The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Hollywood version

Perhaps I've been spoiled by having seen the original Swedish version first and thus find the Hollywood one as typical Hollywood and sadly subpar and lacklustre in comparison. But if you haven't seen the original as directed by Niels Arden Opley, I definitely recommend you put that on your next to see list. Where the story doesn't shy from the violence and intensity, but faces it head on as that script is much better written with vastly more developed characters with credible relationships, further exploring themes that feel more glossed over.


So with that out of the way, you may understand why I'm about to make the following comments the way they are - the way I've always done these movie reviews, just as I see it. To me this story has been doused with Hollywood gloss that even the actors and director couldn't elevate beyond their current and best efforts.


Story-wise, it's fairly truthful to the original with the investigation of Harriet's presumed murder with just small changes as remakes tend to do. However with its length of 2 and a half hours, which could have done with certain scenes being cut to make room to firmly establish characters and how that leads to the unfolding of events. For starters the opening credits would have served a better double purpose if it was over computer sequences of Lisbeth's research on Mikael, hacking his computer and ending on a photo that comes to life with Mikael exiting the court - succinct and right to the point.  The quick cuts between Mikael's storyline and Lisbeth's storyline feel choppy and abrupt, leaving the viewer a feeling of detachment, such that when they finally meet, it's like a pebble has hit the ground and actually harms the reasoning behind their eventual relationship. Not to just throw cold water, there are some positive changes that the Swedish version does not have such as actually showing Mikael and Lisbeth in a loving relationship of sorts.


Without giving much more story away and hoping I'm starting to inspire you watch the original, we move to casting - a much debated topic especially when it came to who would take over from the talented Noomi Rapace. When the dust settled and of course we now know, it would be Rooney Mara in the title role. With big shoes to fill, Mara turns in a good performance as Lisbeth, but sadly lacks the edge that Rapace possessed.  Mara's Lisbeth is softer and exudes more innocence that Lisbeth should have. She's not as intense or smart, but rather almost lost, wistful, and a bit robotic in her dialogue. Furthermore, her intelligence is lowered as it was in fact Lisbeth who figured out the bible quotes in the original.  She's still smart but less so, leading to less power for the leading lady. The size of Mara's dragon tattoo in comparison to Rapace's dragon tattoo will give you an indication of how much more Lisbeth this version is missing. It makes one wonder where the next two films will go with Lisbeth becomes the focus. 


Daniel Craig makes an interesting Mikael Blomkvist. He's smart but not quite that smart, and when you're used to seeing him has James Bond, you'll have a hard time seeing the mishap he gets into. He's inquisitive but isn't enough of a pest to become a thorn in anyone's side.  On a side character note - we were all shocked at the introduction of Blomkvist having a daughter - unnecessary and takes away from Lisbeth's intelligence.


Stellan Skarsgaard has had better performances (such as A Somewhat Gentle Man) but perhaps this script is to blame for what turns out almost wrongly funny and lacking evocative insanity. Held back, one would have hoped for almost a Hannibal Lector type performance. Christopher Plummer rounds out the bigger players as Henrik Vanger. Limited, he looks a bit too healthy in the beginning for us to believe his time was running out (aside from the white hair).   


The main relationship in this film is that between Lisbeth and Mikael that develops, but as stated before it begins abruptly rather than building it. Lisbeth after all already had something, perhaps more intriguing and interest than love, while she was investigating him. If memory serves correct, she continues to actively and secretly helping him with the investigation before he even hires her - a point that would have anchored characteristics and relationship if that element was kept. Instead, I'd cut out much of the last half hour as it gets to expository of Lisbeth's computer talents, another element that could've been established earlier.


Visually the scenes in the past are beautiful and apart from the present, that doesn't exactly take too much advantage of the hauntingly beautiful yet empty Swedish countryscape. The soundtrack itself - Hollywoodized, little isn't if you haven't realized by now. What you may also notice is the difference in the amount of violence and sex between the two films. A recent article claimed America tries to minimize one of them in their films, can you guess which? All in all, not exactly disappointing, but I've seen better...and you can too. If I also may, I suggest you read the books themselves.


Here's the trailer for the original:

3/5 (for the record, 3 = good, rather than 60%). The original I'd give 4.5/5 (really good to excellent)