your opinion of a valid review/reviewer is "someone who agrees with me"

Mind blowingly open minded. Hugely unfair to say "American critics are bound to love an American version" too. I'm sure there are countless turkey remakes the likes of Ebert et all haven't showered with praise just cos they're Americanised.

I do actually agree with you in principle though. (I just like arguing with people)

 

[Gambit]

Not true gams...



It seems the director then decided to try and adapt it from the book to stand out a bit more...but the initial concept seems to have been to make a film based on the success of the Swedish one

Is true, trying to find the interview now, one of the producers were trying to get a studio to make it before the Swedish version came out. The Studios weren't interested but then the Swedish film was so good they went back to the producer and sorted out the rights and financing.

 

[Mockney]

Also the author likes it..and he was initially against it.

John Ajvide Lindqvist: I might just be the luckiest writer alive. To have not only one, but two excellent versions of my debut novel done for the screen feels unreal. Let The Right One In is a great Swedish movie. Let Me In is a great American movie. There are notable similarities and the spirit of Tomas Alfredson is present. But Let Me In puts the emotional pressure in different places and stands firmly on its own legs. Like the Swedish movie it made me cry, but not at the same points. Let Me In is a dark and violent love story, a beautiful piece of cinema and a respectful rendering of my novel for which I am grateful. Again.

 

[Lynott]

So your opinion of a valid review/reviewer is "someone who agrees with me"

Mind blowingly open minded. Hugely unfair to say "American critics are bound to love an American version" too. I'm sure there are countless turkey remakes the likes of Ebert et all haven't showered with praise just cos they're Americanised.

I do actually agree with you in principle though. (I just like arguing with people)

I thought I suggested that I would tend to agree with them but if not that is what I meant. I'm pretty open minded it is just that their opinions I have found to be pretty much on the ball in the past. Jason Solomans on the other hand I tend to be in complete disagreement on alot of his reviews.
I don't really see hwere open minded comes into it. I'm not opposed to them being given a voice just in disagreement with their opinion.

 

[Gambit]

Come on. There are sections in the remake that are frame for frame identical to the original.

I'm not saying they haven't ripped off the other film now, just saying it was planned to be an original film that they couldn't get backing for, then once the Swedish film came out, the studios got right behind them. Then again as they both come from the same book it's like saying that Peter Jacksons the Lord of the Rings trilogy was a remake of that 1970's cartoon as it has practically sections that are frame for frame Identical in some places.

 

[Mockney]

Well the original film was screenplayed by the original writer, so it's far more obviously the 'definitive' version.

 

[Prophet_of_Doom]

Well the original film was screenplayed by the original writer, so it's far more obviously the 'definitive' version.

He also worked on the remake.

 

[Lynott]

My original point is simply this. If Let the Right One in was made in English would there have been a remake?

 

[Man Utd Mrs]

I was completely against the remake, in the same way I'm completely against the remake of the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

However, having seen the film, I actually think it outdoes the original. If only because it doesn't have the wtf moment of the bad-cgi cats.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / The girl who played with Fire and The Girl who kicked the hornets nest are simply awesome movies.

Plus I fancy Michael Nyqvist which makes it even better.

 

[Prophet_of_Doom]

My original point is simply this. If Let the Right One in was made in English would there have been a remake?

Remakes aren't some narrow-minded vendetta against foreign movies. They are about cash cows. They are about the fear of taking risk in the film industry. Films in all languages are remade but you seem to think this is some conspiracy against the great and good of foreign cinema.

Total Recall is being remade with Colin Farrell. LaBute's recent Death at a Funeral is a remake of a British movie made only three years ago. As a Brit should I be mortally offended?

 

[Prophet_of_Doom]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / The girl who played with Fire and The Girl who kicked the hornets nest are simply awesome movies.

Plus I fancy Michael Nyqvist which makes it even better.

You're getting Daniel Craig in the remake. Double bonus!

 

[CircusMonkey]

both versions fail to explore the relationship between Hakan and Eli or the Eli/Elias back story, Also why include the poorly executed mutilated genitalia shot (in both films) with out attempting to explain the history and significance behind it.
I cant really see the purpose for a remake so close to the original, especially as it adds gore but still ignores the darker undertone of the book.

 

[Saliph]

Never got why people are so against remakes. Who cares? Different interpretations from different people are in my opinion interesting (unless you're making a step-by-step remake), and there are plenty of examples of good/great remakes. Heat, The Fly, Insomnia, Red Dragon etc. And you know you don't have to watch the remake if you don't want to.

As for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, it's being remade (well, not really, they're doing their version of the Stieg Larsson book, and apparently it'll be quite different from the Swedish one) by one of the best directors of thrillers in the world, David Fincher (Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac). He chooses his projects carefully, and I expect it to knock the Swedish one out of the park (even though I thought it was very good).

 

[Lynott]

Remakes aren't some narrow-minded vendetta against foreign movies. They are about cash cows. They are about the fear of taking risk in the film industry. Films in all languages are remade but you seem to think this is some conspiracy against the great and good of foreign cinema.

Total Recall is being remade with Colin Farrell. LaBute's recent Death at a Funeral is a remake of a British movie made only three years ago. As a Brit should I be mortally offended?

Remakes of 'foreign' films are about taking a usually brilliant movie and trying to sell it to a mainstream audience, however, in alot of cases it is pointless as the premise of the original movie is not something that would interest a mainstream audience. As a result it means hollywood has to make it bigger and better and usually kills the story and original effect/atmosphere in the process. Another example would be the Ring, the Grudge, the Vanishing.

Let me In was different. It was made by a guy who was a huge fan of the original and thus wanted to stick as closely as possible to the original but couldn't help himself in turning certain parts of it up to 11.
I actually think what was done here is worse than what has been done in my examples above.

The remaking of movies such as Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street etc are, I agree, simply cash cows and something I can't really get my head around. Why not re-release the original without actually using funds to attempt a remake.

And Death at a Funeral was destroyed by the remake.

 

[SmashedHombre]

Really don't understand the massive hype over Let The Right One In. It was good I guess, but one of the best movies you've ever seen? Really?

 

[Lynott]

both versions fail to explore the relationship between Hakan and Eli or the Eli/Elias back story, Also why include the poorly executed mutilated genitalia shot (in both films) with out attempting to explain the history and significance behind it.
I cant really see the purpose for a remake so close to the original, especially as it adds gore but still ignores the darker undertone of the book.

Fair points, certainly when the scene was included. What I got from the film was that it wanted to concentrate on the relationship between Eli and Oskar and the scene was used to portary that their bond was based on the fact that they were both outsiders rather than simply a boy and 'girl' falling in love.

 

[Man Utd Mrs]

You're getting Daniel Craig in the remake. Double bonus!

I prefer Michael.

 

[hungrywing]

I don't get this one, an American remake filmed in Sweden with Swedish actors in minor roles. What's the point?...

20 cents says it was sold as:

Studio J. Exec: "Jason Bourne in Europe, except get this: Bourne's a hot GIRL!"
Senior Exec: Bourne was in Europe.
J. Exec: Want another macchiatto?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / The girl who played with Fire and The Girl who kicked the hornets nest are simply awesome movies.

Plus I fancy Michael Nyqvist which makes it even better.

There is only one Michael. And his name is Wincott.

 

[Lynott]

I believe the remake of TGWTDT is going to have the actors speaking in English with Swedish accents.

 

[hungrywing]

I believe the remake of TGWTDT is going to have the actors speaking in English with Swedish accents.

Actually it's going to be Swedish actors speaking in English but with Swedish accents. But they're going to do ADR anyway and for that they're going to have the actors replicate the original dialogue by mimicking the Swedish actors speaking in English but with Swedish accents.

 

[Man Utd Mrs]

"If it aint broke ,why fix it" is what my dear old nan used to say.

 

[Gambit]

Really don't understand the massive hype over Let The Right One In. It was good I guess, but one of the best movies you've ever seen? Really?

I wasn't overyimpressed with it myself. Speaking of remakes. I actualy prefer the American remake of 'the Ring'. Far more atmospheric with a constant feeling of dread throughout, where as the Japenese verson was dull in places.

Now if you really want to talk about crimes to film, Akira is being made into a live action film...... with the action relocated from Tokyo to the USA........starring Zac Effron!!!!!!!!!