Review of Vampire Academy (2014) by Raya D — 10 Feb 2014

It started with all the signs of a fast-paced, dynamic movie that at places showed, to a watchful eye, a little too quick shift between scenes. While this can be noticed, at the beginning mostly, it is overall graceful when it comes to story-building. It maybe is partly true that there is too much to show in so limiting a time frame. But the more obvious reason is that it simply is a movie that has a lot to show, a lot to explain, a lot of things to be enjoyed by a fan or a complete new-buy to Vampire Academy. The mythology of its world is simple but rich. It doesn't lack depth, on the contrary, there is a very strong base on which the story could take place and all the basic details were explained from the beginning without taking too much time, without being boring or too much for the audience to comprehend. Of course, I'll start with Zoey Deutch, the daughter of actress Lea Thompson and director Howard Deutch. This young woman is literally the base and the top of the movie. She brings it the energy. And this is the main reason for her astonishing portrayal of Rose - the energy of her talent. She is full of this fire that makes Rose our Rose and which makes an actress a star. This girl is a tornado. Both Zoey and Rose. But there isn't much difference, is it? Amazing is amazing. The same can be said about Danila Kozlovsky - the Russian star who played the Russian god. He brings the maturity to VA. Both as an actor and as the role he plays. When he steps in the movie turns in this wonderful mixture of tasteful action and the seriousness of a good drama. Have I mentioned that he and Zoey trained like machines for the movie? You can see it in his muscles, in his moves, in the fighting and because of his professionalism as an actor - in his face. This man is a great, seriously great, actor. Even is still the character isn't given too much time for in-depth knowledge of who truly is Dimitri Belikov, he finds a way to shine through simple things like a look, a smile, a move, a few words. He has a talent to behold, a talent the world is soon going to know about. After all, he is one of the best in Russia with so many years of acting behind his back, so many good movies with so many rewards - there are not so many actors who can, honestly speaking, say that they are the best from the best. He is. I'm serious, he is. Lucy Fry as the other part of the great friendship between Lisa Rose. It is a believable bond they have, it is one of the main story lines through all the books and it is the main in the movie. It's a bond that you can actually understand and feel. You know, after watching the movie, that it is something that lasts, that is unbreakable and so new to the genre. There isn't so much romance are there is Rose-Lisa moments. I'm so happy as a fan that these two girls had and showed so powerful chemistry. A very good performance from Lucy Fry, but, I have to confess, I'm not a big fan of her character from the books. I want so much more to be shown for the second and third and fourth and fifth and sixth ones. The performances of the other actors and actresses are no less good for their roles.

There weren't many effects, there are not meant to be. But I really liked the psi-hounds - specially trained dogs in the academy.

BUT - the most important thing in Vampire Academy is the story. There is a story in this movie and it's rich and vast and very smartly presented. You can't not notice it how there are so many little details that make the main story-building so enjoyable and full. And it's not a comedy nor parody of something. There is humor, witty dialogue with easy, fluid pacing that is clearly not just put there to make for a hole in the plot. No, it is mingled with it beautifully and with thought to the character roles and the dynamics of the story. Because, like I said, the story is very well layered, thought out and interesting. With its mythological background, the beautiful and detailed surroundings, the brilliant teenage girl Zoey Deutch was obviously able to portrait, the bond between the actors - everything was on its place. And there was a huge place for the mystery part by which I must say - I was surprised. I expected great performances, story and wit but mystery? I wasn't prepared for this and I was so pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere of the movie. It is dark, people. Not only because of the night setting - it was so surprisingly vampire-like for a YA movie. It managed to convey the mystery from the book in a way the book itself wasn't able to do. I would say, quite honestly, if given the chance Vampire Academy can become an icon even only because of its atmosphere. It's a mixture of so many things that are put so well together that in a graceful, almost unnoticed way, they get to you and they stay with you. It's original, it is so new that many people are scared to believe in the truth before their eyes. It may take time to be understood and rightfully judged. But it's a movie with a heart and a soul - one of a kind, this cannot be denied. And don't deny yourself the chance to enjoy it. For non-fans it can be that - just an enjoyment, but don't deny it to yourself - go to the cinema and make your day or night.