tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post4587217550364566720..comments2024-03-28T17:08:01.559-04:00Comments on Doux Reviews: Let Me InBillie Douxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17141769005175631213noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-34009700592630602002010-11-14T05:52:06.888-05:002010-11-14T05:52:06.888-05:00Thanks Paul, I was wondering whether to see this a...Thanks Paul, I was wondering whether to see this and you've definitely convinced me :)Harry Earlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12233963302128107547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-34799801077277575792010-11-13T13:33:43.143-05:002010-11-13T13:33:43.143-05:00Hi aldacon. I like your interpretation of LTROI. I...Hi aldacon. I like your interpretation of LTROI. I suppose the problem with any scenario which has a relationship occurring between Haken and Eli, is there's always that uncomfortable paedophile element. I've heard it suggested that Eli looks like a twelve year old on the outside, but is a grown-up on the inside. However, aside from Lindqvist and Alfredson's insistence that Eli is a twelve year old both emotionally and physically, you're then faced with the problem of a two hundred year old vampire falling in love with a 12 year old boy. Which just seems to reverse the problem.<br /><br /><i>Let Me In</i>, by depicting Abby and her caretaker as friends of long standing,and having Abby being just a girl, is probably the best solution to cutting out the uncomfortable themes. That's assuming they need cutting out. I quite like films with morally dark characters and situations. Maybe one day someone will have the courage to make a faithful film adaptation of the book. Until then, even with some of its core elements watered down, the story is still strong enough to have spawned two excellent films. Which ain't too shabby.Paul Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01979646022056755322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-64315537541474154592010-11-13T11:37:07.490-05:002010-11-13T11:37:07.490-05:00Hi
It's curious, I did not read the book, so ...Hi<br /><br />It's curious, I did not read the book, so when I saw <i>Let The Right One In</i> my interpretation was the one shown "explicitly" on the Hollywood version: Haken is not a friend, but the long-time couple of Eli... they met when they were young, they fall in love, and their relationship continued for many years... (that's why he asks her not to go with Oscar the night he is going to kill somebody else) maybe the kind of relationship that Eli will have with Oscar now. So what I love from the first version is that you can see the beggining and the tragic end of "the same relationship", always sorrounded by fear, killings and lonelines. On this interpretation appears the big question, is Eli really in love or is just looking for a new protector? I really think that she really loves them both, Oscar and Haken.<br /><br />On the other hand, my interpretation on "Let me in" is <br />more about "the lost of innocence" and how Oscar will become the substitute. And it can be seen it from the beginning, when he is "stabbing" a tree, until the scene where he unmercessly closes the door to the policeman who is asking for help. I love that scene, because, unlike the first version, I really cared for that policeman, who is portrayed as a normal, decent person.aldaconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14397587494786919996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-81422733745604095672010-11-12T22:55:10.639-05:002010-11-12T22:55:10.639-05:00Thanks, Victor. I think the story bears the weight...Thanks, Victor. I think the story bears the weight of multiple interpretations, so a simpler rendering is just as valid as a complex one. On the DVD commentary of <i>Let The Right One In</i>, Lindqvist (the author of the book and scriptwriter) and Tomas Alfredson (the film's director), mention some of the alternative theories... including the possibility that Oskar dies in the pool, and that the ending is some kind of heaven scenario. Which only goes to prove this is a story open to interpretation.Paul Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01979646022056755322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-52377662559112453012010-11-12T21:13:22.060-05:002010-11-12T21:13:22.060-05:00Thanks Paul/Demitri. I will read the book. Althou...Thanks Paul/Demitri. I will read the book. Although the castration scar/paedo teacher stuff has kind of turned me off a little bit. I think it's because I enjoyed the (supposed) simplicity of the story and I liked the (supposed) subtle pessimistic ending. I think my interpretation of the film was similar to how the Americans portrayed the story.<br /><br />P.S. Great review Paul. I'm not 100% sold on the film (I tend to discriminate against American remakes) but the novel is now on my wishlist on Amazon.Victornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-59681057309280416732010-11-12T12:33:25.467-05:002010-11-12T12:33:25.467-05:00**Book and movie spoilers follow. Continue at your...**Book and movie spoilers follow. Continue at your own risk**<br /><br />Hi, Victor. Following on from Dimitri's comments, the book makes it quite clear that Haken is an ex-teacher, turned vagrant, because of his interest in young children. Similarly, Eli reveals to Oskar, through a series of psychic kisses (or something), how she was once a young boy, who was later castrated, and then turned into a vampire. The first movie, without ramming it down your throat, alludes to these things , firstly, by having Eli state repeatedly that she's not a girl, and secondly by showing you a brief shot of Eli's naked crotch, where a castration scar is clearly visible.<br /><br />Let Me In (the remake) removes all allusions to Eli's true gender by interpreting the “I'm not a girl” statement as meaning she's nothing in human terms. A mere vampire. The castration scar scene is also missing... so Owen watching Abby getting dressed comes across as nothing more than adolescent curiosity.<br /><br />Let Me In also rewrites Abby's history with the Haken character. In the remake they show a photo of Abby and Haken together as children - the implication being that Haken has grown up with Eli, and thus any show of affection between the two of them can be understood as a gesture of friendship, as opposed to any sort of favour from Abby in payment for him supplying her with fresh blood.<br /><br />Like you, I prefer to think that Oskar truly loved Eli (whatever Eli's sexual orientation). In the book, once Eli's gender is revealed, Lindqvist stops referring to Eli as a “she” and starts calling him a “he”. I can highly recommend the book (if you're a fan of reading). It rounds out both films nicely.Paul Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01979646022056755322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-4726171436506465602010-11-12T11:11:59.162-05:002010-11-12T11:11:59.162-05:00Hi, Victor, if you'll allow me to steal Paul&#...Hi, Victor, if you'll allow me to steal Paul's thunder (cue evil laughter), the scar and pedophilia are further explained in Lindqvist's book. I think the Swedish film deliberately left these elements ambiguous, referencing them but leaving it to the viewer to interpret them. <br /><br />Just as I will leave it to Paul to decide whether explaining who Hakan is in the book and under what circumstances the castration took place constitute literary spoilers or worthy discussion for this board (cue evil laughter part II).<br /><br />Great review, Paul. I still haven't seen the remake, but I really enjoyed reading you thoughts about it just the same, and I will definitely give the film a try when it comes out on Movie Network.Dimitri A.C. Lyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15261471534976480158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13727952.post-3436884276931973512010-11-12T10:53:28.495-05:002010-11-12T10:53:28.495-05:00I've not seen Let Me In yet but I'm not ke...I've not seen Let Me In yet but I'm not keen. I thought that Let the Right One In was perfect. <br /><br />It never occurred to me that Hakan could be a paedophile. But I also thought that Eli really did love Oscar. Although Oscar would probably end up with a similar fate to Hakan. <br /><br />And also I did not get any of the castration scar stuff when I was watching the film. I didn't get what Oscar was supposed to have seen. What does it mean? Paul please share your wisdom!Victornoreply@blogger.com