The girl with the dragon tatoo,2009

The girl with the dragon tatoo, 2009
Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Cast: Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace


Stage: home theatre


The girl in short: Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, ruthless computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from almost forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history. But the Vanger's are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.


Preps: I wanted to read the book first. There's this most popular writer in Sweden at this moment - Stieg Larsson, and this is his hottest novel from 2009. I am used to the fact, that even the hottest book turns into a disgraceful movie. Therefore it's maybe a better option to see the movie and read afterwards - it doesn't kill the joy then when the most important facts (in the eyes of the reader of course) are left out in the movie. Nevertheless, I didn't take the time to go through the book, so I see it in raw material and don't have a clue what it's about. Mere the fact that it's as popular as Harry Potter in the UK.


Reality: The movie is modern in terms of its length. I am surprised that it's 2,5 hours long. Despite this fact, first hour and a half slides by as in a moment. The story is intriguing and the two main protagonists (Lisbeth and Mikael) join the separate paths and forces to seek into a mystery.
The girl character is everything mixed together - depressed, punished, dark and energetic individual. Curious and obviously very capable. Working as a hacker, posing into people's lives and watching what they do as a Big Brother. There are many aspects of this character that a lot of viewers will find disgusting and yet appalling - she enters such dark places that most of "normal" population don't get to see ever in their entire lifetimes. Therefore an interesting aspect - the director just keeps pushing new and new dark scenes and yet leaves the past of the girl untouched. The scene with the rape and the vengeance that follows burns my braincells and makes me think about it and admire the deed.

The second half (or should I say, the last third) doesn't have the pace of the first part. By far, it doesn't meet my expectations. Of course, due to the brilliant start I expect a brilliant finish. But I am deeply dissappointed - I don't find it intriguing or very interesting at all - just a decent closure with a bit of adrenalin right at the end. And yes - the past of Lisbeth is revealed. The director should also keep the love scenes separated and not drag romance (or whatever this was) into this criminal drama. In my opinion, could be left out.


My personal rating: 7,0 (for the brilliant start and energy at the end. More than decent evening entertainment).


The girl on IMDB

Dragon lady official site