Posts by hiddengardener10

Finished the book. It was decent enough. I’m a big fan of Amy Adams, so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation.

I’m genuinely curious about this book. I just can't seem to get myself started. But yeah, it’s basically an Americanized Die Hard variant, with Lisbeth acting as the Bruce figure.

Brandon Evans5 said:I thought the book was great, but it's so bogged down with technical data and IT innovation explanations. It’s hard to see how they could turn all that into a smooth, flowing thriller.

Just finished watching it. Since I haven't read the book, the plot felt a bit disjointed at times—too many details thrown at you all at once, some things overlapping. It's also a bit silly that the setting is New York City, yet everyone is speaking perfect English; you could see that coming. ☕

The film focuses almost entirely on Lisbeth. Mikael barely gets twenty minutes of screen time, which felt like a massive distraction. I'm not sure if the book follows that same imbalance.

The new Lisbeth is solid. And the actress playing her sister is excellent, too.

Three deleted scenes from the movie:

YouTube

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Actor Michael Nyqvist (who played Mikael Blomkvist) has passed away. He was 56. His family shared the news following a long battle with lung cancer, as reported by major US news outlets. 😢

The movie is a disaster. I can't believe how dull and lifeless everything felt, especially since they had so much source material to work with. I know people say that all the time, but this film just doesn't touch the book.

They really should have let the author handle the screenplay again; she did such an incredible job with GG. Some of the characters were so deeply developed in the novel—like Libby's mother or Ben—but here, they barely exist. You don't even get the sense that Ben is much of an outsider. Everything feels rushed, making it impossible to actually connect with anyone. The scenes fly by so fast that you never truly grasp what those "Dark Places" are supposed to represent. It’s monotonous, hollow, and frantic all at once.

Honestly, I'm just disappointed.

The torrent is live.

I really enjoyed this book. It actually surpassed Gone Girl for me; the pacing is relentless and there isn't a single dull moment.

I have a huge amount of respect for Charlize Theron, but I just can't picture her playing Libby based on how she's portrayed in the book:

I barely hit five feet—technically four-foot-ten, but I round up. I’m thirty-one. My freckles have faded and my teeth are straight now, but my nose is still prominent and my eyes are wide, like a newborn's. My hair is platinum blonde these days, though the red roots are showing through. In the late afternoon sun, it looked like my scalp was bleeding. It had this bloody look to it.

Let's see how they handled it on screen. 🍿

Fantastic movie! It’s been a long time since I laughed this hard. :klap:

But Stallone. 🙏 I watched the woman I love get tossed from a plane and hit by another plane mid-air. I drove a car off a freeway on top of a train while it was on fire. Not the car, I was on fire. 😂

Miranda is brilliant; it's a shame they didn't give her more screen time.

One of the better comedies out there.

I’m digging this thread out of retirement, purely because this soundtrack is incredible. Honestly, it might be the only thing worth watching in the entire movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljEXdJTb8GA

That theory just doesn't hold water for me. To me, those were nothing more than tabloid headlines designed to grab attention and sell papers. She was only ten when she was taken; I find it hard to believe she planned on running away from home. My sense is she had a good relationship with her father, but things were strained with her mother, who constantly pressured her about her weight.

She didn't spend all eight years locked in a basement cell, though she did during those first couple of years. Later on, he let her roam the house and even sleep in his room. He took her skiing once, and she helped him out with chores around the house.

I don't think you're a troll, but I'd like to clear a few things up—I don't feel like we've gone off-topic yet, at least not in my view.

analogpanther55, you're just speaking without looking at the facts. Her mother was once accused of being the mastermind behind a kidnapping, an allegation that was completely cleared.

Second, do you honestly believe she stayed there by choice? Please. She endured years of psychological and physical abuse. She was always kept in a weakened state because he would starve her. Naturally, she was terrified to make a move. So, those stories about how "he took her skiing, so she couldn't have run away" just don't sit right with me.

I remember thinking earlier that the father couldn't wrap his head around the idea that this kidnapper acted alone rather than having an accomplice.

I don't see why people wouldn't believe her.

How can her father not believe her? What specifically is he doubting? She was kidnapped, just like in the movie and the book—and a child actually witnessed it. 🤷

She didn't actually start out overweight. The book makes it clear he was starving her—purposefully keeping her portions tiny just to prevent any weight gain. He tracked every single bite she took. And if she stepped out of line? He’d leave her without food for days at a time, which was also shown in the movie. She entered the cell as a heavy woman, but she didn't stay that way. They really should have focused more on what was inside her cell. First, he brought her a radio, then much later a TV, which she used to binge-watch "Married... with Children".

The scene needed a lot more emotional depth.

I watched it, and while it isn't bad, the book is far superior—I’d definitely recommend sticking to the page. In my opinion, the adaptation should have leaned more heavily into her solo scenes in the cell. It needed to capture that psychological torture more effectively, specifically how she adapted to the conditions he imposed. I will say, though, the younger actress playing Natasha was excellent; she significantly outshone the older actress.

Emma Watson's performance as Nicki has received widespread critical acclaim, with some critics citing her as a potential Academy Award nominee.

😲😲😲😲 Out of that whole crew, I actually thought her character was the most mindless. 😕

I liked the lead, and that other character wasn't bad either. But honestly, the movie was a letdown. I expected something much more impactful. You know from the jump they end up in jail, and there isn't a single moment while watching that actually catches you off guard. It just follows one straight line from start to finish—then it's over. 🤷

My rating: 5/10

Just finished watching. Honestly? It didn't really hit the mark for me. It’s fine for a casual watch, but nothing that lingers in your mind once the credits roll. The cinematography is solid, but the character development felt thin. 🤷

I haven't watched it yet since I can't find any links anywhere, but I did read the book the movie was based on, and it’s excellent. 😁

She really was. For those first few years, he kept her completely locked up. Eventually, he let her move around the house, and there were even times she’d sleep in the same bed as him. But stepping foot outside? Forget it. He kept her trapped by convincing her that if she ever tried to run, a bomb would go off. They went skiing once, but she was too terrified to reach out for help—he’d made it clear he’d kill both her and anyone she turned to. Later on, she actually helped him navigate buying and selling real estate, even doing some of the handyman work for his properties. On the day she finally made her escape, she was helping him vacuum out the car. When his phone rang, he stepped away from the noise of the vacuum, and that was her window. She took it and ran.

The human mind is an incredibly complex thing. Trying to truly understand her or find empathy for her is a massive undertaking. It’s always easier to just point fingers and criticize. 🙄 She has been psychologically broken down for years, and it's going to take an immense amount of strength and effort to overcome the fallout of everything she's endured. That is, if she can ever truly find her way back to being "normal."