The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

I didn’t read the novels and haven’t watched the other two parts of the trilogy yet, so I don’t know whether some of the apparently pointless things in this film will have any meaning in the future, but the fact is that they feel very redundant within the scope of one feature detective movie. That said, I believe in the principle that I call “pointless things happen” (not all the events that simultaneously take place in real life are important for the main event taking place, therefore, they too should be included in scripts – i.e. they don’t have to be directly causal), and as such, that relatively redundant affair with Lisbeth’s caretaker didn’t bother me at all. If the film had finished half hour earlier, I would give it five stars, but that pointless epilogue brought the rating down a point. (2010-08-23)

I've started reading the book, the film was first... despite the fact that in its complexity it cannot and does not want to match Larsson's juggernaut, it belongs in the top league given its atmosphere and processing. Oplev is an excellent stylist who films in a simplified form, but with a sense of logic and pace. I really, really like how the script cleverly shifted Mikael from a confident seducer to a closed weirdo – the Rapace/Nyqvist duet is absolutely excellent for the film's purposes. By the way, Noomi is extraordinarily charismatic and played Lisbeth perfectly. The film has very high quality equivalent for everything that it lacks from the book. The result is a contagious and catchy detective story... although it lacks the socially critical dimension of the original, it moves in its genre quite sovereignly. It's a very difficult challenge for Fincher... (2010-07-20)

A traditional thriller framework of Hollywood genre movies refreshed with new faces of high-quality European actors and taken apart by a superb multi-layered, detailed script that deals with a lot more than what is sufficient for a good thriller – and handles it with admirable complexity. Two and a half hours bursting with tension while the audience gets to know interesting characters and uncovers the well-concealed secret of a dark world. I am looking forward to two more films from Stieg Larsson’s trilogy of novels on which this movie’s screenplay is based, and I’m curious about the American remake. David Fincher is a sensible choice. He may be the only one who is able not to screw it up. (2010-07-12)

From the very beginning, each scene grows darker and more depressing with each passing moment, and yet neither the final reveals or the catharsis were at all moving for me. Maybe it's because there are so many emotional walls built around Lisbeth that I ended up watching her from a distance the entire time, and I was much more fascinated by Mikael. Or maybe it was that the adaptation merely skipped a few scenes that would have greatly helped me; it's hard to say. All I know for certain is that this wave of depression passed right by me, however engaged I was in the mystery itself. (2011-12-17)

Venturing into Scandinavian cinema occasionally is definitely worthwhile. I’ve been focusing on the acclaimed film trilogy based on Stieg Larsson's work. I love their style and the lengthy shots of the desolate snowy landscape. Plus, these nations don’t shy away from gritty realism in their detective stories; everything is presented in a raw, unembellished manner. Of course, not everyone might appreciate that, but it works for me. The main acting duo is convincing, with Noomi Rapace delivering an excellent portrayal of her hacker character. I enjoyed the story’s gradual unfolding of a horrifying secret, with the increasingly intense atmosphere giving me chills at times. Michael Nyqvist also performed well. My compliments go to the screenwriters, as the film avoids any nonsensical elements that would make my head spin. The plot is cohesive, and the audience can follow it easily. I’m looking forward to the sequel, as the first film impressed me, and I expect more quality. I give it 81%. (2018-06-17)