Reviews & Ratings for
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo More at IMDbPro »Män som hatar kvinnor (original title)

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1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Good mystery thriller with grisly bits

Author: badajoz-1 from United Kingdom
19 January 2012

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I have not read the book, not seen the theatre version, or seen the remake for dumb audiences that cannot be bothered to read subtitles. I have watched the original Swedish TV mini series in two parts. A good mystery made in laid back, brooding Scandinavian style - a la Wallander (Hendriksson) and 'The Killing.' The thriller aspects are not overdone, so cars do not jump off roads in CGI and endless build ups are avoided. The story of a left wing, crusading journo (Blomqvist) trying to uncover a 40 year old mysterious disappearance of a multi-millionaire magnate's niece is deftly and slowly told against a background of shuttered lives and shuttered doors on an island setting. The interconnection of the journo and a rather psychotic young woman (Salander) works naturally and the unlikely Holmes/Watson combo solve the plot without too many blistering coincidences or plot contrivances. the acting is restrained and good - not too overboard and emotional (as the remake appears to be) - the direction slowly building to a climax, and the script - given the material - not too over cooked. A small problem is the porno-like violence involving Salander, which, while not graphic, seems overdone for the plot and a little tacked on. But have to see the other two films/books to judge whether it is all part of the bigger scenario. Why was a remake really required, except for US dumba**es?

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

A well-cast movie.

Author: melvis0 from New Zealand
9 January 2012

Now I haven't seen many Swedish movies. If I have, I can't remember them. I got out this movie from the local video store and I watched it last night. I was quite surprised how well done this movie was. I was captivated by the excellent performances by the Swedish actors, all of whom I've never seen before. Every actor was the exact portrayal of the character in the book. Henrik Vanger, Lisbeth Salander, the evil Nils Bgurman and others. At first, I wasn't convinced by Mikael Blomkvist; but as the movie moved on I gradually got to him him better and was enthralled by his performance.

I didn't know how the movie makers were going to tackle the horrific rape scene or scenes in the book. It was unsettling to watch, but it worked. I nearly had my finger on the fast-forward button but managed to get through the gritty scenes.

I've read Stieg Larsson's book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo about 6 months ago. I loved the book. I thought it would make a great movie but I wouldn't think that a Hollywood blockbuster would do it justice, as this book is obviously set in Sweden. But this movie has done that.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Far better than the 2011 remake

Author: orion_ss1 from United States
28 December 2011

The book was great. It took a while as the book ( like the movie ) bounced between Lisbeth's story and Michael's until they merged. While reading I thought the book too bogged in details, but watching the movie I thought too many important details were skimmed over.

I do believe the movie was faithful to the book's plot ( more so than the 2011 remake ). Both developed the characters well, but this movie went deeper into both main characters. The book made a great deal of Blomkvist's jail sentence, and his preparation to go when they called him ( not the same as out on bail awaiting appeal like we do in the US, but I digress ), and when he did go the whole jail aspect merely evaporated ( I do not consider that detail a spoiler, as it was so trivial ).

If you only have time to watch one, I'd recommend this one; the original.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Disappointing.

Author: Leasey from Cardiff, UK
25 December 2011

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I must say I'm somewhat surprised at the high ratings being dished out for the 2009 version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo... especially from those who have read the book.

My curiosity was sparked having seen the trailer for the 2011 film. I read the book first and tore through it in one sitting - loved it. Did the same with the second book a couple of days later - also awesome. The 2011 movie is not on general release yet, so I decided to watch the original Swedish version in the meantime - and I can't help feeling let down.

I think the reason for this is that so many little bits of the book that really caught my imagination were either just totally left out of the film, or skirted over quickly - The mystery of who was in the window; the mass search of the confined island; the old police officer telling Blomqvist the story of the murder in Hedestadt decades earlier to Harriet's disappearance; then suddenly realising they were connected an the subsequent investigation with all its gory details.

I found the pace and sequencing of this film to be really hard going. One one hand I found it to be very slow, but on the other hand I found it very frustrating that not enough time was really given to explaining what was going on! It was like they tried to include a great deal of content, but completely failed to flesh it out - lurching incomprehensibly but slowly from one plot hole to the next. I'm not sure if I was just zoning out because I was bored, but I found myself wondering how anyone could follow this film if they had not read the book.

I realise that when adapting books to film certain things need to be either marginalised or even left out due to time constraints - but at two and a half hours long the makers could have done better with what they did choose to include.

The acting was OK - nothing amazing. If I hadn't read the book I wouldn't have thought Lisbeth was that much of an interesting character. Some of the photography I thought was excellent. A lot has been said about the 'gritty and brutal' sex/rape scenes, but to be honest I personally did not find them to be as traumatic as many peoples reactions have made them out to be (not suggesting rape isn't traumatic - I've just seen dramas that have contained far more graphic content).

I didn't learn it until after I saw it, but the Swedish 2009 version was originally intended to be the first 2 episodes of a 6-part TV series (a number of other reviews seem upset that events that occur in the first 45mins do not have much to do with the main plot - however it is worth bearing in mind that this film is only the first third of the story).

I anticipate the 2011 version will be by far a more superior film.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Well done!

Author: trish-63 from United States
15 December 2011

I thought this movie was a well done adaptation of the book! The way I had imagined the characters, buildings, countryside, offices etc while reading all were very similar to how they were portrayed in the movie. However, I'm wondering how much I would have liked it had I NOT read the books. I feel that movie adaptations often leave out a lot of "back-story" and when you add that to having to read subtitles (which seemed very basic) - I really felt I knew more about the story than those who never read the books. I'm not sure if that makes sense, I just think I enjoyed the subtitled movie more because I had read the books. This movie is NOT for kids, or for watching on your iPad on the plane! Some very disturbing scenes.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Enjoy in this movie!!!

Author: kajzergagi from Serbia
9 November 2011

This is rely great movie and I recommend it to you!Actors gave very good performance and director do very good work!Story is interesting and its not predictable so you will enjoy watching it!This is trilogy and all 3 movies are made same year in 2009 so don't you think that other 2 are made only for taking you money because this is not it!And only when see all 3 movies you will complete the story!This one is the first one and the other 2 are "The Girl Who Played with Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" in that order!So do yourself a favor and watch this before came Hollywood version because when Hollywood remake see the light of the day you will see that Hollywood again,like every other Hollywood remake,can only to destroy such a great movie like this one is!!!And best recommendations that film can get is that fact that Hollywood take it to remake it with high budget and famous actors!!! My vote is 10/10 and I highly recommend it to all of you who love good movies!

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

See for Lisbeth Salander alone.

Author: toll-8 from United Kingdom
8 November 2011

Based on the novel of the same name, this film follows three characters as they intersect each other's lives. Mikael Blomkvist (Nyqvist) is a journalist who has just been sentenced to three months in prison after claims of libel from a corrupt business tycoon. Blomkvist believes he has been set up but nothing helps his case. He is given six months to handle his affairs before being locked away. Henrik Vanger is an elderly man who receives framed, dead flowers once a year from an unknown source. The flowers used to come from his niece who disappeared forty years ago and Henrik believes she is dead. He has never given up hope on finding her and hires Blomkvist to look into her disappearance to give him piece of mind, especially since he still receives the flowers. Blomkvist accepts this last job before he goes inside.

Next we introduce the most intriguing movie character I have ever seen, Lisbeth Salander. A socially inept lesbian with short hair, nose, ear and lip piercings and tattoos draped across her back and arms. She is the girl of the title. She is introduced as a researcher who is secretly photographing Blomkvist during his trial. Also being an expert computer hacker she is hacking into his computer so she can see what he sees. After having a troubled up bringing she is left in the care of a guardian, with her Mother in a hospital. Her new guardian however attempts to blackmail her for sexual favours, before savagely raping her, something she manages to film and gain revenge on by tattooing this man's chest. These scenes are some of the most harrowing I have seen and expertly filmed.

During his investigation, Blomkvist is sent an email from Lisbeth which helps him with the clue he is struggling to solve. After this he recruits her to aid in his investigation. This is where the film really gets its wheels. From here on in we dive into a world of family conspiracy, incest and rape and the battle of vulnerable women against controlling men. I did not realise that this is what this film was about. Those of you who have read the book will but those who haven't will get a bit of a shock.

I have to say I struggled to get into the beginning of this film. Many have told me that to enjoy the book you have to persist with the first fifty pages and once you do the book gets a hold of you. I felt this was definitely the case with the film also. It took a while for it to get going and considering it is subtitled I found myself becoming a little switched off. However I'm glad I didn't as once I had got past that section I was gripped. When Blomkvist and Salander finally meet, the film really gets going. Before that seems too long and at that point of the film I thought that too but now I have finished it I realise how important it was in giving insight into the characters, especially Lisbeth.

The plot of the film is nothing to shout about but where the film really grips you is the characters. OK maybe not characters but character. Blomkvist is a little dull and not your typical hero and considering the title of the film, I was surprised to see him be the main character. Lisbeth on the other hand is intriguing. I want to know more about her, even know. Very little is told and the character alone keeps you hooked on the film. She is bigger than the entire plot and she makes you take notice whenever she is on screen. Noomi Rapace is fantastic as her and even manages to give a Gothic woman covered in piercings and tattoos a very sexy edge. The chemistry between the leads is great and the relationship is not clichéd in the slightest.

I don't want to say too much about this film as it is one you really have to see. Get past the first twenty minutes and the subtitles and enjoy the characters on that screen. Lisbeth Salander is fascinating. She is to be played by Kate Mara in the American remake and she has a hell of a pair of shoes to fill. There is so much to enjoy in this movie and 'she' is a character you will all enjoy watching.

The film is definitely for adults only with scenes of violence, rape and bondage but the excellent direction and cinematography handles it all tastefully although they are a little harrowing. The performances in these scenes are just fantastic. I can't state this enough: go and watch this movie.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Exceptionally good.

Author: Michael O'Keefe from Muskogee OK
8 November 2011

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This Swedish crime chiller is based on the first of a trilogy of novels from Stieg Larsson. A dishonored tabloid journalist Mikael Blomkvist(Michael Nyqist)is hired by Henrik Vanger, a wealthy industrialist and patriarch of a close-knit dysfunctional family, to find his niece, who disappeared over forty years ago while an abused teen. Mikael, found guilty of defamation, starts his investigation and efforts are compromised by a young hacker named Lisbeth Salander(Noomi Rapace). The journalist allows the rebellious hacker to join in the deep search that uncovers dark secrets about the powerful Vanger family. Mikael and Lisbeth soon have to deal with keeping themselves alive. Three graphic scenes of sexual assault, a couple of erotic sex scenes, and a fair share of violence makes this dark mystery a very satisfying and intriguing couple of hours. Miss Rapace is not the most well endowed, but is not shy in showing why she is THE GIRL with the DRAGON TATTOO. Hard not to like this one. Also in the cast: Sven-Bertil Taube, Peter Haber, Lena Endre, Bjorn Granath and Ewa Froling. Filmed entirely in Sweden, except for a final scene shot in Spain.

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Riveting thriller from the pen of Stieg Larsson with a truly memorable performance from Noomi Rapace…

Author: ajs-10 from United Kingdom
18 October 2011

Based of the first novel of the 'Millennium Trilogy' by Stieg Larsson, this Swedish film adaptation is (IMO) quite excellent. I should make it clear that I watched the extended edition which runs for just short of three hours. Also, being a bit of a purist, I watched it with subtitles, although there is the option of a dubbed version for those not quite so brave. I was quite surprised just how enthralling it was and, having never read the novels, just what a well written drama it turned out to be. More of my thoughts after this very brief summary.

Mikael Blomkvist is the editor of a magazine, 'Millennium', that has accused businessman Hans-Erik Wennerström of some wrongdoing. The case went to court and Blomkvist lost. He has just three months before he has to go to jail for six months. Unbeknownst to him, he has been investigated himself by a professional hacker, Lisbeth Salander, who works for a security firm. The reason becomes clear when Blomkvist is hired by wealthy businessman, Henrik Vanger, to investigate the disappearance of his niece more than forty years ago. Moving out to the remote island where the Vanger family all live, in separate houses, Blomkvist is soon embroiled in the case. Little does he know though, but Lisbeth Salander is still keeping tabs on him and when she sends him the answer to a vital clue the unlikely pair end up joining forces in order to solve the case. There is an awful lot more to tell but I dare not say it or the Spoiler Police might find a way to make me disappear.

A very well made film with an almost washed-out look to the visuals which always makes me think of northern climes. I also thought the music by Jacob Groth was excellent and fitting the, at times, haunting piece very well. As for performances, well, both Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist and Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander were outstanding… particularly Noomi Rapace. Also worthy of note were; Lena Endre as Erika Berger, Sven-Bertil Taube as Henrik Vanger, Peter Haber as Martin Vanger, Peter Andersson as Nils Bjurman, Marika Lagercrantz as Cecilia Vanger, Ingvar Hirdwall as Dirch Frode and Björn Granath as Gustav Morell.

On the DVD the film is split into two parts, each of about ninety minutes. This, I found, made it feel a little bit like a TV adaptation rather than a cinema release. Don't get me wrong, all the production values of a big cinema release are there, but I did, at times, feel like I was watching a major two-parter on HBO (or Sky Atlantic for us Brits), albeit in Swedish. Despite this, I still very much enjoyed this mystery thriller and I'm very much looking forward to seeing the other two parts of the set. Maybe I'll have to watch a couple of things in English in between… too much Swedish at once can really get taxing. Over all though, totally engrossing with some truly excellent performances… Highly recommended.

My Score: 8.2/10 IMDb Score: 7.7/10 (based on 48,699 votes at the time of going to press).

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86/100 (based on 165 reviews counted at the time of going to press).

1 out of 2 people found the following review useful:

Engaging and well-made

Author: AStarkRedDeath from United States
14 October 2011

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was a very good film. It had fantastic performances, a very engaging storyline, and some great cinematography. I expected it to be more obscure in the way foreign films are. For example, a foreign film like Let The Right One In certainly has a distinct style from an American film despite its subtitles. This doesn't. It actually has the look, mood, and feel of a film that could have been made here in America (by ignoring the subtitles part)... which is why I wonder why Fincher decided to remake this. I'm sure the material interests him but unlike Let The Right One In, this doesn't feel too un-mainstream for the general public. In fact, if one was to disregard that it has subtitles I would actually think it was made here. It was a very good film, but I I don't know how Fincher can expand or differentiate his film with this. That means I hope he does different things with it. Let Me In might have had like the same storyline and the same dialogue many times but it certainly had a distinctive tone and atmosphere that applied to itself only.

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