A Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

It can't be said enough that watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is what made me want to high-tail it up and read The Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. Something that almost never happens when it comes to book or movies that have tie-ins. There was this sense that I had stumbled on something amazing. A premise that offered something like a high-stakes mystery thriller with unforeseen consequences with oh, so human characters but with their own turmoils. I don't know there was just an air of intrigue.

And after all that. You can bet I was incredibly convinced that this film was a perfect rendition of the book's world. Trust me on this when it comes to books I am good with this. Part of the reason is due to me easily envisioning book universes pretty quickly.

Enough of that, though, why is it that I believe The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was brought to life so well by the 2011 film? Well other than the distinctly Swedish-like setting required from the books, we also have to take into account the often times sexually explicit content. And most of these times these are never pleasant. This is something the movie handles incredibly well, especially as Salander is about to get raped and the movie uses an interesting cinematographic technique, by cutting off. Leaving little to the imagination.

Image Credit: blackboxblue

The other stronger favor the movie does to The Millennium trilogy is the development of Salander and Blomkvist's relationship. It's much like the books will have you believe. Both familial and romantic. If there are any book to movie tie-ins this movie is one of the higher-end ones along with The Hunger Games films based off Suzane Collins's book series.

Image Credit: troysbucket

Standout Performances: Both actor Daniel Craig (Blomkvist) and Rooney Mara (Salander).