KRABAT (2008, Marco Kreuzpaintner, A+)

What I like very much in this film includes

1. It reminds me of old-styled fairty tales, like SNOW WHITE, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES, etc. But it is still entertaining. I think it is very difficult to make an old-styled fairy tale "entertaining" as a feature film these days, because if the story is too familiar for the audience, it would lack suspense and become too predictable.

2. There are not too many events in the story, which makes it different from such films as THE LORD OF THE RINGS (A+), THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TRADER (2010, Michael Apted, A+/A), or THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007, Chris Weitz, B), etc. Many current Hollywood fairy-tale films try to cram too many events into their 120 minutes. The stories in these films sometimes move too fast. They are adapted from long novels. On the other hand, the story in KRABAT makes me feel as if it is adapted from a short story.

3. I like the dark atmosphere in this film. It is nearly as compelling as the dark atmosphere in HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009, David Yates, A+) and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 (2010, David Yates, A+/A). I think the dark atmosphere in KRABAT is what makes it different from THE LAST AIRBENDER (2010, M. Night Shyamalan, B+). While I was watching KRABAT, I wondered how the hero could defeat the villain, because the villain looked so powerful. And that makes KRABAT exciting. While I was watching THE LAST AIRBENDER, I was sure that the hero would defeat the villain, because the hero looked so powerful. And that makes THE LAST AIRBENDER boring.

4. I like the lack of humor in KRABAT. There are some funny moments in KRABAT, but not too many. If there are too many funny moments in KRABAT, it would destroy the dark atmosphere in the film. It would make the danger less threatening, the situation less frightening. It would make KRABAT become like a Hollywood animation adapted from a fairy tale.

5. Some magical practice in this film looks a bit believable for me, like the magical practice in LONG KHONG (2005, Kongkiat Khomsiri, Seree Phongnithi, Pasith Buranajan, Isara Nadee, Yosapong Polsap, Putipong Saisikaew, Art Thamthrakul, A+), NECROMANCER (2005, Piyapan Choopetch, A), MIDNIGHT OFFERINGS (1981, Rod Holcomb, A+), and THE INITIATION OF SARAH (1978, Robert Day, A+).

However, I also would like to change something in KRABAT, including:

1. I would make it as a gay film, in which all the boys in the mill have orgies every night. Poj Arnon should consider remaking KRABAT.

2.The heroine wouldn't look so innocent or helpless like this. At least she should be able to defend herself as good as Christina Ricci in SLEEPY HOLLOW (1999, Tim Burton, A-).

3.The film should have no resolution, no explanation, or no happy ending, like THE CURSE (1988, Ralf Huettner, A+).

4. The film should start as a fairy tale, and then develop into a real horror film. Maybe like KURONEKO (1968, Kaneto Shindô, A+).

5.The soundtrack should be less obvious. I think both KRABAT and GERDA'S SILENCE (2008, Britta Wauer, B+) suffer from the overuse of soundtrack.

This is the photo of Marco Kreuzpaintner.