The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Boring

 1

Did anyone apart from me notice it was sub titled good or not less than two minutes in I was back on my mac. Good or not bored me stupid you go to the movies to watch a movie not read it. Crap.

By mike

One of the best movies of the decade

 5

Rivetting, powerful and refreshingly not predictable. The entire 2 1/2 hours is totally engaging as the many layers of the plot unfold. Whether you've read the book or not (I haven't and won't because what's the point in comparing?) the movie in itself is a brilliant union of crime, romance and a thriller. The cast is superb partly because they aren't dished up fresh from Hollywood and because they are fabulous actors. Yes - the movie does have disturbing violence in it but it's in the context of building the characters and depth to the story rather than gratuitous. Go and see it and be enthralled - but if screen violence disturbs you, stay away; it's not your type of movie.

By Marian

Still disturbed 2 weeks later!

 2

Is there really need for such explicit, brutal sex scenes in any movie? I watched this movie on a long haul flight having read wonderful reviews, can't tell you how distressed I felt. Guess I should have stayed home with a glass of milk and some dry bread!!!!

By Carol

Boffo movie version of Larsson book

 5

This movie deserves five and a half stars. It retains the essence of the original story; the actors are superb; and the direction/production is first class. I am glad it sold so well in Europe, because it won't do so good here in the US; the producers will surely go on with the trilogy. Finally, a note about all the violence: it's only pretend, no different from John Wayne's stuff.

By Barry Moranville

Digressions

 5

[this review contains spoilers]

Having read all three book, I, too, was fearful that a movie could not do this book justice. In fact, it is a very, very good adaptation. I have two criticisms, however.

There is too much unnecessary cigarette smoking. That may be a simple quibble.

More citically, I thought it was not at all necessary to add an important element to the death of Martin Vanger. In the book he deliberately drives into the oath of a truck and is killed instantly. In the movie, his SUV rolls and he survives the crash but is pinned in the wreckage. Salander is given the chance to help but deliberately does not and he burns to death. Not only that but she tells Blomqvist about it later. This seems an addition that adds a dimension detracting from the character of Salander. Larsson makes the distinction more clear in the third volume when Salander has the opportunity but does not immediately dispatch Niederman.

A genuinely absorbing story and adaptation.

By Hugh L Farrior`

Amazing

 5

I just watch this movie and it is amazing. I have not read the books yet but a friend rocommened this film to me and I have to say that it is just brillant, captivating and a total must see!!!

By Dayna

Must-see

 5

'nuff said, can't wait for next two installments

By Len

Loved it, loved it, loved it

 5

Having read the book I thought it was a really good adaptation - also meant I wasn't shocked by the violent scenes and knew payback was coming! I thought the girl who played Lisbeth was absolutely perfect. Fantastic! I really hope they don't ruin it with a Hollywood version, grrr.

By Patsy

Brilliant!

 5

Even though this film contained some nasty violent scenes I felt it balanced out by the "pay back". The story is so brilliant and really takes you for a ride. Loved it. More please!

By Ordell

NOT for the fainthearted

 4

I'm not normally a thriller film goer but I'd read all three Millennium books by the time I saw the film so didn't watch it as a 'who dunnit' more as a "how will they film it?" Mostly I think they did a great job with casting, setting and telling the story on screen.

Certain scenes are explicit.. the audience isn't spared a graphic rape scene, violent revenge and a sad gallery of mutilated women. Yes, these are horrific but perhaps that's the point. As with the book I wondered whether it was also exploitative but on balance think that we have enough emotional engagement with Salander to see her as more than a victim.

By Mindy

Outstanding!

 5

Fantastic film, excellent story, excellent acting - just brilliant!

By pj

The sensitive might prefer to stay at home with a glass of milk and a piece of dry bread

 4

Having read all 3 of the Millenium books I was very much looking forward to seeing the movie to see what they made of Larsson's set and characters, and equally cynical that they would not do it justice.
I should not have worried, the movie was very faithful to the book and the parts that were not did not affect the movie negatively.

The locations were stunning, but to be honest, I won't be visiting Sweden by choice any time soon. Brrr.

The casting of Lisbeth, Berger and others was just fantastic, so like how I'd pictured them in my mind. Blomkvist, not so much. He could not have been more insipid and un-engaging, which is a great shame, surely Sweden has some hottie dudes that could pass as a hard hitting jounalist?

I was glad to see that the story was not given the Hollywood airbrush treatment over the more graphic parts and will be giving the upcoming English version a big fat miss.

What I will not be missing is the next two installments. Can't wait.

By Kate

vicious rape scenes

Viewers should be warned this movie contains vicious and violent rape scenes. It is slick and cinematic, but that doesn't compensate for an tenuous storyline, featuring violent racist mysogynist serial killers, and an young outsider female lead who inexplicably chooses to become sexually involved with the middle-aged male journo. Maybe the author was exposing the mysogynistic undercurrents in Swedish society in the book, but the film uses sexual violence (mostly against women) as a backgrounder for a so called intelligent thriller.

By mR

awsome

 4

What a great story throughly enjoyed it. It followed the books as close as it could and the actress that played Lisbeth just as I had imagined. I shudder to think what Hollywood is going to do to it thou.

By curls40

Too upsetting to be enjoyable

I strongly agree with "Van" and "magyar" on this one. I was so shocked and upset by the sexual violence that i had to walk out. I can't believe more people weren't upset by it.

By Lotte

This movie spoilt my rare evening out.

I was looking forward to this fantastic thriller that everyone was talking about but was completely disappointed.
The rape scenes were so disturbing and made me feel so sick that I had to walk out. The woman in the ticket booth confessed she couldn't watch the whole movie either for the same reason.

I strongly believe the censor's rating does NOT match up with the level of violence.

Getting to the movies is such a rare treat for me so it's especially gutting that this one was not just a fizzer but one that I'll have difficulty forgetting for all the wrong reasons.

By Van

Awesome!

 5

Well, I'm from sweden and all the three movies are just great XD haha and it is so awesome that ppl around the world likes them as much as they do. Stieg larsson was one of the best writers through out history and his books are just amazing! And I don't think that Hollowood hould do their own adaption, :D

By Camille

Where Was the Censor?

No one notice the depravity & violence????

By magyar

a goodie

 4

wow! gets better as it goes along. good to see a mean as female hero for a change. riveting!

By noeline mcintosh

Awesome!

 5

This is a very well researched, clever movie. Not so intricate that you miss out if you blink but never a dull moment and, most of all, not predictable. Highly recommend!

By Maysa

swede as

 4

Blimey - Lisbeth Salander deserves her own TV series - chilly, cool and cruel up north allright.
A few cliches and neat plot tie-ups but quibbles aside, as good as prime suspect but more intriguing with swedish sites and sounds.

By keesh

Fantastic thriller

 5

Wonderful, gritty, suspenseful.
I haven't read the book though. I have a feeling that the original writer thought of some of the most scary things imaginable (sadism, leviticus murders, rape and violence against women, nazis) and decided to mix them.
Still, a good story. Really good direction, especially with some particularly gruesome subject matter. I particularly enjoyed a scene with old photographs. Great acting. Wonderful.

By Patricia

The best thriller in a long time!

 4

As adaptations go, this was rather good. However, I am aghast that Hollywood will be making an English version.

By Monty

EXHILLERATING

 5

Blimey what a craker of a film, best I've seen this summer by a mile, gosh those sweds do it well
anyway go see this film right now!

By gerty

Silence of the Swedes....

 5

So chilling it almost gave me frost bite. Such a shame that more people are not seeing this brilliant thriller.

By LGI

Fast paced but misses key points

 3

This would have been more enjoyable for me if I had not just finished the book.

The thing is had I not read the book it would seem a smart and quick paced story, however in reality they brushed straight past half of the finer details of the story as written.

In reality though even the most concise version of events they present here the film runs over two hours and does not waste a minute so guess it must have been near impossible not to drop key details.

Interesting also was that they introduced parts of the second book that aren't actually in the first one yet.

All in all pretty good who-dunnit flick though. Will be interesting to see what Hollywood does with the story as SONY have just picked up rights for English language version.

By Michael

A triumph

 5

Swedish, chilling, punchy, very smart, and totally captivating for its entire 147 minutes. Easily the best thriller we have seen for many many years.
It seems authors' from that part of the world (with the harsh winter) can write extraordinary tales just as Hans Christian Andersen did for children but take note, this movie is certainly no childrens' story!

By John

A MUST SEE THIS SUMMER

 5

My husband and I check this out at the previews, as an avid fan of the books I can say this film does the novel justice and is intelligent, gripping and brilliantly acted. Looking forward to the next one

By mr black

Outstanding!

 5

The best most intelligent crime thriller of the year. The first of the Millennium trilogy, can't for The Girl Who Played With Fire!

By Lucaskingofthedudes

Cleaver powerful film.

 4

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a smart crime film with creative interesting characters. Highly recommend a watch, then probably a second watch to understand it.

By Steve