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After seeing both versions: I felt that Let Me In is much better

posted 12 years ago by voodoo_man
84 replies | jump to latest

Having seen the two versions, I was substantially more enthralled by Let Me In.

I found the way Let Me In was shot to be far superior. The golden tone coupled with the close up shots created a dream like atmosphere and symbolized the warmth Owen and Abby felt towards each other.

I found the soundtrack of Let Me In to be much better than the one in LTROI. Particular standouts include "Neighbours of Love" and "Peeping Owen". I do like the use of scores in movies though so I understand people who think it's a little overbearing at times.

I thought the cast of Let Me In (especially Chloe Grace Moretz and Richard Jenkins) was much better than LTROI. Richard Jenkins has such soulful eyes and showed a vulnerability in a seemingly evil character.

I definitely agree that Let Me In borrowed some things from the original, but it took those good parts from LTROI and was able to create a way better film.

I honestly find it hard to watch Let the Right One In after seeing Let Me In :)

***Some additional things I loved about Let Me In:

One thing Harpo mentioned that I vehemently agree with is the appreciation of the amber tone in the night scenes. I loved how when Owen was at school the scenes were white and grey but when he saw Abby in the jungle gym it was under a golden light. The heart of the story is their relationship so the golden glow when they meet each other at night really symbolizes the warmth they feel between each other.

I also enjoyed the scene where they're in the candy shop and Time (Clock of the Heart) was playing in the background, it added a nice old school americana element to the scene.

The second intro, where Owen is looking at his neighbours through his telescope while wearing his mask was amazing. You're immediately curious as to what is wrong with him (after hearing the "hey little girl" dialogue). The golden lighting coupled with the close up shots create a dream like atmosphere that completely drew me in.

I also loved how foreboding the bullies' score was. After the scene where Owen i crying (due to Abby leaving), I was expecting the film to just fade out, but when the

[–] Too_Late_The_Hero 11 years ago

some of the memorable scene in Let me In was a total ripoff from the original.. let's be honest. And obviously the director of let me in realized that it was good and thought, I can make it better..HE loved the film. (i dont know if he did a good job or not, I cant really say anything..LOL. i dont know what to react.

(but i can only say that watching LTROI is so much better, i can feel every emotion in every fiber of my being, when i watched LMI its feels like
i was going through the motions of passing time by nonchalantly trudging through scene by scene coz i pretty much predict what would happened next, until the ending.While the original is ambiguous, the ending of LMI is kinda spoon sped to the audience, i wont deny it but when i first see the original film i feel like that too..but then as time goes by and as i visited the threads and read other people insights i see the beauty of ambiguity.. But of course, to each his own.

the golden lighting! it was the first thing that i noticed in movie which what really distinguish to the original.i give credit to the director because he exactly know what he wanted.but for some reason i personally hated it. -_- maybe i was just used in the original film for its sort of black/white background contrast,the buildings, the dead winter, Its feels so dreamy but NO,its actually haunting and chilling.

As for Chloe, the girl is good no doubt. shes has her own version of Eli in her mind.And i give her that credit because she didnt attempt to copy Lina which makes sense because she would only fail, im afraid. I agree that Chloe lacked that menacing vibe, and very feminish. But i thought maybe the director wants it be a real girl, so yeah. I mean who can forget that memorable inviting scene where Eli make an effort to tidy herself, comb her hair and when Oska opened that door, challenged/mocked her you can see the sudden change expression of her face. from sunny and smiley to devastatingly hurt.

[–] Jameron 11 years ago

"I mean who can forget that memorable inviting scene where Eli make an effort to tidy herself, comb her hair and when Oska opened that door, challenged/mocked her you can see the sudden change expression of her face. from sunny and smiley to devastatingly hurt." - Too_Late_The_Hero

Eli's change of expression and emotion was wonderfully performed by Lina.

;_;

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- - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] Thrillseeker303 11 years ago

I disagree.
Even though Let Me In is good, Let the Right One In has superior acting and soundtrack.

Need harmonic brainwaves to soothe your diligent mind? click bryanel.com & relax!

[–] LifeIsLikeABeanstalk 11 years ago

I have to admit I was disappointed to learn the Americanized version was being shot at all. What that meant was that a sophisticated adult themed film (and in this case a legitimae work of cinematic art) was probably going to be sanitized and juvenilized to compete with 'Twilight'.

Nevertheless I was excited to 'Let Me In' - although even the change in the title is weakening of the power of the film. And so from the very outset I had to wonder if the guy doing the rewite and the guy doing the direction of the remake even understood the nuance and the power of LTROI.

Let Me In is someone asking. Let the Right One In - is an admonition as well as both a play (and a reversal) on established vampire lore. But then again - the remake was an effort to sell a homogenized product to an audience undesirous of sophistication, nuance or thinking.

The remake was based upon the horror associated with blood. LTROI was based upon the horror of lonelieness, of bullying, of determining who to trust as you navigate the perilous tighrope of life and using those very human, very universal aspects of life as the background for a morality play where evil and goodness are dissembled and examined and found to be not only not mutually exclusive, but existentially connected.

Jeeze - I haven't even gotten past the naming of the two films and the remake already sucks!
Just my opinion - but Let Me In didn't even know what to copy directly so that it could at least contain some of the distinctive look and feel of the original. They would have been better off just shooting an English scene for scene copy.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LifeIsLikeABeanstalk 11 years ago

You mean the putrid art house look of the original??? Just setting the camera on a tripod and walking away while action is going on in the distance?

Does anyone think he means the look and directorial choices that got Alfredson & Hoytma the gig directing Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the best looking film of 2011?

Here's a clue - a poor film requires a lot of camera movement to keep the droids occupied. The next stage of a droids film education might be a remedial course in 'Camera Placement, Pushing, Pulling, Panning & Zooming'.

You are god damn right Reeves didn't mimic that *beep* In America we have standards like hiring actors who can act and directors who know how to direct. *beep* little art house movies like LTROI don't care about acting, or camera work, or coherent storytelling.

No one who understands film, theater or acting claims that the acting in Let Me In was superior to that of LTROI. That some liked it more is a given. That same crowd would prefer Barney and Snufflufagus to Olivier and Gary Oldman. Poor tatse is omni-present and lucrative. But no one forgets that at the end of the day it is poor taste. And the good news is there are also less talented filmmakers and financiers to make sure the uneducated and the illiterate have gruel to feast upon. You should be revelling not complaining.

But art house slappy's like yourself just eat this crap up, don't ya?

Yes - it is a distinct pleasure to have artists willing and capable of examining the human condition in such a masterful way through a genre ( Def: a catagory of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form style or subject matter) typically associated with lesser artistic or entertainment objectives (Def: a desired point of achievement or arrival). However I do understand the consternation (Def: frustration and incomprehension (Def: alck of understanding) ) it causes the unread and unthinking who use film as chewing gum for their brains and so as an attempt to escape thought, awareness or enlightenment.

Pretty pathetic if you think about it.

I think we are all happy for you and pleased with your progress thus far. Writing 'think' was a good first step. For our next exercise we will try and actually familiarize you with the process to which it refers. It will be painful - but in the end you and your parents will find it a gratifying step on your path to turning off the computer, putting on your underwear and leaving the basement hovel you use for your forays into areas about which you know nothing. Please do hurry back.

[–] the_dirty_bandage 11 years ago

He's a troll, mate. In the beginning I responded to him thinking that he may at least try, but now he's just a jackass out for "the lulz" by trying to piss off fans. It's not worth your energy writing... and I think that's the point.

"Anyone who agrees to rub their breasts live on television is obviously inexcusably disturbed."

[–] LifeIsLikeABeanstalk 11 years ago

He's a troll, mate.

Thanks!
Point taken and noted.
Just wanted to have some fun with his limited vocabulary, insight and intellect before dispatcbhing him to his own insipid company.

Peace.

[–] Jameron 11 years ago

Nice

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- - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] filmfan1983 11 years ago

I love the original Let the Right One In so much that I bought it twice on blu ray. My first copy had incorrect subtitles so I had to import another copy from the UK which had the correct subtitles and a commentary track. It's a great film with an awesome soundtrack (especially Eli's theme) that I can watch over and over again.

That said, I still prefer the remake even if just by a hair. Kodi and Chloe gave some of the best child performances I have ever seen and Richard Jenkins was damn good as well.

The scenes I liked better in the remake are:

The scene with Owen and his father on the phone was just as effective, if not more so, than the scenes with Oskar and his father in the original. Credit must be given to Kodi for some magnificent acting there.

The bullies were far more threatening and abusive in the American version but perhaps some people might like that the original kids looked so innocent in the original. I thought the scenes with the bullies in Let Me in were terrifying.

All the scenes with Richard Jenkins were much better in Let Me In, particularly the scene in the car. I watched it with my home theater set up, and the sound blew me away.

I love the scene with the vampire woman dying by accident (while chewing her arm, very nice touch) far better than the scene where she dies willingly.

The CGI was a bit intrusive but it looked far better than using another actress for Eli in certain scenes in Let the Right One In.

I loved that we see more of Owen's POV throughout the film.

I love all the 80's references. Superficial reason I know.

All in all, both are terrific films which I recommend and Let the Right One In deserves credit for doing so much right the first time but I still prefer the remake.

[–] jidici 11 years ago

Well fine if that's the way your going to be! Seriously though, being much more of a LTROI fan, allow me to try and change your mind. I do though agree with some of your points.

The scene with Owen and his father on the phone was just as effective, if not more so, than the scenes with Oskar and his father in the original. Credit must be given to Kodi for some magnificent acting there.

I will agree with this. Theres much more weight put on this particular part of the story than LTROI. However I will say that its a more important element to the story in LMI than in LTROI. In LMI Owen is standing on the precipice of change in that scene. For Oskar its just one of a slew of things heading him in a certain direction.

The bullies were far more threatening and abusive in the American version but perhaps some people might like that the original kids looked so innocent in the original. I thought the scenes with the bullies in Let Me in were terrifying.

I agree but not in a way that says LMI is superior than LTROI. In LTROI there seems to be an emphasis on not having the people in Oskar's life, that make life Oskar's life hard, the bullies, the parents and teachers be characters that are overly sentimental. In other words, characters that give an excuse for Oskar's/Owens behavior. In LMI, its the parents fault, its the bullies fault. In LTROI its the human experiences fault. Society in itself is screwed up, no need to point fingers.

All the scenes with Richard Jenkins were much better in Let Me In, particularly the scene in the car. I watched it with my home theater set up, and the sound blew me away.

I disagree vehemently. Sure Jenkins did a great job acting and the car scene was kind of ground breaking but the emotional effectiveness of the two scenes I say is more powerful in LTROI. LMI's scene is a scene meant to stimulate the audience. Its a moment meant to wake the audience up with something cool, which it was. LTROI's same scene was a moment of quiet but ultimate devastation. Its the lack of fireworks that makes this scene work better for me. The fireworks masks the fear this man must surely be going through. When those teens bust through that door and Hakan jumps knowing the inevitable is that much closer? Shiver.

I love the scene with the vampire woman dying by accident (while chewing her arm, very nice touch) far better than the scene where she dies willingly.

Ok, difference of opinion. I, though cant fathom how you can like an uncontrolled, zombie-like Virginia over a Virginia who has all her faculties and makes a choice about her life in ending it. That's just more powerful.

The CGI was a bit intrusive but it looked far better than using another actress for Eli in certain scenes in Let the Right One In.

I disagree, but ok.

I loved that we see more of Owen's POV throughout the film.

Well I think both movies revolve around Oskar/Owen but yes, its probably more so in LMI. I like in LTROI that the POV is through the actual camera, as if the movies POV is us the audience. I didn't like how they blurred out the mother and things like that, as if everything was going through Owens eyes and mind. That tells me that the right decisions might not be being made. They might be being made from a boy acting out of desperation, not love.

[–] CyberGhostface-1 11 years ago

Ok, difference of opinion. I, though cant fathom how you can like an uncontrolled, zombie-like Virginia over a Virginia who has all her faculties and makes a choice about her life in ending it. That's just more powerful.

Yeah that scene in the remake was just absurd. There was no purpose except for Reeves wanting to use one of the money shots from the original film.

I remember Reeves promised to have Virginia drink her own blood like in the book and then he does that.

[–] filmfan1983 11 years ago

I will agree with this. Theres much more weight put on this particular part of the story than LTROI. However I will say that its a more important element to the story in LMI than in LTROI. In LMI Owen is standing on the precipice of change in that scene. For Oskar its just one of a slew of things heading him in a certain direction.

It's true that Let the Right One in uses a more subtle approach but I feel that the remake leaves just enough to the imagination. It just does so by using a different storytelling technique.

I agree but not in a way that says LMI is superior than LTROI. In LTROI there seems to be an emphasis on not having the people in Oskar's life, that make life Oskar's life hard, the bullies, the parents and teachers be characters that are overly sentimental. In other words, characters that give an excuse for Oskar's/Owens behavior. In LMI, its the parents fault, its the bullies fault. In LTROI its the human experiences fault. Society in itself is screwed up, no need to point fingers.

I think there is enough ambiguity to Owen's character to make the viewer wonder how screwed up he is from the beginning. I agree that this was a strength in the original as well. However, I disagree that just because the bullies or parents were portrayed as being much worse in the remake that they deserve more of the blame. I'd have to credit Kodi's performance again for making Owen's character so multilayered.

I disagree vehemently. Sure Jenkins did a great job acting and the car scene was kind of ground breaking but the emotional effectiveness of the two scenes I say is more powerful in LTROI. LMI's scene is a scene meant to stimulate the audience. Its a moment meant to wake the audience up with something cool, which it was. LTROI's same scene was a moment of quiet but ultimate devastation. Its the lack of fireworks that makes this scene work better for me. The fireworks masks the fear this man must surely be going through. When those teens bust through that door and Hakan jumps knowing the inevitable is that much closer? Shiver.

The scene in the original worked really well for me as well, except the part where the friends bust in to the room and then thinking it might be a joke. It was still pretty intense although I'd have to say that in the remake I pretty much figured Jenkins was a goner during the scene in the car and that he had even less of a chance to escape the scene.

Ok, difference of opinion. I, though cant fathom how you can like an uncontrolled, zombie-like Virginia over a Virginia who has all her faculties and makes a choice about her life in ending it. That's just more powerful.

That was one of my favorite scenes in Let Me In and I was quite surprised it wasn't in the original when I went back and watched it. I liked that she died not understanding her fate which made it more tragic in my opinion. Maybe it's because in popular vampire lore, it's ancient vampires who want to take their own lives whereas Virginia had only been conscious for a few hours. The payoff is also a lot better when your not expecting death to come so soon. However, I could see why others may have a difference of opinion. For me, however, it worked wonderfully.

Thanks for making some interesting points. I could certainly appreciate the original especially for what it does differently and vice versa. The films are so close in my mind, that I can see my opinion going back and forth but the remake still gets me every single time.

Also having two great movies based on the same source material really made me want to read the book (which I intend to do soon).

[–] jidici 11 years ago

It's true that Let the Right One in uses a more subtle approach but I feel that the remake leaves just enough to the imagination. It just does so by using a different storytelling technique.

Ok but what does this different imagination say that the first one hadn't said already? What is LMI's purpose?

However, I disagree that just because the bullies or parents were portrayed as being much worse in the remake that they deserve more of the blame.

Ok but why?

The scene in the original worked really well for me as well, except the part where the friends bust in to the room and then thinking it might be a joke. It was still pretty intense although I'd have to say that in the remake I pretty much figured Jenkins was a goner during the scene in the car and that he had even less of a chance to escape the scene.

Why does the kids thinking it was a joke make it any less? It was real and that's all that matters.

That was one of my favorite scenes in Let Me In and I was quite surprised it wasn't in the original when I went back and watched it. I liked that she died not understanding her fate which made it more tragic in my opinion.

Tragic for who? Certainly not for Virginia because at this point she's brain dead.

Maybe it's because in popular vampire lore, it's ancient vampires who want to take their own lives whereas Virginia had only been conscious for a few hours.

What vampire lore is that? I like to think of LTROI as something far deeper than the current fads.

[–] filmfan1983 11 years ago

Ok but what does this different imagination say that the first one hadn't said already? What is LMI's purpose?

Let Me In expands on the ideas in the original movie and judging by interviews I've read, the original source material as well. However, I'll admit it also borrows a lot from Let the Right One In which is why a viewer may be biased to whichever version they have seen first. I happen to think there are enough distinctive touches in both films so that at least fans could pick them apart.

However, I disagree that just because the bullies or parents were portrayed as being much worse in the remake that they deserve more of the blame.

Ok but why?

I believe both films invite multiple interpretations and that Owen and Oskar's characters are developed enough that viewers don't have to accept any easy answers.

The scene in the original worked really well for me as well, except the part where the friends bust in to the room and then thinking it might be a joke. It was still pretty intense although I'd have to say that in the remake I pretty much figured Jenkins was a goner during the scene in the car and that he had even less of a chance to escape the scene.

Why does the kids thinking it was a joke make it any less? It was real and that's all that matters.

I thought the scene was done well in both films but I felt a better sense of Jenkin's desperation and entrapment in the remake.

Tragic for who? Certainly not for Virginia because at this point she's brain dead.

I never really assumed she was brain dead. I just thought she was a new vampire who had little control of her urges. It was sad yet almost bitterly funny in a way. In any case, I think both scenes are effective for different reasons.

[–] drakkar 11 years ago

That was one of my favorite scenes in Let Me In and I was quite surprised it wasn't in the original when I went back and watched it. I liked that she died not understanding her fate which made it more tragic in my opinion. Maybe it's because in popular vampire lore, it's ancient vampires who want to take their own lives whereas Virginia had only been conscious for a few hours. The payoff is also a lot better when your not expecting death to come so soon. However, I could see why others may have a difference of opinion. For me, however, it worked wonderfully.-filmfan

The film adaptions of the story are concentrated, a lot of stuff has been left out. Virginia is the adult parallel to Eli, her turning into a vampire tells us a lot about him. TA chose to show us the agony Virginia went trough in the process, including the failed hit on Gösta. That's why the cat scene couldn't be omitted even if it wasn't very good visually - it was an important step for Virginia towards her suicide, and has a lot to do with Eli.

In LMI, MR settled for the visual scene from the novel, showing Virginia gnawing on her arm, but he totally left out Virginia's path to that point, reducing her to some zombie-like creature.

I didn't like this detail at all, and I think MR just created confusion with the scene. Virginia remains an adult parallel to Abby, and then the question is whether Abby also is a zombie-like character going on auto pilot. And if not, why do Abby and Virginia appear so different?

For the heart life is simple, it beats as long as it can.

[–] john-mahananda 11 years ago

I tried to watch both last night. (I had seen both before.)

LtROI is masterful. LMI is wretched junk.

[–] Capt-Cupcake 9 years ago

LtROI is masterful. LMI is wretched junk.

That's your opinion, and in this case your opinion is incorrect.

[–] fishingbird 11 years ago

I also prefer Let Me In, having seen LTROI first, but I love both movies. I also relate like how most scenes have a flourescent lighting tint to them. I love both soundtracks, but I can see why people wouldn't like it, it's not appealing if you don't love the movie. The LTROI soundtrack has some beautiful tracks that don't require you to see the movie to like them.

Of course people in this board are gonna talk about how much better LTROI is, no surprise there. Everyone likes different things y'know?

[–] snagletooth 10 years ago

" The golden tone coupled with the close up shots created a dream like atmosphere and symbolized the warmth Owen and Abby felt towards each other."

Wow. For me the mercury-vapor orange lighting really grotesqued things up. I don't perceive it as warm at all.

And while Jenkins is a great actor and did a great job in LMI his character (and the respective character in LTROI was even worse, being a pedophile) was, to me, irredeemably loathsome. Killing relatively innocent teenagers like the character did is just loathsome, period. His exit wasn't painful enough, acid facial and belly flop and all.

[–] Jameron 10 years ago

"Wow. For me the mercury-vapor orange lighting really grotesqued things up." - snagletooth

Are you thinking of Sodium lights? Mercury lights give off a very blue/white light (under which, blood looks black).

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] snagletooth 10 years ago

Oops. Yep, the sodium lights.

[–] Jameron 10 years ago

I didn't mind the orange glow so much, it helped us see what was happening in the dark without having harsh lighting with sharp shadows. I think it helped to promote the idea that Owen and Abby could meet in the open but be in their own world, unobserved. IMO.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] t-g-1998 10 years ago

I totally agree to all your points

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[–] t-g-1998 10 years ago

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[–] DanielMann861 10 years ago

I found the way Let Me In was shot to be far superior. The golden tone coupled with the close up shots created a dream like atmosphere and symbolized the warmth Owen and Abby felt towards each other.

See I felt the opposite. I felt the warmer palette is completely artificial. The thing I liked about LTROI is that the surroundings are drab and cold, but the relationship between the kids is the juxtaposition to those drab surroundings. Blackeberg is a boring, cold, drab, miserable place. And it was those two kids who were the warmth of the story. Within that drab surrounding, there was warmth between those two kids.

LMI and its soaked in orange look felt completely opposite, it felt artificial, it felt fake. Maybe that was apart of the point, that it's all apart of Abbey's manipulation/grooming.

I found the soundtrack of Let Me In to be much better than the one in LTROI. Particular standouts include "Neighbours of Love" and "Peeping Owen". I do like the use of scores in movies though so I understand people who think it's a little overbearing at times.

For me, the soundtrack was one of the most annoying things about LMI. Every single scene is underscored with a piece of music that is almost telling you how to feel. For me at least.

I thought the cast of Let Me In (especially Chloe Grace Moretz and Richard Jenkins) was much better than LTROI. Richard Jenkins has such soulful eyes and showed a vulnerability in a seemingly evil character.

I liked Jenkins and I liked Kodi Smit-McPhee, but Chloe Grace Moretz is the definition of bland, boring and overhyped to me. Way too dramatic, way too whispery, way too "look at me, I'm acting". Well, okay that last part might be harsh. But I just did not care for her at all. I liked the otherworldly Lina so much more in this role.

I thought Kodi was fine, but I still prefer Kare. Kare had a little bit of a oddball edge about him, where as Kodi was very good at playing the victimised kid who looks scared and confused most of the time and that was about it. I found Kare to be the more interesting of the two. He's a little bit more odd and closer to who I imagined Oskar being in the book (although, not a complete 1:1)

Jenkins and Ragner? Oh this one is really close. I like both of these guys, but, I give the slight edge to Ragner. Only because I like the way they handled his demise better then Jenkins. With Ragner, his final moments before he is caught in the locker room are quite devastating. With Jenkins, his final moments is just loud screeching noise by comparison. Although, I do like Jenkins quite a bit and I really wish they had given him more to do because that character deserved better. There is so much good material from the book that they could of worked in for him to do.

I definitely agree that Let Me In borrowed some things from the original, but it took those good parts from LTROI and was able to create a way better film.

See, I thought it was akin to attempting to catch lightening in a bottle for a second time. It just came across as "Me too, me too" instead of ever truly becoming its own thing.

But, to each their own.