Image source: Wikimedia

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Year of release: 2011
Director: David Fincher
Writers: Steven Zaillian (screenplay), Stieg Larsson (novel)
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, etc.

For more information on “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

General impression:
It’s a good movie and all, but it made me wonder if it really was necessary. So I watched the Swedish trilogy. I was satisfied with the original version, but the potential of the story needed a little bit of Hollywood’s magic touch here and there in order to appeal to a larger public. For example, Daniel Craig is a much fitter Mikael Blomkvist than Michael Nyqvist, the actor who plays the part in the Swedish production – the essential difference lies in the number of gym hours each of the two actors invested in their looks. In Hollywood movies the standards for journalists are more rigid – not only do they have to be smart, but they must also look nice and fit. Hollywood puts the saying “mens sana in corpore sano” on steroids 🙂 Jokes, fat and muscles aside, like the Swedish original, the American remake is worth watching. What I like most about this first story, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, is that it brings a few interesting facts into light: 1. belonging to a wealthy influential family is not a guarantee for happiness; 2. if there’s a will, there’s a way, especially when you have the resources; 3. social status, profession, wealth, etc. are irrelevant – if a predator perceives himself in a superior position, he will abuse the defenseless who’s dependent on him. Let’s keep it evasive, or I’ll spoil it.

Highlights:
Everybody falls nicely and with talent in their role. Including the director.

Downside:
Emotions are negative. But it’s the story itself, not the movie.

Would I see it again? – Someday, maybe, but I’m more interested in the sequels 🙂

My Rating (1 to 10): 8.5

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
You can watch both versions of this movie – neither is disappointing. They are just different.