Let The Right One In

This Swedish horror drama tells the story of a misfit young boy who falls in love with a strange girl who turns out to be a vampire. She is both kind and vicious. Yup, sounds like a foreign horror film to me.


This is not the Twilight version of vampires. Just because the vampire is a 12 year old girl doesn't make her any less threatening and malicious. She is also a sympathetic character, which left me wondering what a "right" choice would be in this world. Clearly it is terrible to kill a bunch of innocent people just because you need to drink their blood to survive, but it's survival--how do you fight that? Eli, the vampire, cannot help killing people, but would it be worse for her to waste away to nothing or burst into flames in the sunlight?

Oskar is just a lonely boy. He is teased in school and his parents are separated. He can seem both extremely young and mature for his age. He spends most of the film looking out at the snow. He may still be able to remember how to feel cold, but he seems no warmer than Eli. These kids are capable of terrible things, but only show emotion towards each other.

The pacing of the film is one of the most powerful bits. It's slow but very rhythmic. Scenes of artistic establishing shots are followed by scenes of extreme violence with very little change in tone, speed, or style. The film is even. The vampire violence is no more extreme than Oskar being bullied at school... hmm. This keeps the tension building without traditional American techniques of horror. There is no building violin, jump cutting, or foreshadowing flashes of terror. Don't be fooled, though. There are terribly dark scenes of horror and suspense, but with a fresh, foreign perspective. It is certainly a foreign film, but it has plenty to offer American audiences.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Yes, I think it's the best so far. Now that everyone knows that Voldemort is back Dumbledore helps Harry gain insight into Voldemort's past so that they can begin a long dangerous journey to destroy him. Life at Hogwarts continues basically as normal with Snape finally taking up his desired post as Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor as Dumbledore invites fame-obsessed Slughorn to take up post as Potions master. Naturally, Dumbledore has his own reasons for each decision. While Harry and Dumbledore get closer to discovering the key to killing Voldemort the social world blossoms at Hogwarts. Everyone has a love interest, requited or not.


Though there isn't enough time to really develop any of the great tensions of the story, Malfoy is a gem in this film. With an ominous task to complete, he seems to have aged 20 years as the rest of the students are busy navigating teenage romance. Malfoy broods and struggles with his newly-official position in the realm of dark wizards.

Instead of the teen angst of Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince treats the drama between the wizards as mostly lighthearted and humorous, which is a welcome balance to the pending doom of destruction. Harry's bout with Felix Felicis is one of my favorite parts of the entire series. With Ron on the Gryffindor quidditch team the audience finally gets to see some quidditch action that doesn't revolve around Harry and the golden snitch. Ron is a new focal point for the game, along with the greatly improved graphics. Quidditch looks dramatically better. In fact, the entire movie has a wonderful aesthetic appearance. Though not quite a surrealistic as the first version of the film, the color scheme is clear and artistic. The magic regains some of the childish wonder of the earlier films but with much more style--like Dumbledore putting a house back together in the beginning or summoning swirling fire at the end.

Most of the changes from book to film are minor and acceptable with the exception of the destruction of the Burrough, proving Harry's lack of control against the Death Eaters, combined with no immobilizing curse from Dumbledore to keep Harry from fighting back later in the film. Why add an extra scene to make a character point and then remove the major moment that would have made use of that trait? I also wish Harry could have been a little more forward with his feelings for Ginny since much of their attachment is edited out.

I worried that the return to the PG rating after two PG-13 films would mean a less intense film than the story warranted, but I think Half-Blood Prince may be the most intense of the six. Several scenes were frightening and the climatic scene is both beautiful and suspenseful.

Being one of those special people to dress up and see the midnight premier of this movie I could write paragraphs about the nuances of the story with all the knowledge of the books, but this film also stands on its own. Both the style and story of this film are well constructed, and the lighthearted touches create an extremely enjoyable experience.

If you're unfamiliar with the books, don't spend too much time trying to figure out the meaning of the title. It's ultimately not that exciting or critical to the story.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

With Voldemort back in action it's time to start fighting. Too bad the government doesn't seem to agree. While Voldemort gains supporters and power the minister of magic teamed up with the Daily Prophet promote messages only of peace and prosperity along with slanderous stories about Harry, Dumbledore, and anyone else who would dare claim that Voldemort is back in power.

Dolores Umbrige comes to Hogwarts as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, though she adopts a purely theoretical approach to teaching. As she and the ministry continue to meddle at Hogwarts she develops into one of the most despicable screen villains I can think of. She represents all that is "the man" along with every annoying quirk of excessive femininity including an office full of decorative cat plates and a knack for passive aggression. As Harry and his friends form a secret group to learn defensive spells Umbrige's power only increases.

Along with the power struggle in the wizarding community, Harry encounters his own sort of power struggle--in his mind. Voldemort and Harry have some intense connection, which seems to be about the only connection in Harry's life as everyone else seeks to shut him out of important details. Professor Snape attempts to teach Harry to block his mind from the dark lord, but the connection's past usefulness along with a stubborn temperament keep the lessons from being very successful.

Once again, a year of building tension leads to an all-out climatic fight. It's a tried and true formula, and it strikes again--I would say successfully. Although not as enjoyable as the third and fourth films, Order of the Phoenix continues to develop the deepening conflict and increasingly interesting visual style of the series.

There is a definite arc to Harry's progression through the films. 1) Harry discovers companionship for the first time and discovers its usefulness in adventure and fighting. 2) Harry and Ron build their friendship as Hermione is left out of the final fight. 3) Harry and Hermione must tie up loose ends with Ron temporarily out of commission. 4) Harry is forced to face danger alone but has the support of his friends and schoolmates. 5) Harry is alone and knows it. He struggles to end and to maintain his isolation, but he is clearly set apart from everyone else and eventually discovers why.

From the books, I expect that 6 will see Harry embrace the task that is his alone and 7 will show Harry working toward his own destiny but with the help of his friends again who have their own jobs to do along the way to saving the world.

Side note: the Weasley twins' exit from Hogwarts does not live up to its literary excellence.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Something terrible is happening at Hogwarts. When witches and wizards from all over the world come to Hogwarts for the tri-wizard tournament someone enters Harry's name and he is chosen as one of four champions to compete in potentially deadly magical tasks of nerve and skill. Everyone assumes Harry figured a way to enter his own name despite his youth and chalk the whole thing up to his pathalogical need for attention. After this, it is easy to forget that there is any great danger to Hogwarts and the wizarding world, but this installment of Harry Potter contains the turning point for the entire series.

Harry competes in three tasks as part of the competition. Each task is extremely dangerous, but the danger is primarily for sport--the way Quidditch can be a frightening game. Harry is in grave danger, but the whole school is there cheering him on. No rule breaking. No secret plots. No deep, dark mystery to uncover... oh wait! Harry isn't in this tournament by accident.

The darker appearance and themes of the third film carries over to the fourth. Although the film boasts a bit more color and bounce than its predecessor it also has a much darker climax--one warranting the first PG-13 rating of the series.

Goblet of Fire holds up very well in the collection of films, but it is also the first of the films that suffers a substantial loss in the transition from book to screen. From this point on, the films and the books begin to diverge in details. Don't expect to have the same depth of respect for the characters as in the books. There is simply not enough time to include a full story and complete character development the same way as in a 700+ page novel. On the other hand, the film does strike a balance between the two so that neither side of the coin takes too big a hit.

Humor and romance begin to find their way into Hogwarts in this film, as well. As Harry, Ron, and Hermione get older their social lives begin to broaden at school, which is a welcome development in light of the darkening prospects for the wizarding (and muggle) world with the return of Voldemort.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Movie #3... finally one that looks like a real film!

Director Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men) brings some much needed legitimacy and style to the Harry Potter franchise. If you somehow miss the darkened color pallate (much more blue than gold this time) you will certainly notice the darkened subject matter.

The third story still follows a similar structure to the first two. Mass murderer Sirius Black--reputed to be the one who betrayed James and Lily Potter to Voldemort--has escaped from Azkaban prison and everyone knows he must be after the last of the Potters. Dementors, Azkaban's guards who suck the happiness from the world, have come to Hogwarts to attempt to keep its students safe. The school year goes on as danger builds until the three children work their way up to a final series of fights to save the world (and a few friends) once again.

The children have begun to grow into their characters, the franchise finally hired a competent director, magic seems both commonplace and mysterious. Like a good stew, the pieces of Harry Potter's world finally seem to blend together correctly in Prisoner of Azkaban. There is emotional depth in Harry's struggle that was missing before. Everything he takes on in this film truly is his battle to fight--no one else's. He is not an overly adventurous kid with a death wish, but rather an extraordinary wizard who has survived through a very particular set of circumstances.

This is a wonderful jumping-off place for the rest of the series, which requires the more serious tone created by Prisoner of Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

With the same director, Chris Columbus, the second episode of the Harry Potter series works as a seamless continuation of the first. Back for a second year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter soon discovers that heir of Slytherin is about to open the "Chamber of Secrets" releasing a monster that will kill students with impure wizarding blood. Before long suspicion arises in the school that the heir may be none other than Harry himself, so he takes it upon himself to solve the mystery and save the school, which is the only home he knows.

Much more story driven than the first, the second film is more complex than the first. It also features the first appearance of one of the series' most beloved characters: Dobby the house elf. The special effects are better here, but the quality of the films are comparable. Harry spends a lot of time questioning himself how much evil may actually be inside him. This theme continues through the rest of the films, but he has clearer resolution here than later in the series.

Harry and Ron's friendship develops in the climactic scene of this film. The two of them must fight and save the world without the intelligence of Hermione bailing them out. Instead of cleverness, Harry must rely on bravery, instinct, and passion, which luckily, are his strengths.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Let the countdown begin. In preparation for the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series I'm moving back through the first five movies.


Welcome to the shiny world of wizarding. On his 11th birthday Harry Potter finds out that he is a wizard--a famous wizard who somehow contributed to the downfall of the most powerful dark wizard in history. He enters Hogwarts, a school for magic-folk, makes friends, and quickly discovers his taste for adventure as he, Hermione, and Ron discover that the Sorcerer's Stone, which can give someone eternal life, is at Hogwarts and someone is trying to steal it. They face the potential for expulsion, death, and a number of terrible magically-induced injuries, but these three kids persevere in the name of goodness.

The challenge with this film is introducing the magical world. Half of the film revolves around orienting Harry, and the audience, to Hogwarts and all that comes with it. This leaves only half of the film to actually delve into plot. As good as it is, it still feels like a children's movie. Everything is done with special effects--maybe too much. There is a simplistic quality missing from this movie, but because the world of the Harry Potter books that comes alive in this film is so exciting and interesting the film could hardly help but carry on the quality of awe and wonder that the words "Harry Potter" inspire in modern culture.

The children are young and their acting is unpolished but not enough to be distracting. The movie provides a solid foundation for the rest of the series, but naturally does not live up to the book.

Public Enemies

Bank robbers have been an important focus of American cinema for a long time, and Public Enemies certainly follows in the tradition of movies like Bonnie and Clyde. John Dillinger is a bank robber, pure and simple. I know very little about the history of the man, and after watching this movie, I still know very little. Instead of developing a story Public Enemies develops a character. Johnny Depp is one of the most fun actors to watch on screen. He brings the charm and charisma Dillinger needs to be a bad guy on screen who the audience can believe as both a cold-hearted killer and a romantic hero.


Dillinger robs banks, breaks out of jail, goes on the run, and somehow manages to dote on the love of his life in the process. There isn't much to the story. No background, no daddy-issues, no great identity crisis. Dillinger lives by the moment and never really second guesses his choices. He's a ticking clock, but keeps perfect time right up until the end. Christian Bale plays the FBI agent, Purvis, who is dedicated to capturing public enemy number 1: Dillinger. I sincerely hope today's FBI doesn't take the same approach to capturing thieves. FBI agents do anything necessary to get information out of people, but when it comes to actually apprehending Dillinger they are surprisingly inadequate.

I found the style of the film a bit distracting. It's mostly beautiful and true to the styles of gangster and noir films, but it goes back and forth between about 15 different styles. Close ups, handheld shots, romantic establishing shots, Tommy guns flashing in the dark, etc. Each shot seems to cut out about half a second before it's really finished so there's never time to really get your bearings.

Overall it's a good movie--not great--but solid. It belongs in the summer, but that kind of action brought to life by such amazing actors makes for a fun night at the movies.