Bits better than the book

[Ash]

At risk of being seen as heretic, I think some events portrayed in the film (but not in the book) were a great support to the overall story.
The segment where Eli and Oskar lie on their backs on the floor and hiss vampirish at each other is extremely profound IMO. It lets them play with the concept of being a vampire in a non-threatening, childish way, and embodies Eli and Oskar coming to terms with the bigger scheme of things, as real children. The tenderness and playfulness of this short scene made me cry. They really should have left this bit in.
I re-authored a DVD for myself to include all the deleted scenes, inserting them where I thought they belonged. I think the other missing bits don't matter that much, but this one was really profound IMO. Are there any others?

[lombano]

Eli eating Oskar's candy.

[drakkar]

The segment where Eli and Oskar lie on their backs on the floor and hiss vampirish at each other is extremely profound IMO. It lets them play with the concept of being a vampire in a non-threatening, childish way, and embodies Eli and Oskar coming to terms with the bigger scheme of things, as real children. The gentleness and playfulness of this short scene made me cry. They really should have left this bit in.

I think the problem is where to insert it.
Oskar is returning to Eli, even after learning (s)he is a vampire. He knows this is dangerous, but his confidence in Eli not going to hurt him is so strong he still goes for it.
In the bleeding scene, Eli returns the favour. Oskar left her angry, still Eli enters Oskar's apartment uninvited - placing her life in Oskar's hands - in confidence that Oskar will not let her perish.
Inserting the hissing scene in between these, would IMO destroy the latter. Why should Oskar be a prick not inviting Eli in after the hissing scene? I would have lost much of my sympathy for Oskar.

And there really is no other place to put it, because Eli is wearing Håkan's sweater. For example after the bleeding scene - a possibility because Oskar goes to see Eli after leaving his mother 2 AM - Eli is wearing Oskar mom's old dress, as she still is when Lacke arrives.

Eli eating Oskar's candy.

QFT.

[Ash]

Eli eating Oskar's candy.

Maybe so, but the book more than compensated for that by this bit missed in the film.

"Eli nuzzled her head in closer toward his neck. The heat from her breath grew more intense. Muscles in her body that had been relaxed grew tense again. Her lips nudged his throat and a shiver ran through his body. Suddenly she shuddered and broke away, took a step back."

[Ash]

I placed the hissing scene after Eli gives Oskar money in the film (after the fight they had in the novel). She holds the door open for Oskar to leave, but we don't see him do so. He stays, she later changes into Hakan's jumper (Harkan's already gone), and they have the wrestle at the door before he leaves later, which is before their next scene together when she comes to his flat. Continuity-wise that needs some filling in, which obviously doesn't happen. But I found that's the best place for the scene. Oskar's testing of vampire's entering techniques could be out of pure curiosity unrelated to (or in confirmation of) her vampire status. This doesn't diminish Oskar's love for Eli, but places him precisely where he belongs, as a 12 year old curious boy.

[ZWD40]

Lina Leandersson

[StefL]

I'm surprised noone's mentioned the pool scene yet

[a_contemplative_life]

When Covenant and I discussed what picture he would make that we would send to Lina Leandersson, I suggested this scene, although it is not in the film, and he readily agreed. He took that scene and altered it to have Oskar and Eli looking at each other, which, you'll notice, is not actually in that deleted scene clip. So I agree with the OP, it's a great little clip, very moving. But I don't think it could be added to the film very successfully without showing us a little more on either side of it.

[Ash]

Lina Leandersson

Undoubtedly and absolutely so. The novel Eli's physical form was only hinted at. But Lina gave substance and (sigh.. what the hell can I say) to fill that enormous void. I can't actually imagine anyone else in that role now, not ever. Tragically not even a Lina in the future, because Lina now and Lina then are immeasurably different.
Perhaps the things we hold dearest are the things we know are fleeting, and to grasp them is attempting to grasp at smoke, or something much more fragile or unattainable than that.
The irony is that Lina thinks it's just something she did at twelve, no big deal, she has bigger plans beyond LTROI. That's reality. I shouldn't even try to fix her in amber forever or attempt to distilll what she was once. Only dead things don't change.
"Are you kind of... dead?"
She smiled for the first time since he had arrived. "No. Can't you tell?"

[ricc9]

That small part is so tender and shows the two as children interacting as such. There is no vampire there, only a young girl and a young boy. I am quickly coming to the conclusion that the book and the movie are very much different. My copy hasn't arrived yet, but I have read many bits of it. The seine where Osker slaps Eli was one i'm glad was cut. She had had enough brutality in her life to have Osker pull this. When Eli comes to Osker's there is this wonderful smile on her face till Osker act;s like a little smart ass. You see Eli's face sadden to, "why are you making me do this" look. Then to the "be me, for a while, please, be me, for a while" here I think Eli wants to show Osker what her hell really is and what her life has been till now.

I am soooooo happy the movie was done with out any sexual meanings. They did such an excellent job shooting it. The movie has become kinda personal to in a way that I find Eli more human each day. The book is graphic and historical about the Elias person, while the movie is more about the awakening of a feminine Eli person. I think the movie allows you to enter Eli's life and walk along with her and watch her transform into new person. This is a love story of the grandest form. You can't help but to fall in love with Eli and feel her pain and want to reach out and wrap her up in your arms and protect her from the world that would destroy her.