Come in, come in, whoever you are…

Let The Right One In

This must be somewhere very high in my top ten of this year, and maybe some previous years as well. Maybe not that scary, but very compelling Swedish horror film. Makes me want to read the book. And it does raise quite a few questions, so I’ve already ploughed through imdb faq section for this film. Very interesting. Set in 1982 Sweden, the art direction on this one is simply amazing. It’s a very Scandinavian film I think. There is something peculiar about how films are made in countries like Sweden and Denmark. As well as in Finland, and it’s not always a bad thing.

Very good cast, quite unusual looking faces really, but at the same time very particular looking and perfectly fitting in. Well acted as well and on the whole visual and beautiful. Kåre Hedebrant, and Lina Leandersson bring the whole story to life, and while the pace of the film is mostly quite slow, their character’s keep the story moving and interesting throughout.

Original title Låt den rätte komma in, directed by Tomas Alfredson is a good example that a film doesn’t have to be in English or French to end up released internationally, and not just on DVD either. But it is a rare treat. Tomas Alfredson is perhaps more experienced director for TV, but Let The Right One In is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen really.

The film has lots of brilliant, and unexpected moments, some very tragicomic, some of them plain funny, some of them the like I haven’t seen since Evil Dead 2. But then again, Sam Raimi is quite a character too. Funny enough, The other film I was considering to watch was Drag Me To Hell, which just so happens to be Sam Raimi’s latest. I’ll try to see that one next week and find out if it’s any good. Quite a few horror films lately. From what I’ve heard, Tormented isn’t much of a horror film, but if I haven’t seen it, maybe I should just keep quiet. I’m just saying I won’t be seeing that any time soon. I did like the trailer though, and did want to see it to begin with. I think I’ll rather watch Evil Dead 2 again. Drag Me to Hell or Tormented  – which one would you choose? Just Let The Right One In. And watch out for other films by Tomas Alfredson, Kåre Hedebrant, and Lina Leandersson.

Star Trek is not lost

Zoe Saldana in J.J. Abrams' new Star Trek

While never a huge fan, I’ve always enjoyed just about any Star Trek movie or TV episode, apart from the last two TV series really. J.J. Abrams really has done a marvellous job with this one. I guess the only way to go really at this point for Star Trek, back to the roots. Why did it take so long to figure out how to get another Star Trek movie successfully on the big screen. If you know old Star Trek, you want to see the original characters. If you don’t, it doesn’t matter because it’s not a sequel. Everyone else has pretty much already done it, now it’s Star Trek’s turn. Bring back Uhura in her mini skirt, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty and McCoy, and all will be fine again. Full of gripping moments, a couple of fresh ideas and surprises, and the usual funny moments and other homages… Great cast, great everything really. And great having Leonard Nimoy in it as well. Although William Shatner could have been quite a funny addition too. To me it seemed the cast was full of fresh new talent, but I must now confess that I haven’t watched Lost, which might be a disadvantage of some sort in judging whose face is fresh and whose is not. But overall, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana as Nyuota Uhura (in her not-really-that-short mini skirt, honestly) and Anton Yelchin did the most memorable roles in this one for me. Simon Pegg was a nice surprise too, not quite what I expected, but close enough.

And once again it’s time for USS Enterprise to boldly go where no one has gone before…