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

I went to see this in cinemas having seen the 2009 Swedish version and went with a friend who had seen neither and who had no knowledge of the story or the content.

And while we both enjoyed it there is no doubt that he got a lot more out of David Fincher's adaption than I did because, when all is said and done, there is not a massive disparity in quality between the two versions and if you already know how the story ends............well, there's no change here! And the Swedish version was never a bad film to start with which means I have to fall down a little on the side of wondering not why this was remade (that's standard Hollywood) but WHY it was made so soon.

Sure, Fincher seems less interested in the mystery plot and much more into Lisbeth Salander but while his clear difference of interest makes the mystery component come across in a generally clunkier fashion than before, he does give Rooney Mara's Salander a fuller arc than Niels Arden Oplev did (although you can argue that in that version her story was continued and completed across the full trilogy whereas here sequels are still a question mark) and again, while he alters part of the ending (again I think making it the same yet clunkier) he doesn't make his film different enough to erase the memory of Noomi Rapace.

He does however bring his now established visual slickness and glossy veneers to the film, and gets excellent performances across the board (if Christopher Plummer goes a bit underused) from his cast. The film looks gorgeous from start to finish and the violence (both physical and sexual) is just as strong as in 2009 - though no worse or more graphic to my mind and it's definitely a very good quality and very adult drama.

But I think it did come a little too soon after a film that did just as good a job telling the same story.

Like, it would appear, some others, I was ready to be disappointed by this remake, having found the original Swedish movie so good as to be one of my all time favourite films. So imagine my delighted surprise to find that this one too joins that list. The movie honours the book just as well as did the first one. The acting by all the cast is excellent, but Rooney Mara surpassed them all. Her playing of the role was easily as good as that of Noomi Rapace and, whilst this should not be about comparisons, in fact I find it unnecessary to do so. Each movie stands on its own substantial merits. I feel that I shall be able to watch the Swedish version in a week or two's time and enjoy it just as much as I did this one tonight. A bit like reading the same book in two different languages. I now find I can't wait for the next two to be released.

A great adaptation from the book, and great to see Fincher's take on it.

as a fan of the books, and the swedish film versions, i approached this remake with an open mind (i actually prefered the remake of 'let me in' to the swedish version, which i really liked). first problem - daniel craig, who as the only one who didnt seem to want to even try a swedish accent, and he tried to cover this by just mumbling a lot. second problem - certain order of events were changed. third problem, the lisbeth salander in this is not a patch on the brilliant noomi replace's salander. all in all, second rate compared to the original.

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

Love it, or love it, the extras on this disc are amazing, they let you in to almost every scene and what was behind it, and the hassel Rooney mara put herself through to get inside the character of lisbeth is incredible, don't think an actress has wanted a role more, should have got the Oscar, Daniel Craig along with one of the best assembled cast in recent years, the girl with the dragon tattoo, is a must buy for anyone, the blu ray is Sony at its best, and all for a very cheap price, Buy now you won't be disappointed

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.

I went to see this film because there was nothing else I fancied and my goodness it was amazing. New years day with a hangover and I thought I would inevitably be nodding off but I was gripped from start to finish and can't wait to watch it again, even though I must say some parts made me gasp. The acting was brilliant and you really felt for the girl, unlike some films when you do not really care what the outcome is for the characters. Cannot wait for the next installments as I haven't read the books or seen the originals ( shame on me)

The film is mind blowing, the story line is brilliant and the film is very faithful to the book, however this film not for the faint hearted, Daniel Craig & Rooney Mara both give excellent performances, I do hope that the girl who played with fire and the one who kicked the hornets nest are also made with both Craig & Mara with the lead roles but i would like to see David Fincher direct them both because the way he directs this film is top class

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.