boisebookworm

Seriously, the MPAA overstepping constantly, but to cut an entire 7 minute scene that contextualizes the entire film and drives home the really heartbreaking reality and them that this movie portrays is an egregious oversight. This is absolutely an underrated movie and what Snyder accomplished is brilliant. Reverting the male gaze back on the viewer and forcing the audience to participate in the trauma of these young girls is so well done, while also incorporating vibrant sequences of action that encompass the emotions they're feeling.

The music is awesome, the dialogue is well thought out, it suffers from some over editing, but nothing too distracting. It's a well made movie that deserves to be rewatched and viewed through the proper lens.

I am struggling with this rating. The film is gorgeous. The score and the attention to detail in the cinematography are breathtaking. But this may be the worst on screen portrayal of Dracula that I have ever seen. The awkward, uncomfortable, pick me boy, characterization is so unendearing and unlikable that it takes away from the entire story. Klaus Klinski does not exude an ounce of power or charisma. Instead he moans and whines around the set while our Jonathan Harker mopes behind him. Utterly uninspired by any of the original source material, be it the 1922 Nosferatu or the novel of Dracula. This iteration sucks all the life (pun intended) out of a powerful story about autonomy and love and turns it into a 2 hour bore fest.

Any time Hollywood announces a remake, the internal eye roll is strong. Very rarely is it necessary and done well. This, however, was beautifully done. It added to the original story, gave characters additional depth, and used modern technologies to create a beautiful film. There were only 2 shots in the film where there was obvious CGI at play. The soundscape was beautifully done and mixed silence and sound effects with grandiose orchestral moments and haunting gothic chants. The acting cannot be understated, everyone did exactly what they needed to as a cast and as standalone characters. The setting, costume design, and cinematography made for one of the most esthetically pleasing films I have seen in a while. Eggers is a powerhouse with his filmmaking. No, this won't be for everyone, it is long and you may not like the pacing of the plot. But it is a near perfect film with dedication to both the original source material and an obvious love of filmmaking from the cast and crew.