John's Talk

Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let the Right One in)

I just recently heard about this little Swedish film within the past two weeks. I watched the trailer online, but did not see it anywhere else and thought it looked extremely interesting. After seeing the spectacular reviews it's been getting I had to head out to the theater and see it opening weekend. Hopefully it expands so everyone can see it as "Pan's Labyrinth" did two years ago because I believe this is the most original and interesting take on the Vampire film genre since it began.

The direction in this film is superb. The characters are handled expertly and they really are the best part of the film. The director manages to flesh out the characters very effectively in scenes with little to no dialogue, and by the end you deeply sympathize with the main character Oskar, and you feel sorry for his love, a little vampire by the name of Eli. Do not be mistaken, this is a little kids love story, but NOT by any means a children's film. Like "Pan's Labyrinth" it's violent, bloody and disturbing, and it would frighten most children not in their teen years. The violence is handled in an extremely unsettling straightforward fashion. This is a film with a very modern edge, however it's simplistic style gives it a sort of odd awkwardness that is not used by director's often enough. You get to actually see what happens, you don't just see a vampire jump, then a shot of teeth, then blood, and then a shot of a vampire walking away. That's what so many American filmmakers would have done with this film because they think it's cool to make a film that plays to the ADHD crowd. This film takes it's time, it's never overly gross, although at some points its quite out there, but it obviously is handled by a director who knows how to present these things in a way that is most effective and most understandable. Not to mention some of the dark humor that is injected into the film at different parts makes the extremely dark landscape of a Sweden in winter a bearable setting for this film. You'll walk out satisfied, but you'll likely want to go get a little sun for a while. Sweden in the winter time is clearly the perfect place for a vampire and the director implies this throughout all the seemingly sunless scenes of the film.

One of the other strengths that I attribute to both the writer and the director is the subtleties of the film. Many things are totally open to interpretation. After you watch the film, think about some of the characters, one great example being Eli's mysterious father figure, and then you might see what I'm talking about. This is a sweet film whit quite a bit of heart, but it might be a little less sweet then you'd originally imagined if you ponder the reason's for some of the characters actions. Think about the real meaning of the title and the answer to the purpose of the boy shall be revealed. Like "No Country for Old Men" it only gets more complex the more that you think about it, which to me is the mark of an amazing film.

The great metaphor that the author of the book who then adapted his work into a screenplay provides us with is the metaphor of the girl in the relationship being the one who's a million times less innocent than the dumbfounded, inexperienced boy. She's a vampire for christ's sake and you see his nerdy boyish cluelessness throughout the entirity of the film while she remains very mysterious and protective of the boy. She doesn't want him to see her become violent or blood thirsty, so she always try's to make sure he doesn't have to. She tries to hide him from her real self, but then really ends up accepting him as her guardian, and her as his, which he really seems to understand by the end of the film. However I don't think he knows the full extent of what that relationship will entail as he grows older.

The acting is nothing short of fantastic and it's one of the reasons the film is so amazingly effective. The director certainly had a lot of tools to utilize as he painted his vision onto the screen. The little boy, played by Kare Hedebrant, perfectly portrays a bullied and innocent kid who may go on to do something drastic if the bullying continues. The vampire, played by Lina Leandersson, does a great job of showing how much of a burden her "illness" really is, and probably would not wish it upon anyone else. All of the older adult characters in the film seem much less interesting, and are caught up with adult things too much to really intersect on an emotional level with the children. The bullies in the film do not have huge parts in terms of screen time, but effectively show how they could potentially drive Oskar into ruin if they continue their nonsense. Finally the older brother of one of the bullies who steps in after Oskar begins to fight back really does a good job of helping us empathize with the bullies as we can see that he probably was cruel to them because they are weaker than him, therfore they think its normal to be cruel to Oskar because he is weaker than them.

The film is not quick paced, but it should always hold your attention. Keeping things simple does not mean making them uninteresting. You get to see Eli's tactics of luring in or attacking her victims and the effects she has on the society that she is in. It really shows realistically what it would be like to have a vampire in any modern day society. And I certainly left the theater very satisfied by its conclusion. "Let the Right One In" explores the mythos of the vampire and manages to make your stomach turn and your heart warm all in a period of 2 hours. It's a likely candidate for Best Foreign Language Film at any award ceremony come this February, and thus far it is absolutely my favorite film of the year.

10/10

Speed Racer

THIS WAS AWESOME!!!!
an excelent blend of live action and CGI it felt like an episode. they got a fantastic cast that not only had the look and feel of the characters. i loved this film

Intellectual Property (Dark Mind)

Very interesting. The cover mentions its similar to Pi and in an odd way it is. Also very dissimilar in its own right though

Black Hawk Down

I have seen this movie countless times but I felt compelled to write a review tonight. I was at work bored and twiddling my thumbs, a 18 wheeler pulled up and a fairly young trucker hopped out. We must have talked for an hour.

He's been home from Iraq for about a year. He was part of a rapid response unit in Baghdad and beyond. You know...one of those guys that get called when the shit hits the fan...and they need to make a precise drop of "boots" to an altercation.

He would repel from Black Hawks to hot spots in Iraq. Secure locations, re-enforce units already engaged or hunt and dispatch/capture insurgence.

His unit and several others were called to action. A lead Humvee was hit by an IED and they were also taking small arms fire. He and several others flew to that location and took up a position on a rooftop.

He was wounded and almost died when a RPG hit part of the structure. Several friends in his unit died from shrapnel.

He was injured so bad that he spent a few months in a German hospital before he was stable enough to fly home. Some of his friends were not that lucky. Did I mention this "boy" was 24 years old at the time, on his second tour?

Of course it reminded me of this movie. Though I haven't really reviewed this movie so far...just know if your one of the Few that haven't seen it you should.

Based on True events in the Battle of Mogadishu, in 1993 . Directed by Ridley Scott, Black Hawk Down shows us the courage, honor and valor that is the US Military. God Speed Brothers....IM glad I have a job that I can be bored at.

Cloverfield

I have often read that this movie compared to "The Blair Witch Project, Meets Godzilla". I suppose thats an an accurate in the sense it is filmed from the view point of a person filming the events in this flick from his camcorder. The last part of the comparison is of course some large monster (that looked nothing like Godzilla) terrorizing and destroying the city.

While the premise of this idea had promise, the problem is that the script was weak, the acting sub-par and you see VERY VERY LITTLE of the monster.

The blame lays squally with the director Matt Reeves. He done a poor job with almost every aspect with this flick.

Save this one for cable TV.

Felon

I was sceptical about renting yet another prison movie. With very few exceptions most of them suck and are not worth the $2.99 to rent. On the advice of the store clerk, I reluctantly got it.

I was not disappointed. This flick was great from beginning to end. A good script followed with some great acting. Stephen Dorff and Harold Perrineau put soul in to this movie.

While Val Kilmer also had a major part in this flick, and I felt his acting was good, it was Not great. His performance felt a little to forced to me.

Next time your at your local video store, put this one your list. You wont be disappointed.

Camp Rock

First I would like to give a shout out to all my friends...sorry I haven't been on in a while. Shit happens...

Second it was my intent on signing on to give a review on the HBO mini-series "John Adams". Well Flxter doesn't have a listing for it. So I will give you my thoughts on a movie I bought for my daughter.

As always the Disney PR Dept has found another way to suck the hard earned $$ out of parents. Camp Rock is a must have have all pre-teens. As most parents know, when its a "must have" that means Disney has done its job. That job being parents money.

This flick was so horrible...that for a fleeting moment IM glad my head was to big to fit in my blender.

Maybe IM being a bit bias about this movies but what happened to the REAL Disney movies? The ones without the boyfriend/girlfriend problems, relationship problems?

As far as IM concerned my 8 year old should being thinking about how big Dumbos ears are....and yelling at the TV telling Snow White not to eat that apple. Not worrying about who's kissing who's boyfriend and who is in love with what boy.

This crap is marketed to Little Girls, not teens who would find this flick beneath then anyways. Trust me, Disney knows their target audience. Kids grow up to fast as it is....

Kataude mashin gâru (The Machine Girl)

One of the goriest movies of all time, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't get a high recommendation. In fact the story was great, and it also was a lot like a grindhouse type of a film that had cheap effects on purpose to pay tribute to some older movie classics such as The Evil Dead and Dead Alive. However like I said at the beginning, the movie is extremly graphic so if you don't like lots of gore, people being torn apart, nails to the face, and other gore, than this is defently not a film for you and you literally won't make it past a minute in this movie. However if you don't mind gore or enjoy it with a good story and Japanese culture with a grindhouse/Evil Dead meets Kill Bill meets Dead Alive flare, this is a must see. Get ready for a bloodbath!

Secondhand Lions

I have seen this flick several times over the years. It took ALOT of convincing for me to watch it. My mindset was, "I dont want to watch some feel good kid movie". So with a lot of reservations (and a nagging wife) I rented this movie. It was perhaps the best 3 bucks I ever spent !!

Michael Caine and Robert Duvall made Movie Magic. Not only did they nail their characters and give them life...they played Perfectly off one another. The script was unique and the story was well told.

I liked this movie so much I ordered it online. Now every time I watch it, I get a "I told you so" look from my wife. That's OK...it was worth it.

Doomsday

a perfect blend of post apocalyptic, historical time period, and futuristic elements make this action packed film a must see, great effects acting and story

Rules of Engagement

this was an amazing film an all star cast, and one of the best scripts i ever seen. i feel everyone should watch this in your face drama about the conflicts in a military combat situation. written by a Vietnam veteran

Gone With the Wind

Whats this, a review of a movie that is seventy years old? No CGI and shot on a sound stage....a four hour long romance? Your damn right, its one of the greats in movie history.

Bad Boys

Released in 1983 and staring a young Sean Penn as a incarcerated, delinquent youth.

An oldie but a goodie. I first seen this flick when I was 12. It helped play a part in keeping me outta trouble, well...in-till 16 at-lest.

The Dark Knight

This one raises the bar on what a comic book movie should be. Heath Ledger was one of the greatest actors of our time. The academy should at the very least give him a nomination for best supporting actor, as well as best picture for the film and best make-up.