Remake of Let the Right One In

xoixo

Only three years after Swedish film Let the Right One In is released, the director of Cloverfield Matt Reeves has made a Hollywood remake.
Is it just me who thinks this isn't only disrespectful to the original movie, script and director but also shows an incredible lack of creativity?

The movie could be amazing, I have no idea... but was there really a need for it?

Let Me In
Let the Right One In

fluke

xoixo wrote: »

Only three years after Swedish film Let the Right One In is released, the director of Cloverfield Matt Reeves has made a Hollywood remake.
Is it just me who thinks this isn't only disrespectful to the original movie, script and director but also shows an incredible lack of creativity?

The movie could be amazing, I have no idea... but was there really a need for it?

Let Me In
Let the Right One In

It show's that Hollywood feels that the Yanks are too lazy too/dumb/ignorant to watch a movie with subtitles, and hey the execs can capitalize on it.

Yakuza

Quarantine came out very quickly after [Rec], so nothing much new there.

I probably won't bother watching the remake, I've no problem with subtitled movies (I even try to pick up some of the language).

Edit: I see it's got the Kick Ass girl and the boy from the Road (who could well be Charlize Theron's son, uncanny resemblance, but I digress...), I enjoyed both movies so I might check it out after all

It could be interesting. Let The Right One In succeeded because of the children actors in it - and they've got some interesting ones playing in the remake - in the form of Chloe Moretz from Kick-Ass and Kodi Smit-McPhee from the Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjavOLdPk1c

MagicMarker

Yeah just saw this on IMDB, casting is excellent to be fair.

edit: Actually, just watched the above trailer. Doesn't look like it's going to even come close to the original tbh.

Hank_Jones

Would say there is probably already 100 threads on this subject.

OP really should have done a search.

MagicMarker

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Would say there is probably already 100 threads on this subject.

OP really should have done a search.

''let me in'' doesn't return anything, probably because it's too short. And ''let me in remake'' doesn't return anything of use either, both searches were for titles only.

So, you were saying?

Hank_Jones

Strange....when I type Let Me In into the search bar.....this returns as the first thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055956079

fluke

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Would say there is probably already 100 threads on this subject.

OP really should have done a search.

MagicMarker wrote: »

''let me in'' doesn't return anything, probably because it's too short. And ''let me in remake'' doesn't return anything of use either, both searches were for titles only.

So, you were saying?

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Strange....when I type Let Me In into the search bar.....this returns as the first thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055956079

Game. On.

MagicMarker

Hank_Jones wrote: »

Strange....when I type Let Me In into the search bar.....this returns as the first thread.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055956079

*shrugs shoulders*

Gotta love how good threads end up in pointless arguements when a poster gets pedantic.

I'm looking forward to seeing this.

Renn

Wasn't a good thread to start with *shrugs shoulders*

Hank_Jones

http://i25.tinypic.com/vgsww2.jpg

Anyway, I'm done here.

Moral of the story, check for threads in future kids!

xoixo

I did a search, the same way as MagicMarker and also showed zero results so... sorry I suppose, but can we get back on topic?

I agree the two main actors are brilliant, loved the boy in Road and the girl in Kick Ass but as someone else said the trailer looks quite disappointing. Still, might be worth a watch.

Necronomicon

Some of the scenes from the trailer look pretty much lifted from the original - it screams pointless remake. There is scope to handle it differently, Let The Right One In was different in some aspects to the book. Though like others, the casting of the children has piqued my interest a little.

Turtyturd

Necronomicon wrote: »

Some of the scenes from the trailer look pretty much lifted from the original - it screams pointless remake. There is scope to handle it differently, Let The Right One In was different in some aspects to the book. Though like others, the casting of the children has piqued my interest a little.

I don't think it screams pointless remake, maybe to you or others who have have seen the original. An americanised version of the original is going to be seen by a lot more people worldwide than the original. Thats enough money not to make it pointless.

nearyj

A remake was inevitable given the quality of the script. I agree with the previous post in that a larger audience awaits the remake. I'm sure there have been films we have enjoyed in the past that were remakes and Were unaware of it. It's like songs being remade. The puritans will always say the original is best when that isn't always the case. I'll be watching the remake.

Handsome Bob

I was skeptical about this remake but after seeing Moretz in Kick Ass and Smit-McPhee in The Road I feel encouraged. Smit-McPhee had the whole vunerable yet brave thing going on in The Road which is pretty similar to what he'll have to do as Owen.

opr

Considering I think most people will want to hate this film me included the reviews have been very good.

(No spoilers in links just an overview of reviews)

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/let-me-in

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/let_me_in/

Opr

Dr.Giggles

Was I the only person who didn't think Let the Right One In wasn't all that and a bag of chips? I say go Cloverfield man make it good

opr

Anyone seen it yet ? Looks like they have done a good job as the early good reviews have now pretty much turned to universal praise with only a handful still crying indignation at the very idea of remaking the original gem.

Opr

Orizio

Saw this tonight, thought it was pretty excellent, probably the best film I've seen this year along with 'The Town', 'The Road and 'Social Network'. Its beautifully shot and accurately captures the vibe of the original. Its edited better as well then the original imo. At the same time, the soundtrack is often intrusive and too effecting, while when the dialogue moves away from the narrative of the original it suffers somewhat.

The argument about it being redundant, because it follows so closely on the heels of the original is somewhat misplaced imo - its a good film, and god only knows we have very few of those these days.

Awful_Bliss

Very unfortunate that they're remaking (or 're-imagining' as it's called now). If it ain't broke don't fix it. I also read recently they plan to remake The Crow and Total Recall. You can't recreate the eeriness and coldness of that Swedish neighbourhood.

Hank_Jones

I'm honestly not sure if I can ever look past the original with regards to a remake. Are the director and editor etc not looking at the original and taking the style from that? People really liked the original, so why not copy pretty a lot from that?

I'll take a look at the new one and make a decision for myself though, there's always The Fly...

Orizio

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

You can't recreate the eeriness and coldness of that Swedish neighbourhood.

...have you seen the film?

Goldstein

Didn't see the need for a pre-mature, seminal shot-for-shot remake for people who can't be bothered to read.

I'll reserve final judgement until I've seen the Americanised version, but I'll eat my fedora hat if Hollywood bests Eli & Oskar's extraordinary and original movie.

jaykhunter

I think i'm a film snob when it comes to remakes. If I've seen the original I generally have a rough time watching the remake; especially if it's basically a re-shoot with American-speaking actors, as Goldstein said. The film keeps reminding me that this film was made for the unwashed masses who can't be bothered reading; and that there's a big enough market for it that it does extremely well; wow it really annoys me.

I couldn't sit through Quarantine because I loved [REC] and it was the same film. Rob Zombie's Halloween added nothing IMO. I don't think I can watch "Let Me In".

I find that Mark Kermode shares a lot of the same views on films that I do; he remarked that Let The Right One In is a film about kids that happens to feature vampires; while Let Me In is a film about vampires that happens to feature kids. Is that accurate? I'd class Let The Right One In as a drama, and only by default of having vampires is classed as a horror film. What does Let Me In focus on?

Black Swan

The original is one of my favourite vampire films, so America will be hard pressed to beat it.

As for subtitles, if the acting and plot are grand, within the first few minutes my disbelief is completely suspended and I forget that I am reading. Just watched The Girl Who Kicked Over the Hornets Nest yesterday, and shortly forgot that it was in Swedish.

Goldstein

If that makes me a film snob too I'll gladly wear the sash.

I felt exactly the same watching quarantine vis-a-vis [rec] but oddly felt the opposite with The Ring. Each to their own I suppose.

I really did love Let the Right One In though, so maybe I'm heavily chronologically biased in that regard. I got more joy from that than the preceding 10 movies I'd watched. I think I'll watch it again tomorrow for the night that's in it as I can't think of a more apt film.

jaykhunter

Actually i'm of the rare persuasion that thinks the US ring is much better than the Japanese original! But the two are tonally very different films and only share the same premise, it's my favourite example of a remake done really well. I should stop cause I could write loads on it.....

Let me know how it holds up Goldstein. Could u keep my last questions in mind?

Blue_Lagoon; that's a great point. When thinking back on subtitled films I don't remember them being in a foreign language. If you're constantly aware of subtitles and not concentrating on the film, that means it's a poor film. A point I like to mention is that we can read much faster than people talk in films, and people only talk when nothing is happening (i.e. so you always know what's going on). My only gripe with subtitles is that you know that there's subtle nuances in the diction that is paraphrased/lost in translation. That and sometimes the subtitles are placed too low; when some 7 foot behemoth with perfect posture is infront of me!

Awful_Bliss

Orizio wrote: »

...have you seen the film?

Yes I have seen the original Swedish version. It's a terrible shame that people have to remake the film.

MagicMarker

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

Yes I have seen the original Swedish version. It's a terrible shame that people have to remake the film.

He meant the remake. If you haven't seen the remake then how do you know if someone cannot be recreated?

I was a little dubious when I heard there was going to be a remake but the trailers for it look really good tbh.

Morlar

I haven't seen the remake and don't want to. It's a shame when hollywood re-makes european movies so that americans don't need to read subtitles.

The original is only a couple of years old and was a strong, original movie which had nothing whatsoever wrong with it other than (according to some) being made in the wrong language.

johnny_ultimate

I've seen the remake: it does a handful of things better (one or two 'action' scenes are inventive and well delivered), a handful of things worse (the CGI is on occasion out and out dreadful), pretty much everything else exactly the same. The second half in particular is almost identical to the original.

It's far from a bad remake, and it's respectful to the source material. I would have liked to see more integrated from the novel to make it stand out more, as only the sequences with Eli's (or Abby here) minder differ from Let the Right One In. It's not bad, and if more people get to experience it that's a plus. The quality of the material means this is far from a bad film, and the performances in both versions are excellent. But for fans of the original, Let Me In could only seem a wee bit redundant at times. I've seen the original twice and read the book, so this didn't have a whole lot to offer.

Orizio

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

Yes I have seen the original Swedish version.

Congrats, quite clearly I was talking about the remake however.

Awful_Bliss

You asked me had I seen 'the' film - you didn't specify which one. Wouldn't want to see it either. It comes across as a shot for shot remake which is pointless. I watched the remake of the Omen last night. I couldn't stop laughing as it was shockingly bad.

indough

i always find it funny when people are religiously against all remakes/reboots without having seen them. its like they want them to be bad or something.

Orizio

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

You asked me had I seen 'the' film - you didn't specify which one. Wouldn't want to see it either. It comes across as a shot for shot remake which is pointless. I watched the remake of the Omen last night. I couldn't stop laughing as it was shockingly bad.

Christ. :rolleyes:

Just go watch the film (this would be 'Let Me In' now, not 'Let The Right One In' or even 'The Omen') and get back to me.

jaykhunter

indough wrote: »

i always find it funny when people are religiously against all remakes/reboots without having seen them. its like they want them to be bad or something.

If these 'people' (:pac:) are anything like me then it's not the remake itself that people have a problem with, it's the reasons why it is made. [Because the masses avoid subtitles like the plague; and that the same film redone in english would be actually be preferable].

Imagine if, a few years after Star Wars Ep IV came out, someone went to Lucas and said 'that's a great film. I'm gonna re-do it but rename the characters (John Skycatcher, Harold Sondheim etc) and set it in a different location, but with all English actors. It's gonna be called War Stars.' People would be livid. And that's how we feel about remakes! They don't need to be made, there's a perfectly genuine, different film already there.

Am I on to something :pac:

indough

i know the reasoning behind it but its often still a bit ridiculous. im not referring to those with a more passive kind of apathy towards remakes but more to those who get quite bitchy about them. the kind who would vomit on themselves if you said you preferred zack snyders dawn of the dead to romeros, for example. it is possible for a remake to be better than the original after all.

to answer your question re: star wars, im not sure i would care (star wars is essentially an adaptation of a japanese movie anyway). if it was better then i get a better film, if not i dont have to watch it a second time. nothing to lose for me.

jaykhunter

I chose Star Wars because so many people esp. on the net have a hernia 'discussing' changes/revisions lucas makes

Awful_Bliss

Orizio wrote: »

Christ. :rolleyes:

Just go watch the film (this would be 'Let Me In' now, not 'Let The Right One In' or even 'The Omen') and get back to me.

Back off with the sarcasm by the way. I won't get back to you as it'll be the same film, only with a different film so how will it be any different? I've seen the remakes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, The Omen and Nightmare on Elm St and they've taken the proverbial out of the originals.

NunianVonFuch

Awful_Bliss wrote: »

Back off with the sarcasm by the way. I won't get back to you as it'll be the same film, only with a different film so how will it be any different? I've seen the remakes of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, The Omen and Nightmare on Elm St and they've taken the proverbial out of the originals.

Each of the films you name were all hack jobs, just done for the cash and some with mix-up of the original ingredients to justify the name. There's a pretty good interview with director Matt Reeves where he details his aims with the project and why he initially rejected it, until John Lindqvist wrote to him saying he was a big fan of Cloverfield yadda yadda yadda.

It really is as Johnny_Ultimate describes it and although I didn't think the CGI was terrible it is pretty much the same movie. There is tighter editing so not as much long silent shots of snow with nothing happening which was the only thing I hated about the original. Plus the addition of English means you can actually focus on the kid's acting rather than the text below and with the calibre of kids they have for the remake that's a major boost in my book. The tone of the film is slightly different too

possibly implying that Abby (Eli) targeted Owen and their entire relationship is a vampire's seduction of its prey. At least it leaves room for that interpretation which I thought the original didn't as she seemed more innocent in nature. It makes sense too as though she's a 12 year old in body she has aged in mind.

As for American remakes in general, there's been a gazillion great ones (inc. unoffical remakes): The Departed (Infernal Affairs), Reservoir Dogs (City on Fire), Some Like It Hot (Fanfaren der Liebe), The Sound of Music (Die Trapp-Familie), A Fistful of Dollars (Yojimbo), Scent of a Woman (Profumo di donna), The Magnificent Seven (Seven Samurai), Insomnia (Insomnia) etc. Your enjoyment of each of these is hampered if you've seen the originals, but I don't think anyone doubts their quality and certainly cinema would be a poorer place without them.

For those who've seen the film, there's a deleted scene up on the web available here: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/22254

olaola

Against my better judgement, we went to see this last Friday. When I had initially heard that it was being remade, I was disgusted. But then! The reviews came thick and fast… and they were all very positive. So I said, why not - lets use up our Friday night to go to see it in the cinema.

MISTAKE. Even after watching the first (twice) and reading the book, I was keeping an open mind. I loved the original, it was so delicate and moving. The book was fantastic, even though it was quite dark and the subjects touched upon were a little *creepy*. The remake is neither here nor there. It is so much like the original in some ways, and yet they've left bits out and changed other sections. And it lacked atmosphere, which the original had in abundance. I don't think Chloe Moretz is well cast in this, and the 'supernaturalification' of her as a vampire annoyed me. Some bits of the story seemed crowbar-ed in as an afterthought. And too much time is spent on hazy close ups with full orchestral support.

Maybe if you haven't seen the original or read the book, you might have a different opinion, and it might be more enjoyable. All four of us who viewed it, did not enjoy it. But still, the lads had never been to Nandos before. So the night wasn't a total washout...

hardCopy

I haven't seen the original or the remake. But, I don't get the whole anti-remake vibe.

I loved The Departed but I never would have gotten to see it if Scorcese hadn't decided to remake Infernal Affairs.

If I was studying film as a form of literature I might get over the subtitles (I did really enjoy Cinema Paradiso in school), but I prefer to watch for entertainment and subtitles just sound too much like hard work for a Wednesday night with a bucket of popcorn.

It's not like they're going to destroy all copies of the original, they're just offering it to a wider audience.

previous user

The original was atmospheric and you got the feel of it being based in Sweden with their own
sense of visual style from the cold pristine buildings eveningly spaced and the actress who
played the original girl was excellent this latest remake is just glossed over Hollywood schlock.

NunianVonFuch

previous user wrote: »

The original was atmospheric and you got the feel of it being based in Sweden with their own
sense of visual style from the cold pristine buildings eveningly spaced and the actress who
played the original girl was excellent this latest remake is just glossed over Hollywood schlock.

I presume you haven't seen it as the cold pristine buildings you mention are the exact same layout as in the remake. The shot-by-shot comparisons can be seen here:
http://www.fearnet.com/news/b19495_shot_by_shot_why_let_me_in_might_be.html

Necronomicon

I guess the remake debate will always be around. Just for clarification (since I posted earlier but didn't really elaborate) I am quite open about remakes in general - Snyder's Dawn of the Dead was one of my favourite movies of the decade (for me nothing rivals it in terms of unadulterated, balls-to-the-wall action). But the beauty of Dawn and most good remakes is, IMO, that you could watch it followed by the original and not feel like you'd watched the same film twice.

I just never got the appeal of shot-for-shot remakes - a lot of people use the argument that they bring the film to a wider audience, but I don't think that's always necessarily the case. Let The Right One In was an international hit and should've been plenty visible for anyone who was interested in the film. A lot of people probably chose not to watch it on the basis of it being foreign/subtitled - in which case it should be their loss. I remember seeing it in the cinema and as soon as the first subtitles came up there were audible "Ah for **** sake" from others around me.

I'd be more receptive to Let Me In if it felt more like an adaptation of the source material rather than a remake of the film - there were a few arcs that the original didn't develop such as

the characterisation of Håkan

that would've been cool to see. As it is, I can't help but feel it'd be redundant viewing - but different strokes for different folks and all that.

jaykhunter

extremely well said Necro

norrie rugger

Morlar wrote: »

I haven't seen the remake and don't want to. It's a shame when hollywood re-makes european movies so that americans don't need to read subtitles.

The original is only a couple of years old and was a strong, original movie which had nothing whatsoever wrong with it other than (according to some) being made in the wrong language.

I hate is when people make movies, of great books, so that people do not have to read

previous user

NunianVonFuch wrote: »

I presume you haven't seen it as the cold pristine buildings you mention are the exact same layout as in the remake. The shot-by-shot comparisons can be seen here:
http://www.fearnet.com/news/b19495_shot_by_shot_why_let_me_in_might_be.html

I don't agree,
the buildings looks ordinary in the remake you definately notice the visual style more in the original