As most of you are aware i'm sure, that the original "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is a swedish film, with English subtitles, based on a novel with the same name by Steig Larsson. I recently saw the American remake on Christmas Eve. Now, i'm going to do another post where I compare the two of them together, but this post will just concern the English one.
First off, Lisabeth Salandar, played by Rooney Mara, is a deliciously Gothic character. She has a harsh punk nature, but is sure to be an instant hit with any Goth friendly guy or gal. Seriously, she's the most well written Goth girl i've ever seen. Rooney Mara, gives her a slightly different flavor than in the original Swedish version, in that Rooney has a softness to her that peaks through a few times during the movie. Which really, I don't feel is bad at all; it helps to add more depth to her character. Now, if you are someone who has seen the Swedish version and you are wondering if this is worth it, it is. Go see it.
American film finally got a remake right, in my opinion, it does the Swedish film justice.
They expand on a few areas of Lisabeth that I think become really important in understanding her character. They do change a couple of things, but none of it detracts from the movie. They keep the graphic scenes, and if anything make them even more disturbing, if that's possible. The end doesn't leave off quite the same as the Swedish one, they expand on her travels, as well as, the relationship between her and Bloomkvist. They also included the relationship between Bloomkvist and the female editor, which is in the novel, but not apparent in the Swedish movie.
They also have the BEST intro i've ever seen in a film, there's oil, things are on fire, hands and body parts slithering around. It's intense and I loved it, and the song in the background is a version of the Immigrant Song, by Led Zeppelin. It's absolutely beautiful.
If you haven't seen either version, i'd suggest seeing the Swedish one first, just for good measure. The movie follows a girl who is a ward of the state after going in and out of foster homes and mental institutions, for anything ranging from drug abuse to violent behavior. She rides a motorcycle, has badass hair, and can handle her own. They call her, "Wasp" at the computer firm she works for as a hacker. Bloomkvist begins by going through a scandal related to his magazine, the Millennium, and is then offered a job at a remote island occupied by a long standing old Swedish family. He is hired by the eldest family member to investigate a murder. Bloomkvist tracks down Lisabeth after learning of the intensive illegal research she provided concerning him. They run through a series of events, especially near death experiences, and eventually find the conclusion they were looking for, among other things.
This is a movie worth seeing.
No really, get your ass to the cinema, you'll thank me later.
2 comments:
I found it was really well done. The beginning scene with the oil and fire was absolutely beautiful, I'm almost convinced they did that scene to feature that song (which really works well).
I still couldn't get myself to watch her rape scene (I shut my eyes and plugged my ears during it). But I couldn't even read that part in the book or watch that scene in the swedish without turning down the volume. I'm sure I can't be the only one who did that during the movie.
At first I had some issues with their choice in casting (like Daniel Craig) but after watching the movie, the choice in casting was well done.
I agree.
When I saw the first teaser trailer I got upset because i'm pretty sure her dragon tattoo was really small, and I was almost not going to see it on basis of her tattoo not being accurate.
But I was glad I did see it in the end, because it was really well don, and her tattoo was accurate.
:)
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