The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Stieg Anderson

[Drunk Monk]

If just to see our mag.

The complete Swedish version is available on netflix. It was originally a TV serial which was much longer. That was edited down for the films. I haven't bothered to watch the long versions.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

As Admiral Akbar was fond of saying . . ..

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Why can't James Bond just shoot all those people on the Island and be done with it? And what the hell has happened to Mark Zuckerberg's girlfriend? (I lied to the Queen and said Lisbeth was in the Blind Side. But I was confused because I am old and should have said she was in the Social Network)

Oddly, I couldn't remember much of the Swedish Film. But I did remember the book, so a lot of it was waiting for events to happen that I knew were supposed to happen. I think Daniel Craig's work as James Bond works against him. I kept waiting for him to be more manly than the character warranted. Plus, Craig's range as an actor might not be that broad . . .

It was a fun game of what to leave in and what to leave out. Why didn't Blumquist go to Jail in the beginning? That's the only big one I could think of. Most of the rough conversion spots were smoothed over by David Fincher's direction.

I don't need to see any more rape scenes no matter how tasteful.

[cranefly]

Finally a movie that delivered for me. This is a very solid 2nd entry in the trilogy, and I look forward to soon seeing the third. Noomi Raplace reprises her role as Lisbeth and remains outstanding.

In this installment we discover the evil that a parent can do. Highlights include a deus ex Prius (every time it appears, something positive or negative happens – I guess because of the battery terminals). Then there’s the huge blond bodybuilder/fighter who you know Lisbeth will eventually have to face. In a Hollywood production, no doubt the meeting would be a slug- and kick-fest to the death and to hell with how implausible that would be. But the Swedes are a whole lot more realistic, and the meeting goes in a different direction that I found satisfying and refreshing. It will be interesting to see how the American version (scheduled for 2015, Daniel Craig rumored to be returning) plays it.

And let us not forget the 23rd minute. How could we, with DM reminding us at every turn? That’s when KFM puts in an appearance. And it’s a good couple of seconds, almost lingering, like DM’s eyes on cheesy snake breasts.

I’m really liking the male lead, Mikael Nyqvist (who plays the character Mikael Nyqvist). He has a warm-hearted nature about him, in sharp contrast to the cold standoffishness of Daniel Craig who played Mikael Nyqvist in the American version of the first movie. For the first in the series, I gave a slight nod to the Swedish over the American version. But really, for the second in the series, I suspect the Swedish version will win hands down. That’s how charismatic Mikael Nyqvist is. I really don’t see how Craig can deliver a comparable performance.

Then there’s the role of Lisbeth to consider. To be honest, Swede Noomi Raplace could beat the rugs in a Prius using American Rooney Mara's petite body any day of the week. Noomi has clearly chiseled herself into a wiry bundle of tomboyish womanhood whereas Rooney maybe learned to ride a motorcycle. So there.

I guess I’m feeling Swedish today.

[Drunk Monk]

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[Drunk Monk]

The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018)
Way to ruin the franchise. It's a new Lisbeth - Clare Foy, who Stacy likes - and a new Blomkvist - someone I don't know and don't care. It makes the error I hate with superhackers - they can control anything because everything is computerized. With a few presses on their cell phone can instantly unlock doors while being chased themselves, or hack a villain's car that they are pursuing in a high speed chase, delivering a message on the rear passenger view screen to warn the kidnappee to buckle up. So absurd. It's a creation story for Lisbeth - we learn of her childhood and her family, but we don't care. And who's the genius who gives his kid the secret password code answer to the superweapon just so the kidnappers kidnap him? So disappointing from every angle.

I was having a sad remembering Blomkvist was a mag publisher, and the relationship of KFTC and the original franchise. That was such a major coup for me, but so few understood. I think the only person at TC who had an inkling of how cool it was to get the cameo in this was Patrick. Nobody at TC was literate enough to know the impact of the books as bestsellers. I also remember getting a screener invite to this and considering it but being too busy at the time to make it. Alas.

No sword fights but some dumb taser fights - like thrust with the taser part to shock the opponent, don't swing it like a baton. Not DOOM recommended at all.