The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Movie

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) 2011

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What is hidden in snow, comes forth in the thaw.

The first film in the American three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Millennium Trilogy. Stars Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) and Rooney Mara (The Social Network), directed by David Fincher (The Social Network, Fight Club). More

Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig), ostensibly hired to write the memoirs of Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), recruits badass, troubled computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Mara) to help investigate the 40-year-old murder of Harriet Vanger - Henrik's beloved niece. The odd couple work to unravel the mysterious and gruesome history of the Vanger clan, who live on the isolated Hedeby Island in Hedestad.

Larsson's thrillers have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries, originally made into a film trilogy in the novel's native Sweden. Hide

Close but no cigar.

HMJ B-Grader

Having recently seen the Swedish version of GWTDT I went along prepared for anything. With such source material and star power great things were possible. Including disaster, so I crossed my fingers and bought a ticket.

Oh dear. Early on this movie twice set my teeth on edge. Which marred the rest of the movie.
1) The entire cast managed reasonable Swede accents. Except for the otherwise excellent Daniel Craig. Which made him sound like an Englishman working abroad.
2) Lisbeth, the supposed uberhacker/investigator, seeks out online information in a manner so amateurish as to smack of product placement. She went Google-Wikipedia! Even I wouldn't do that! She didn't even go directly to Wiki and check out the articles source citations. This cringe inducing moment was brought back to mind later when Lisbeth constructed complex search parameters that are exactly what someone who knows how to mine databases for gold would use. Sigh.

Speaking of product placement. Happy Meal anyone?

However, my biggest disappointment came when I realised the movie had ended with one vital piece of information was missing. I won't say what it is here as I dislike spoilers. But for this element alone I recommend the Swedish GWTDT over this one. With bells on!

But its not all brick bats. Bouquets got to the ensemble cast for their universally excellent performances. And an Oscar to Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. Noomie Rapace's brilliant performance has been matched at least. And that's a miracle in its own right. Naturally because of the common source material some parts are the same but enough variation was employed to prevent the first half of the remake from being identical. The departures from the original in the second half kept the excitement alive.

Personally I thought the last quarter dragged a bit. But this may be because I was going but, but, but where's a certain vital piece of information?

Taken altogether I think most people who are new to this franchise will enjoy this psychological thriller, mystery, action, drama. And we will all be back for the new Girl Who Played with Fire.

65 %

Want to See it

What say you?

BrionyJae

Doesn't look half-bad actually! The soundtrack to the trailer is creepy! But awesome :P
Just Me

WICKED!!! Yeah Yeah Yeahs song for trailer is super awesom!
Andrew-Hedley

This teaser is so flippin sweet.
Velda

Mmmmm Daniel Craig meeeeeooooooow
MICHAEL Carigan

WHAT THE hell THIS WAS RELEASED ONLY LIKE 2 YRS AGO WTF!!!!
Mad

A direct copy of the original. Boring! But wait it has with an awesome cast... not so Boring!
Max

David Fincher is brilliant - can't wait!
shopqueen

hope its a r18 and they don't cut anything ,i liked the books and the other movies ,but nice to see it big budget and a spunkier blomkist!
michael carrigan

Excusme but is nobody noticing they are remaking a trilogy that only finished a few montHs ago!!!
michael carrigan

AM I THE ONLY ONE TO REALISE HOW INSANE THIS IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ants

WHY??? Bloody Americans just can't leave a good thign alone.
vampyr14

She's not as cool or sexy as Noomi... What's up with US remakes of foreign film?
Dawn

Cannot WAIT to see this...the original was awesome, I have high hopes for this one, too...
Troy

All I can say is..... why? As important as Van Sants Psycho, and sadly this version will be the one that is remembered.
Gaffer

I really hope they don't attempt Swedish accents. As original as the American version of Death At A Funeral.
Matty

Sweedish version is better
Sarah29

Very cool trailer, looks promising...as long as they don't try and do Swedish accents!
Melanie

Was concerned what the Americans might do to this...but with David Fincher directing...I'm REALLY excited!
Lexicon

They didn't need to do this, but as we know, Americans can't read. Love the original - will give this a chance despite the ending change!!
alex

David Fincher surely won't mess this up, and with Daniel Craig and other promising actors, it looks good.
Mark

Brilliant mix of image and music has hooked me! Thanks Led Zeppelin..
Confused

But why?
Matt

The assisstant at Video Ezy, warned me it had subtitles. I was like "What am some kind of illiterate"?
Dan-Thompson1

Has Hollywood finally made a movie that's as good as the original or have they simply made an awesome trailer? Please let it be good!
Trevor

I can't wait to see it, I think Daniel Craig is perfect casting for Blomkvist
missy

will never be the original but still keen to check it out
Jani

This trailer made me curious about the book.
wavepiercer

Watch the originals you morons, not this pathetic english speaking remake.....
Fiona-Sole

I can't believe they re-made this in english. Am thinking it will be a fail just like the re-make Let me in.
Tiddles

Looks good, just about to watch the origional now!
jools

The Swedish version was so good, we'll see if this matches up-remakes usually suck!
Lou

Can't wait. Perfect casting.
L.O.D

because the Americans are too lazy to read subtitles... or come up with their own stuff... could be good though - potential
Why?

Why on earth do they have to ruin the book in this way the original film was awesome
David

Rent the originals. Way way better than this. Too much has been lost for the sake of getting 'stars' in this. Yuck.
ashlee

idk i thought that there already had a 'girtl with dragon tattoo' and i thought it was swidish?
maureen

I love those movies, I have a brain, do NOT need to see an American version!
Liam

Read the books, Saw the swedish films, I think this version is for the fat americans who cant read subtitles.
Alli

No. Just...no.
Simon

Haha come on guys this isn't your ordinary American remake - it's David Fincher! have some faith
fckoff

accidentally gave this the thumbs up...
Pen15

Did she lose her eyebrows in a fire? She looks like a kid dressing up as a punk for Halloween.
Pete

Its crap. It has none of the atmosphere, timing, crisp sound and authentic accents that made the originals the great films that they were!!
John_S

Can't wait!!
Tdog

The Sweedish version is far far better
Community

Already seen originals. Dark subject matter don't think i need to see it again. May eventually on DVD just to see what Fincher did with it
micky

Can't wait!
Sold

I'm sold like a mother f@#$&^!!!!!!
kam

Loved the original -- why do we always have to make our OWN version?!
sam

cheap imitation of the original
Braeden

Why?? How could this possibly be better than the original? Or equal to?
Mark

Trailers are more dramatic (eg Craig is no weak journo) so bet movie is too. Even so even the trailer has big nods to the first movie.
Kylos

Even the trailer is closer to the story than the original!
jeffwk82

Looking forward to this one - saw the trailer and looks good. haven't seen the original ones though.
Hodstar

Hollywood you SUCK! Get your own stories you moroons! Everything you have is CRAP!
James

Guys, we're talking about David Fincher. This man could make paint drying into entertainment. Give it a chance before you criticise it!
Timos

NICED
Georgia

It's not a remake, it's an adaption! David Fincher will make this great!
Abby

The 8 minute trailer that just came out looks incredible. David Fincher is brilliant.
James

To all the people who are complaining about the original... neither was the swedish one lol... looks great!!!
James

*complaining about this not being original* Edit from previous post ===>
Amanda

Why does Hollywood have to ruin EVERYTHING??
Sam Swan

Looks stunning, hopefully this adaptation will be more faithful to the books - looking forward to this VERY MUCH!
Steve

Read the books, saw the movies and enjoyed both. Looking forward to seeing this version. I wished Larsson didn't die so soon.
Grids

Can't wait to see it - trailer looks great. Loved the books, hated the swedish? movies (walked out). Lisbeth looks streetcore hot in this.
Mikey

David Fincher + NIN = has to be gooooood!
patmic

sorry, read the book, seen the swedish movie it is enough. Hollywood try to find something "new"
Nick

I've already seen this and I can verify it's as good as the Swedish version, if not better! SEE IT!
Rhys

Epic cinematography + Daniel Craig= A must see motion picture!
Jasmine

Rooney Mara seems do to a nice job with the character of Lisbeth Salander. Noomi Rapace was too good..let's see who does it better!
Steve

It's getting remade because the great American public can't read sub-titles. Will reserve judgement on this until I have seen it.
Sawyer

CANT'T WAIT!!! + Rooney is super hot in this!!
Stevee

This was such a brilliant film. David Fincher puts a great spin on it, and Rooney Mara is amazing as Lisbeth!
Woodgnome

Apparently (and surprisingly) the US version is a LOT better; can't wait!!
Melanie

..and check out the amaaaaazzzzing opening credits - Fincher is renowned for these...The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo's are no exception
Sam

Awesome. I hear it better than the original. Not that I've seen it. And Americans can read subtitles....deal with it
emi

Well the trailer looks pretty good. I have seen all 3 of the original films and they were raw, intense, horrifying, gritty and brilliant.
James

Is this rated R16 or R18, different places are saying different things. Even the tv trailer are saying both (some say R16, some say R18)???
George

Watched swedish original version. Would only watch US version due to master director David Fincher
Karl-Flicks

@James, the film is rated R16
Rhys

highly reccomend this film to any one over 16 ;)
Sonya

Saw it, loved it, but not for the fainthearted!
Red

Get on it. Riveting stuff for those of us who've never seen the originals.
Decode

Intense. A good version. Like how its in english, so don't have to read the subtitles. 8D
Leanne

Went to see this movie, I personally felt sick watching it. I think the R16 needs to be put up to R18.Two ladies walked out.
Johnny

Anyone watching this so they don't have to read the subtitles on the original version is a moron.
cory

Don't watch!!!!!
Rob

went with three others . ALL loved it no one fell asleep we,re all over 60 both sexes
Cliff

Reall just another 'whodunit'. I'd guessed by the end what was going on.

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Matt Glasby Flicks Writer

David Fincher’s made some strange career choices (Benjamin Button anyone?), but adapting Stieg Larsson’s best-selling Scandinavian door-stopper might well be the weirdest. For one thing it’s already been done, pretty well, in 2009. For another, the first half of the story – a rather lame murder mystery enlivened by a fascinating central character in troubled hacker Lisbeth Salander (Mara) – is 90% exposition meets 10% sexual assault. He’s also retained the book’s Swedish setting and names, so it’s not even a sop to the subtitle-averse. More

So what can we expect from this spruced-up Swenglish version, besides more product placement? For the first hour, disappointingly little. As before, nobody seems willing to snip Larsson’s narrative string, so we trudge through a series of wearying introductions to interchangeable old men (Plummer, Berkoff, Skarsgard), each of whom has a long-buried secret. No scene lasts longer than 30 seconds except those depicting Salander getting abused, which feel endless. It is, to put it lightly, a difficult watch.

Although Craig is a commanding presence as crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist, it’s not until he and Salander join forces that film emerges from its predecessor’s shadow. When it does, it’s riveting – the leads’ strange chemistry (think little girl lost meets handsome dad) crackles, and Fincher has a real talent for making people looking through files seem fascinating (see Zodiac). Although the excitement subsides after a terrific early climax, it’s an effective, if unfathomable, entry in the Fincher canon. If you’ve seen the original, knock a star off the rating. If you haven’t seen either, watch this one. Hide

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jacqui

I love reading but for EFFS sake your point of view is epic. Love it. I feel better that I am going to go see it tonight with reading first

LET ME IN with THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

adamatdramatrain Flicks Superstar

Having seen and loved the FIRST fantastic film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's first book in the trilogy,I just have to ask, why the Hollywood remake? What's the point - especially so soon after the first? And it's set in Sweden too! Like, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN was a fabulous, moody new take on the vampire genre adapted from a great book - so why the almost instant US remake which was almost the same? LET ME IN was good and interesting for movie nuts and film students - but why remake the original so soon and so similar? Fincher is a brilliant director (SOCIAL NETWORK, FIGHT CLUB, SE7EN). Even his worst films (PANIC YAWN and BENJAMIN BUTT-CRACK) are technical marvels - precise and crafted cinematic gems. So, Fincher's TATTOO is a great movie - but based on the same source material as the original movie, this is nothing new or needed. The first film was excellent. Whay more does this add? Well, beautiful cinematography and a stunning soundtrack for sure; Rooney Mara is great as are most of the cast... but... why? If you enjoyed LET ME IN despite LET THE RIGHT ONE IN you'll love it. If you've not seen the Swedish version of DRAGON TATTOO - see this, but see the original film too. And if you've not read the book? Well, good for you! Darn literature! It's keeping people away from the cinema! Books should be banned! Only the other day I saw a kid READING (yes! reading!) HARRY POTTER!!! Doesn't she know how much cash goes into making movies?! Get your head out of books and go see the film, damn you! Anyway, hard to forget the first film (cos it was so bloomin recent!) so I couldn't help but compare and, ay, there's the rub! Anyway - I'm just off to remake THE ARTIST, in Swedish... but, silent...

Beautifull Film. A MUST see.

JayC4Shaw Flicks Superstar

WARNING: before reading my review please note that I haven't read the book first, nor have I watched the 2009 movie from Europe. Therefore my review is soley based on this film.

I love this film. It really draws your emotions, keeps you on edge and tests your ability to witness the most shocking and horrible of circumstances. This is great in a packed theater full of people who is just as shocked or horrified as you are in the most tragic parts. These tragic scenes are played really well: Rooney Mara is a STAR in the making, so well in fact, that you feel your vindication is totally justified when she reaps her revenge....

Star cast is brilliant however, some characters casting means the movie (if you haven't read the book or seen the other film) is quite predictable. BUT the twists and turns and the development of the key characters relationship: Lisbeth and Mikael, is such that makes this movie a must see by all. THE OPENING CREDITS are like a better done version of the James Bond opening credits. 5/5 stars.

extract from theaterofthecommonman.com

TheaterofCommon Flicks Superstar

There are many reasons to doubt the necessity of 2011's 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'. Afterall, I enjoyed Niels Arden Oplev 's Swedish adaption a great deal. To me there was seemingly no artistic need to reboot the film. Today however, I had a powerful lesson in the short comings of my own perception. David Fincher's adaption is near perfect. His film making style and directorial vision wholly supports the disturbingly dark world of investigative journalism. Both Oplev & Fincher were able to portray the gritty underbelly of Stieg Larson's imagination, though Fincher has been able to bring a refreshingly stylised intensity to the material, engaging us even closer into the murky detail.

Daniel Craig's portrayal of Mikael Blomkist, the disgraced journalist is strong, but is clearly overshadowed by our tattooed heroine Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). Rooney, who got her shot at the big time in 'The Social Network', is fully deserving of her return to Finchers Lens. Her role requires she bare almost all that she has to offer, and boy does she. Mara goes about her business with quite resolution despite the most human inner conflicts she would be experiencing. She fully deserves all that the acolations bestowed on her this awards season. If i had a casting vote in the academy it would go her way.

Thankfully the right people were at the helm of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', as with many that have gone before, it could have fallen into annals of cinematic history only to referred to as a needless remake. However, for me im satisfied. After a significant running time of 158mins I wasn't ready to leave. I would have happily slipped into the next film 'The Girl who played with Fire', in fact that's what I'm going to do now thanks to Niels Arden Oplev and his Swedish trilogy.

Brilliant in its own right

clararar Flicks Superstar

Having both read the books and seen the Swedish version of the film, I was ready to be disappointed by this Hollywood adaptation - but in the end, I came away pretty impressed, especially by Rooney Mara's performance. I'd agree with another reviewer that the film didn't really come into its own until the two protagonists were brought together, and the variation from the book plot when it came to Harriet's story was a surprise, but overall it was the perfect style and tone. For anyone looking for something other than your typical leave-your-brain-at-the-door flick, this one is perfect.

Out now on dvd/blu-ray

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) 2011

298 votes / 89 comments The Talk

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LET ME IN with THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

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Beautifull Film. A MUST see.

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extract from theaterofthecommonman.com

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Brilliant in its own right

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Close but no cigar.

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