The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011) (Blu-ray)

The original versions of these movies are amazing and its hard to see a remake being that good but it actually does work very well, the story is great and rich with detail and stays pretty close to the original only making a few several minor changes that dont matter, not enough to affect the overall movie, the cast was great Daniel Craig played Mikael Blomkvist very well but the real star is Rooney Mara who is amazing as Lisbeth Salander, she is almost as good Noomi Repace. Basically if you love the book and you love the original movies you will really enjoy the remake and being in English does make it much more comfortable to watch for those who dont find it easy keeping up with subtitles. This is a very dark twisted smart sexy violent thriller thats amazing to watch so be sure to check it out.

Why release a Hollywood version of Stieg Larsson's 30million selling novel just two years on from the choice Swedish adap of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo starring Noomi Rapace as the instantly iconic title character Lisbeth Salander?
Apart, that is, from the obvious 30m people have read the novel, a lot of them can't be bothered to also read the film. Because it's directed by David Fincher. Meaning it's a Hollywood retake in geography only (and even then, Fincher's opted to keep the story in Sweden rather than transpose it), and meaning we're guaranteed the kind of uncompromising, adult themed entertainment Hollywood excelled at in the late 60s and 70s.
So welcome to the feelbad film of the year, a blockbusting thriller about sex, sexual violence and institutionalised abuse, based on a book originally entitled Men Who Hate Women, centred on an angry, subjugated, socially maladroit heroine, and shot entirely in wintry greys, hypothermic blues and jaundiced yellows. With a cold, onerous score by Trent Reznor.
The plot, for the uninitiated, sees disgraced, disgruntled journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) hired by retired industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the 40 year old disappearance of his niece, Harriet (Moa Garpendal).
The killer, for she is presumed murdered.
Eighty minutes in, Blomkvist is joined in his investigation by Lisbeth (Rooney Mara), a hacked off hacker who hides her vulnerability beneath a carapace of piercings, tats, black leather, serrated fringes and open hostility. Together, this oddest of couples unearth a ghastly secret.
It is to Mara's immense credit that she emerges from Rapace's ink black shadow to imprint her own design on Lisbeth, her face capturing each contradictory emotion roiling inside. This role, this performance, will change her life she is literally unrecognisable from The Social Network's preppy East Coast scholar Erica Albright or as Nancy in the ill-judged remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street.
Craig does the job well, bringing weight and much needed touches of humour, though lacks the everyman quality of Michael Nyqvist's Blomkvist.
And as usual Fincher's direction is immaculate. His Girl might lack the propulsion of Se7en or the slow-burn desiccation of souls quality of Zodiac, but it is a controlled, mesmerising, beautiful thriller scarred by scenes of unshakeable brutality and breathless tension.
If you thought the US version will untangle the plot and tame the violence? Then Lisbeth's T shirt says it all. Changed ending aside, Fincher's take is as faithful as it is fearless. And Mara rocks.
See if you liked.....
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo ( Swedish)
The Girl Who Played With Fire (Swedish)
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (Swedish)
SE7EN.
Zodiak.

Why release a Hollywood version of Stieg Larsson's 30million selling novel just two years on from the choice Swedish adap of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo starring Noomi Rapace as the instantly iconic title character Lisbeth Salander?
Apart, that is, from the obvious 30m people have read the novel, a lot of them can't be bothered to also read the film. Because it's directed by David Fincher. Meaning it's a Hollywood retake in geography only (and even then, Fincher's opted to keep the story in Sweden rather than transpose it), and meaning we're guaranteed the kind of uncompromising, adult themed entertainment Hollywood excelled at in the late 60s and 70s.
So welcome to the feelbad film of the year, a blockbusting thriller about sex, sexual violence and institutionalised abuse, based on a book originally entitled Men Who Hate Women, centred on an angry, subjugated, socially maladroit heroine, and shot entirely in wintry greys, hypothermic blues and jaundiced yellows. With a cold, onerous score by Trent Reznor.
The plot, for the uninitiated, sees disgraced, disgruntled journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) hired by retired industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the 40 year old disappearance of his niece, Harriet (Moa Garpendal).
The killer, for she is presumed murdered.
Eighty minutes in, Blomkvist is joined in his investigation by Lisbeth (Rooney Mara), a hacked off hacker who hides her vulnerability beneath a carapace of piercings, tats, black leather, serrated fringes and open hostility. Together, this oddest of couples unearth a ghastly secret.
It is to Mara's immense credit that she emerges from Rapace's ink black shadow to imprint her own design on Lisbeth, her face capturing each contradictory emotion roiling inside. This role, this performance, will change her life she is literally unrecognisable from The Social Network's preppy East Coast scholar Erica Albright or as Nancy in the ill-judged remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street.
Craig does the job well, bringing weight and much needed touches of humour, though lacks the everyman quality of Michael Nyqvist's Blomkvist.
And as usual Fincher's direction is immaculate. His Girl might lack the propulsion of Se7en or the slow-burn desiccation of souls quality of Zodiac, but it is a controlled, mesmerising, beautiful thriller scarred by scenes of unshakeable brutality and breathless tension.
If you thought the US version will untangle the plot and tame the violence? Then Lisbeth's T shirt says it all. Changed ending aside, Fincher's take is as faithful as it is fearless. And Mara rocks.
See if you liked.....
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo ( Swedish)
The Girl Who Played With Fire (Swedish)
The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (Swedish)
SE7EN.
Zodiak.

Ii suspect like myself, many of you will have seen and enjoyed the 'swedish' ( dual language ) trilogy, in truth, not so long ago.
must admit when i heard that there was a 'hollywood' remake of the series on the way, i did think, why ? when the original was so good.
well, i wasn't going to give this the time of day, however, curiosity got the better of me.
telling the story of how, 'mikall blomkvist' a recently discredited journalist and the unconventional 'lisbeth salander' team up to try and solve a 40 year old mystery, when 'henrick vanger's' neice dissapeared without trace at a time when a series of unsolved murders had taken place.
the bond 'mikall' and 'lisbeth' develop during the investigation will stand 'lisbeth' in good stead as, in the not to distant future, her past rears it's ugly head.
i didn't think i'd enjoy this remake, however i did, and providing the next two maintain the quality of this presentation, i'll look forward to watching them..............enjoy

I went into this film without the benefit of having read the book so I was unaware of some facts others may have known, my knowledge was the basic story line of Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander catching a killer. As David Fincher was directing I expected the film to not hide away from the brutality of the material. The film is very dark and may not be for people who dislike violence, the main violence is sexual and there is very little fisticuffs. I did like this film though and I want to watch it again, I thought the acting was good and Rooney Mara excelled as "the girl", I think this film will stay in my system and be on my mind for a very long time. Great film but not for all!