The Girl Who Kick the Hornets Nest (2009)

Introduction:

Well, I had to complete the trilogy didn’t I? The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire were solid thrillers and after the cliffhanger of the last movie, I needed to see just what would happen to Lisbeth and Mikael. Let’s see if this series can end on a high note.

Summary:

The events of the previous film land Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) in the hospital. But it’s not as safe as you might think. Lisbeth is attacked, and Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) believes it may be because she has evidence that could bring down a major conspiracy. The danger starts to ramp up as mysterious figures pursue both Lisbeth and Mikael. Will he be able to gather enough evidence to keep Lisbeth out of an asylum for trying to kill her father? Will Lisbeth avoid the very angry killer that is just waiting for her to make a mistake? The fate of “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” hangs in the balance.

Good Points:

• More great acting from the whole cast.
• Both Mikael and Lisbeth get to share the spotlight
• Some great tension filled sequences

Bad Points:

• Focuses more on the court case and less on physical peril
• Seems a bit choppy in places
• The ending resolves much but leaves you wanting more

Overall:

All in all not a bad way to end the series. The focus on the court case against Lisbeth and the way Mikael gathers evidence is pretty interesting. But the film lacks the overall momentum of the previous entry and the atmosphere of the first one. Still it gets some solid intensity going, especially near the end. A few places are a bit choppy for someone who didn’t read the books (like me), but in the end I enjoyed this film and felt it brought the story to a good conclusion. Worth checking out if you enjoyed the first two.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 3

Acting: 4

Script: 4

Music: 3

Direction: 3

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

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The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)

Introduction:

After enjoying The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I was defiantly interested in seeing the other two films. My wife had read the books and enjoyed all three of them, but warned me that there was some shifts in storytelling in the second and third novels. So I was curious to see just where Mikael and Lisbeth would end up.

Summary:

Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) has been doing alright for herself, living it up in tropical locales while things cool off in Sweden. But things take a serious turn Lisbeth is identified as the killer of three people. Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) feels certain that Lisbeth is being set up and wants to help. But Lisbeth is tracking down the clues on her own, and they lead her on a twisted path that involves human trafficking and a link to her own dark past. When the trap is sprung will “The Girl Who Played with Fire” be alive to tell the tale?

Good Points:

• Top notch acting by the entire cast
• Delves into the character of Lisbeth
• Leads up to a solid climax

Bad Points:

• Mikael’s character takes a back seat in this story
• Not quite as intense as the previous story
• The ending leaves a lot of threads hanging – for the sequel

Overall:

With a new director in the chair for this movie, the shift in tone isn’t just with the plot but also with the overall style. Luckily it all works fine. The story moves along quickly and we get to know Lisbeth a bit better. It makes for a solid thriller, but suffers a bit from middle movie syndrome. Luckily the third part has been made, so no worries about not getting a conclusion. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you were pulled in by the first film.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 3

Acting: 4

Script: 3

Music: 3

Direction: 3

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

Introduction

Another movie with a very good buzz around it, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was based off a best selling Swedish novel, one that is also doing quite well in its translated form in the states. It was only a matter of time before the movie (and a remake) were brought to US shores. But can a foreign murder mystery really be that interesting?

Summary

Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is a reporter who was just successfully sued for libeling a high powered industrialist. With a prison term awaiting him Mikael is offered a job by Henrik Vengaer (Sven-Bertil Taube), a man of great wealth and power. He is seeking his favorite niece, Harriet (Ewa Froling) who disappeared years ago under mysterious circumstances. As Mikael begins his investigation he discovers that a young computer hacker named Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace) has breached his computer and is helping him out. Pieces to the puzzle fall into place, and it each new clue leads to a tale of men who hate women and enigma of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”.

Good Points:

• Excellent acting by the entire cast
• The story does not pull its punches
• Unravels at a measured pace

Bad Points:

• A long movie that may move too slowly for some
• Some of the characters and situations may be too disturbing for some viewers
• They solution to the mystery is not a huge surprise

Overall:

You want solid believable characters and a compelling story, this is the movie for you. Top notch acting pulls you into the tale and the measured pace gives you a chance to get a feel for the leads and their world. At nearly two and a half hours, you’ve got to be ready for some serious subtitle reading. But its well worth the effort.

Scores (out of 5)

Visuals: 4

Sound: 4

Music: 4

Acting: 5

Script: 4

Direction: 5

Entertainment: 4

Total: 4

Curious about a full review, send me an email and I'll make additional thoughts to this review.