did anyone read the book first?

[waggy05]

I apologize if this has been discussed already, I'm still fairly new around here. but I was just wondering, did anyone here read Låt den rätte komma in before the film came out? I got exposed to the JAL world from seeing LMI, so obviously when I read the book I was in for a few surprises. but if anyone did read the book before seeing either film, what did you think when you saw the movie? (I'm mainly referring to LTROI film).

[covenant6452]

I had heard good things of LTROI when I was involved in an FX workshop back home. I think this was while the film was doing a festival circuit.
It was some time later I saw the book in an airport and read it first in one sitting on a flight and I was totally impressed, I then rented the film as soon as I got to Canada and was far from blown away, it was the sh*tt*ly subtitled version.
After I heard about the subtitle fiasco, I bought the European version when I got back to England and then I was blown away, again. Then I found here, started drawing the characters, and the rest...is history!

[gattoparde59]

Nice avatar Sean.

[drakkar]

Nice avatar Sean.

That's why he sat smiling in the chair

[covenant6452]

Nice avatar Sean.

Thank you, I like it too!
Bjarte asked me when I was going to get rid of Eli's Santa-hat...So I did.

[intrige]

That's why he sat smiling in the chair

Haha XDXD

Bjarte asked me when I was going to get rid of Eli's Santa-hat...So I did.

Aaa, so that's what it's called. Avatar I'l keep that in mind Oh, and I like it too

[N.R. Gasan]

I did read the book before I saw the entire movie. But the film wasn't a complete surprise for me because so many clips and fan videos featuring LTROI were posted on YouTube. Still, there were certain scenes I was wondering how the film makers would pull off. I knew, for instance, that the movie would have to include the bedroom scene, since it was critical to the developing relationship between Eli and Oskar. But two 12-year-olds in bed together, nearly naked, on-screen? But TA pulled it off with smart direction and camera work, and of course the tender acting by Lina and Kare. And the integrity of the film was helped enormously by the fact that JAL wrote the screenplay and was on-hand to give his input.

[gary13136]

I saw the movie first and fell for it immediately. I found out about the book shortly thereafter and purchased it ASAP. The movie is relatively low-key in comparison to the book. In fact, JAL had to rewrite part of the book before the publisher would accept it. Apparently the original was gross in the extreme.

After reading the book, I wish the movie had been more like it. But--when you consider that the book delves into the world of pedophilia, perhaps it is better that the director and writer agreed to "tone down" the movie.

[waggy05]

After reading the book, I wish the movie had been more like it. But--when you consider that the book delves into the world of pedophilia, perhaps it is better that the director and writer agreed to "tone down" the movie.

that's kind of what I was thinking. I'm not sure if I wish the film was more like the book, there was just so much in the book that didn't make it in to the film... and I will be ever curious as to what some of those parts would have been like on the big screen. very valid point however, some of what's in the book could have been quite graphic if filmed.

[crazychristina]

I read the book first, while waiting the week for LMI to release in my local cinema. Then about a week after I saw LMI I received the DVD of LTROI. I expected that a lot of the book would be left out in any film, not so much because of the content but because the book was so richly detailed with subplots that a complete adaptation would not have been possible. I thought LMI worked very well, and the film LTROI was excellent. I was interested to see it put more of the subplots in than LMI did (the cafe croud and Oskar's father) but still managed to be a coherent story, not going off in too many different directions. Cinema is a very different medium from literature. Given that a lot of the book is about what people are thinking it's amazing that the film adaptations worked as well as they did, a credit to all concerned.