Vampire Academy is a smart, sexy, and funny movie that will not only please fans of the books but appeal to a much broader audience.
Vampire Academy definitely stays close to the source material, but doesn’t take itself too seriously – which is something many adaptations seem to do. Readers will be pleased with the familiar dialogue and characters that seem to pop off the page. There are also added moments to help those who haven’t read the books understand the world of the Vampire Academy. They are not heavy handed in their delivery and add a new layer to the story.
The story telling, by Mark and Dan Waters, brings the world of the Vampire Academy alive. No detail is overlooked, and every effort is made to translate a 300-plus page novel into an hour and a half film. As with all good writing, the story is shown through varied layers, each one revealing a little more about the inner workings of the academy. Dhampir, Moroi, and Strigoi are separately introduced in an interesting way that allows everyone to understand the dynamics of the world from the beginning of the story.
Zoey Deutch embodies Rose Hathaway to perfection. Much of the film rides on Deutch’s ability to be a lovable smart-ass that has a vulnerable side, and she manages it with ease. Deutch is fantastic in a role that could have easily been overdone, but she finds a balance that makes Rose real and likable. Her chemistry with Danila Kozlovsky brings Rose and Dimitri’s dynamic to life. Kozlovsky is both a romantic lead and an action star. You truly believe he is Dimitri, a god-like Dhampir. Many readers were concerned that there could never be a real Dimitri, but Kozlovsky definitely sets out to prove them wrong.
Overall, Vampire Academy delivers in a way that many people won’t expect from the trailers that have been shown. It captures the spirit of Mean Girls with the bonus of action scenes and fangs. Vampire Academy is a rare adaptation that both sticks to the source material and tells a story everyone can enjoy. It has the potential of being the next big YA franchise, but the question is: Will the fandom show up?
Grade: A-
Rated: PG-13 (for violent bloddy images, sexual content and language)
Vampire Academy opens in theaters on February 7, 2014.
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