The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Movie Blurb by Shale December 24, 2011 First off, I really enjoyed this movie. It is the first time I have experienced the story either in print or film, so I didn't have to waste energy judging this movie against something else. I have heard that it deviated from the 2009 Swedish movie and followed more Stieg Larsson’s book. IDK. All I know is what was presented to me in David Fincher’s current movie, which is set in Sweden but for the most part is in English. So, no subtitles are a plus right off. For the couple of other ppl who have never read the book or seen the other movie, the story is about a journalist, Mikael Blomvkist (Daniel Craig) who has lost a libel case to a rich businessman he exposed. He is soon approached by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) aging former head of an industrialist family. Mikael is supposedly helping to write a biography but actually is being hired to solve the 40-year-old unsolved disappearance of Henrik's niece.We learn that the whole family is an unsavory lot and it had to be one of them who killed the girl. Mikael & Henrik Discuss His "Biography" Meanwhile the other half of this story is taking place with Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) Goth girl with piercings, posts & tats, including a dragon who hangs out in smoky clubs with like-minded youth and takes an occasional hot babe home for the night. She is troubled, defiant, anti-social and a ward of the state who is being abused by her new case worker. He controls her money and threatens to have her institutionalized if she doesn't play nice. (Don't worry, you can see it coming that this pig will get a comeuppance - enjoy it) Lisbeth is also a computer hacker who has an uncanny ability to find facts that ppl think are hidden. In fact she was hired to do a background screening on Mikael before he was hired by Henrik. Lisbeth Hacking When Mikael needs to get some help in his investigation, her name comes up as a very good source. Mikael then learns that she knows EVERYTHING about him (thru dubious means of course) but he sees that as just the person he needs. They meet and get along from the start. Mikael has a daughter her age, probably some paternal thing (Yeah Right). Lisbeth & Mikael Meet Mikael and Lisbeth get along fine and they soon discover that there was a pattern of murders before the one girl went missing and they discover who in the rotten family was the likely murderer. I really appreciate that I had not read the book or seen the other movie. It is in fact a murder mystery and it is always best when played out for the first time. If I had known where it was going the journey would have been ruined. It was a great movie, starting with the black, oily, violent imagery in the opening credits while Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song set the tone. Rooney Mara made the character of Lisbeth so conflicted and appealing - you want to just hug her, but it might hurt. She and Craig had good chemistry on screen and --- well it just worked. Go see it for yourself.
I hinted in the above blurb that Mikael and Lisbeth might get it on. I suppose everyone familiar with this story knows that fact. But there is a movie poster out that pretty much says as much. Kinda like it. Fact is, the story is all about the titular Lisbeth (I understand this movie is from a series of books). It even looked like the ending of this movie could invite a sequel. I'd like to see that.
Two more. I saw all three Swedish originals: http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=6329217#post6329217
Thanx for the reminder. I had forgotten all about that thread on the Swedish flick and I never got around to getting the DVD. On another site someone said The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest will be the likely sequel, or continuation. If this one does good at the boxoffice, it will probably happen. Many reviewers, acknowledging how good the Swedish film was and questioned why make this one - then most of them said it was a good idea. I have seen other Swedish films like Let The Right One In and while good, did not engross me as much as the American version Let Me In. There are cultural nuances that come thru in telling the same story. BTW, speaking of Swedish risque flicks, I just found a DVD of I Am Curious Yellow (1967) which for years was banned in the U.S. I was quite busy that year, didn't see any movies so I got it for historical reasons. The explicit sex scenes were the obvious cited reasons to ban the flick in still puritan America, but the political content was likely more uncomfortable for the powers that be. The movie was portraying Martin Luther King in a good light, a model for struggles against oppression around the world - then you realize those struggles were still quite active in '67.
Now you're ready to see the REAL version, in Swedish. You know how it ends, so you can focus on the outstanding acting and cinematography.
I saw all three original Swedish versions, subtitled. I very much liked them. I don't think I could sit through the remakes to be honest but I could just be prejudiced.
I don't think ill watch the original movies. Perhaps wait until they complete the remake trilogy and then watch the original ones. I rather enjoyed the movie though, Daniel Craig did a good job and Lisbeth was just magnificent.
The Swedish films were so good, I saw them before reading the books, I said to myself that I would boycott the Hollywood version. I'll see it though, I have to. I have a difficult time thinking of D Craig as Blomqvist. J.Bond is a very different sort of guy. Lisbeth had me hot... I like the Swedish version better... for looks...
I really thought the US version was way better than the Swedish. Fincher did an amazing job on the remake. The cinimatography and music was amazing and the acting was really good as well I though she nailed Lisbeth. Kind of like watching beautiful chaos...really good film.
I was on acid when I saw this lol. And I must say it made it rather hard to concentrate, i need to watch it again.
Well that's made my mind up. I have read all three books in English, French and Spanish and thought that the films wouldn't quite capture all of the intricasies of the story. Reading you guys thoughts on both the Swedish and the first English language film though have made me think I will give it a go!
I am looking forward to seeing the new one. I reckon I did things in the right order: read the book, then saw the Swedish film. Excellent casting, direction and cinematography. Interesting how the end was subtly different between book and film, vis-a-vis what eventually happened to Martin. There was a definate morality shift - hard to discuss here without giving the end away to those who have not seen it. I do have to wonder why Fincher felt the need to make another version though. Oh wait...with a big name director and Daniel Craig in it it will be a "Hollywood Blockbuster" and as a small independent Swedish film with no names it will remain a cult. Yes, we see. On a side note we just went to see the new Sherlock Holmes film and Guy Ritchie had cast Noomi Rapace as the Gypsy Woman. And totally failed to use her considerable acting talents. She just sat around and nodded and looked pretty. I gues she got a bag o' cash for it, but she was wasted in the part. They may as well have used Kiera Knightley as my wife pointed out. Guy Ritchy does "geezer films" very well, but he really is not comfortable with females. Well, he is married to Madonna after all. That cannot be comfortable.
Amazing movie! I did it in an odd order... watched all three Swedish films first, then books, then the american version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. All amazing!! I do not believe that either is better than the other - both Swedish and American versions were phenomenal!!
