The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)

I just finished devouring the first book in the Millennium Trilogy, so I decided to check out the movie today.
Of course, it doesn't quite hit the same way the book does—it rarely does—but if you aren't comparing it to the novel, it’s actually a pretty solid watch. Noomi is just incredible 🙏; she fits the role of Lisbeth so perfectly, and I thought they did a great job with Blomkvist, too.
I was kind of hoping they’d spend a little more time exploring the connection between Erika and Michael, but... nothing. 🤷That was a bit of a letdown for me, and honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of how it ended.
In the book, there's this one scene that really stuck with me where Lisbeth wants to get Michael an Elvis record for Christmas, but then she sees him at a cafe with Erika and just tosses the record straight into the trash.

All in all, the movie is decent—maybe a 7/10? I guess my rule of thumb is that I'll watch the movies as I work my way through the books. I'm actually pretty curious to see what happens in the second part of the trilogy and how they handle the adaptation. 🙂

The books are absolutely brilliant 👍, and when I realized all three films were streaming on Max, I was 🙂. I have to admit, I found the movies quite satisfying—especially the performances by Lisbeth and Michael. Honestly, the fact that they’re in 👍
doesn't bother me at all.

So, I binged the whole Millennium Trilogy this weekend, and honestly? It was totally worth the time.

Absolute masterpiece of a movie
The first one was easily my favorite, but honestly, the other two sequels hold their own too.

Caught it on ABC today... honestly, I'm stunned 🙂
I just watched it, and man, I am genuinely blown away... I haven't checked out that Hollywood remake yet, but I don't get why they even felt the need to make a new one? This original version is just top-tier. The acting feels so real, the tension is incredible... now I’m diving straight into the books so I can catch up with the rest of the trilogy...
Seriously, it’s been ages since I sat through a movie that long—like, two and a half hours—without constantly checking my watch to see how much longer I had to endure. They actually managed to pull me in. There were moments where I was tearing up, moments where I was just pissed off, parts that were totally revolting... but overall, just an amazing film! Honestly, what was the point of making a remake that everyone is obsessing over right now? You know, the one that'll probably sweep the Globes and the Oscars while this masterpiece stays in the shadows... but hey, that's just how it goes. Americans have to own everything, I guess ☕

The movie was great, though the Swedish parts were a bit of a headache. There were scenes shown on ABC where the subtitles just weren't there, or moments where they're reading stuff off a computer screen without any translation—so unless I’ve suddenly learned a new language, I have no clue what they're actually saying. :@

What do you mean? From what I can recall, they translated everything (well, most of those silent scenes, anyway)

I absolutely loved the movie. I haven't checked out the remake yet, and honestly, just like James Nguyen14 said, I didn't even realize it was running two and a half hours. I’m a total disaster when it comes to pacing—I'm always checking my watch to see how much longer I have to sit through. And man, I have to say, this is such a Fincher-esque style of filmmaking... while watching, I kept thinking about how he would have shot it his way, which actually makes me kind of excited for the American version (though, judging by the trailer, it doesn't look like a carbon copy). I'm really glad I watched it, and I'd definitely tell others to go see it.

This movie is killer! Like everyone else said, those final minutes have you absolutely glued to your seat. I’ve got zero complaints—it’s just one big puzzle piece clicking into place. Even that tight circle of characters didn't bother me. At first, I was like, "Wait, why is the scope so limited?" But once the story starts unfolding, you don't even notice. It just works.
I'm downloading the other two sequels right now. And a quick favor: please, for the love of God, stop posting about them in this thread. 🙂

rustywalker42 said:This movie is killer! Like everyone else said, those final minutes have you absolutely glued to your seat. I’ve got zero complaints—it’s just one big puzzle piece clicking into place. Even that tight circle of characters didn't bother me. At first, I was like, "Wait, why is the scope so limited?" But once the story starts unfolding, you don't even notice. It just works.
I'm downloading the other two sequels right now. And a quick favor: please, for the love of God, stop posting about them in this thread. 🙂

Hey, if you don't mind, could you shoot me a DM with that link you're using to download? I'm definitely gonna check it out as soon as I can... 🙂

I thought Noomi Rapace was absolutely incredible... honestly, she felt so real to me in every single part of the story. I am still a little tripped up on the plot details, though. Like, she set her dad's place on fire, but was her mom in the psych ward because of him or because of what happened...? So then Lisbeth basically went on a revenge mission against him...?
Honestly, I was totally caught off guard... she’s actually gorgeous. 😉

The movie does a much better job of following the novel's actual plot than the Hollywood version—and if you haven't read the book, you'll find it way easier to connect the dots watching the Swedish version. I caught a Fincher-esque adaptation in the theater a while back, then saw the Swedish one on ABC last night; the Hollywood version is certainly more spectacular, sure, but it leaves so many things completely murky, whereas the Swedish version doesn't. 😉

James Nguyen14 said:Hey, if you don't mind, could you shoot me a DM with that link you're using to download? I'm definitely gonna check it out as soon as I can... 🙂

I thought Noomi Rapace was absolutely incredible... honestly, she felt so real to me in every single part of the story. I am still a little tripped up on the plot details, though. Like, she set her dad's place on fire, but was her mom in the psych ward because of him or because of what happened...? So then Lisbeth basically went on a revenge mission against him...?
Honestly, I was totally caught off guard... she’s actually gorgeous. 😉

The second and third parts of the Millennium Trilogy deal with all of that and explain exactly why Lisbeth turned out the way she did. If you want, I can walk you through it, but I'd probably just end up spoiling the whole experience for you—whether you're watching the film or reading the book. 🙂

So, I finally sat down and watched that movie last night... mostly just because of all the massive hype surrounding the Millennium Trilogy. Honestly, I probably should have read the books first instead of jumping straight to the film version.
Now, I have absolutely zero motivation to pick up the book. I expected so much more from this.

It was overly commercialized, predictable, and felt incredibly derivative.
Everything about it was dialed up way too high. You’ve got the lead actress playing someone on the fringes of society—who, let's be real, is clearly portrayed as some sort of victim of abuse—mixed with a heavy dose of religious subtext (because apparently, if it isn't in the Bible, you can't solve anything), and of course, the inevitable Nazi references (as if Americans haven't dealt with enough of that already). Then there's the whole Sodom and Gomorrah vibe—maybe those cold, dark winter nights in the States get a little too intense for people—and it all wraps up with a happy ending, which is just classic Hollywood commercialism; she ends up beautiful and wealthy at the end.
On top of all that, they throw in a bit of investigative journalism, some courtroom drama, a few offshore accounts, African cartels, some random tattoos, and an excessive amount of Apple products.

I can't imagine myself ever sitting through the sequels.

😵

Sam Smith3 said:So, I finally sat down and watched that movie last night... mostly just because of all the massive hype surrounding the Millennium Trilogy. Honestly, I probably should have read the books first instead of jumping straight to the film version.
Now, I have absolutely zero motivation to pick up the book. I expected so much more from this.

It was overly commercialized, predictable, and felt incredibly derivative.
Everything about it was dialed up way too high. You’ve got the lead actress playing someone on the fringes of society—who, let's be real, is clearly portrayed as some sort of victim of abuse—mixed with a heavy dose of religious subtext (because apparently, if it isn't in the Bible, you can't solve anything), and of course, the inevitable Nazi references (as if Americans haven't dealt with enough of that already). Then there's the whole Sodom and Gomorrah vibe—maybe those cold, dark winter nights in the States get a little too intense for people—and it all wraps up with a happy ending, which is just classic Hollywood commercialism; she ends up beautiful and wealthy at the end.
On top of all that, they throw in a bit of investigative journalism, some courtroom drama, a few offshore accounts, African cartels, some random tattoos, and an excessive amount of Apple products.

I can't imagine myself ever sitting through the sequels.

😵

Well, if anyone actually follows your advice here, they'll miss out on what I consider a great movie. Basically, you're just caricaturing the whole thing.

I haven't sat through many films lately, though I have to say, you picked a brilliant time for this discussion. From what I managed to catch, it feels like two distinct narratives weaving together, slowly unearthing secrets buried decades ago. It creates this palpable sense of tension—like a coiled spring—that keeps you glued to the screen from the opening credits to the very end. As for the cast, Lisbeth was easily my favorite character.

Given all the massive hype surrounding this, I was honestly expecting a much better film. If the book is actually on par with this script, then God help the crime thriller genre.

Daniel Carter said:Given all the massive hype surrounding this, I was honestly expecting a much better film. If the book is actually on par with this script, then God help the crime thriller genre.

Exactly...after sitting through this American production, which feels like a somewhat pale imitation of a Fincher-esque style, I can only conclude that the original vision was far superior. This version just feels watered down, and honestly, I'm almost relieved they cut certain elements out because, really... does Lisbeth seriously have a living mother and isn't completely alone in the world? It feels like such a strange sense of déjà vu that just dilutes her entire character...and she ends up wealthy at the end????...Hollywood should be embarrassed by this kind of direction...😬

I haven't read the books myself, but looking at this, I'm starting to get the impression that they might be the work of a wannabe novelist who is actually just a calculated journalist at heart...

I watched it yesterday. Someone told me the original version was better than the one currently in theaters, so I figured I’d check that out first. It’s a decent crime thriller—nothing more, nothing less—but I don't really get the hype. The plot is interesting enough and the acting is fine, but it’s all so predictable: happy endings where the bad guy dies, the dead girl isn't actually dead, he gets out of prison, she steals the money, the evil corporation goes bust... blah blah blah. It’s all been done before. Overall, it's worth a watch, but there's nothing special about it that makes me want to dive into the sequels or pick up the book. I might give the American version a shot eventually, if only for Craig and that little Rooney everyone keeps raving about.
I mean, look, it's an okay movie, but it definitely didn't leave me with that "wow" factor I was expecting, especially considering how much buzz there is right now.

I finally sat down to watch it yesterday after finishing the books—well, I’m actually still working my way through the third one right now. Even though I already knew the basic plot, I wasn't bored for a single second. They did such a fantastic job adapting the source material... the atmosphere was exactly what I had pictured while I was reading. Honestly, I loved everything about it 🙂
As for a happy ending? Yeah, don't hold your breath. In the sequels—which feel much more like complex political and journalistic thrillers compared to this first installment's classic crime vibe—things only get significantly more complicated.

Daniel Carter said:Given all the massive hype surrounding this, I was honestly expecting a much better film. If the book is actually on par with this script, then God help the crime thriller genre.

What, you weren't even glued to your seat? You already knew who the killer was from the jump? 🙂

wanderingbison9 said:Exactly...after sitting through this American production, which feels like a somewhat pale imitation of a Fincher-esque style, I can only conclude that the original vision was far superior. This version just feels watered down, and honestly, I'm almost relieved they cut certain elements out because, really... does Lisbeth seriously have a living mother and isn't completely alone in the world? It feels like such a strange sense of déjà vu that just dilutes her entire character...and she ends up wealthy at the end????...Hollywood should be embarrassed by this kind of direction...😬

I haven't read the books myself, but looking at this, I'm starting to get the impression that they might be the work of a wannabe novelist who is actually just a calculated journalist at heart...

Lisa Miller9 said:I watched it yesterday. Someone told me the original version was better than the one currently in theaters, so I figured I’d check that out first. It’s a decent crime thriller—nothing more, nothing less—but I don't really get the hype. The plot is interesting enough and the acting is fine, but it’s all so predictable: happy endings where the bad guy dies, the dead girl isn't actually dead, he gets out of prison, she steals the money, the evil corporation goes bust... blah blah blah. It’s all been done before. Overall, it's worth a watch, but there's nothing special about it that makes me want to dive into the sequels or pick up the book. I might give the American version a shot eventually, if only for Craig and that little Rooney everyone keeps raving about.
I mean, look, it's an okay movie, but it definitely didn't leave me with that "wow" factor I was expecting, especially considering how much buzz there is right now.

I don't get why people judge a movie solely based on the hype. It’s like some people are just itching to trash a film just to prove they aren't part of the mindless bandwagon. And don't even get me started on the complaints about the happy ending. Given everything she went through? How is that even considered "happy"? What did she actually gain? I swear, everyone would be so much more satisfied if the protagonist had been brutally murdered instead. Then suddenly, it’s a "masterpiece," right? Because apparently, in the real world, happy endings just don't exist. 🙄

Look, can we please stop talking about sequels here? Not everyone has finished all three books yet!

rustywalker42 said:What, you weren't even glued to your seat? You already knew who the killer was from the jump? 🙂

I don't get why people judge a movie solely based on the hype. It’s like some people are just itching to trash a film just to prove they aren't part of the mindless bandwagon. And don't even get me started on the complaints about the happy ending. Given everything she went through? How is that even considered "happy"? What did she actually gain? I swear, everyone would be so much more satisfied if the protagonist had been brutally murdered instead. Then suddenly, it’s a "masterpiece," right? Because apparently, in the real world, happy endings just don't exist. 🙄

Look, can we please stop talking about sequels here? Not everyone has finished all three books yet!

As far as I'm concerned, when I mentioned the hype, I meant that I wouldn't have even picked up the book or watched the movie if it weren't so famous, simply because this isn't really my genre. People talk about these films and review them as absolute masterpieces and whatever else, but I'm just stating my opinion: they aren't that for me. This version I saw didn't exactly blow my mind. Look, it's a good movie, but I'm not exactly putting it in the all-time greats category.
Besides, what does it even mean to "judge a movie against the hype"? The hype exists because critics and audiences praised it so much that a viewer goes in expecting a flawless masterpiece, not to mention the massive marketing machine behind it. I'm not trying to sound smart; I'm just giving my impression, which is that nothing about it particularly wowed me.
Regarding the "happy" ending—it's just trash. There's no other word for it. I'm talking about the first movie since I haven't seen the others or read the books yet. Once I watch the full trilogy, maybe my opinion will change.
Obviously, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Sure, the girl is still struggling, but you can't deny that every single situation resolved in the best possible way. Like I said before: that corporation that framed the journalist is collapsing, a sadistic killer gets trapped in a burning car, the girl becomes a high-society type hacking accounts in the Cayman Islands or wherever, and the writer starts writing again despite telling his boss at the beginning that he was totally blocked... The only thing missing is for a cat to show up at the writer's door, jump into his arms, and they both ride off into the sunset. 🙄

Lisa Miller9 said:As far as I'm concerned, when I mentioned the hype, I meant that I wouldn't have even picked up the book or watched the movie if it weren't so famous, simply because this isn't really my genre. People talk about these films and review them as absolute masterpieces and whatever else, but I'm just stating my opinion: they aren't that for me. This version I saw didn't exactly blow my mind. Look, it's a good movie, but I'm not exactly putting it in the all-time greats category.
Besides, what does it even mean to "judge a movie against the hype"? The hype exists because critics and audiences praised it so much that a viewer goes in expecting a flawless masterpiece, not to mention the massive marketing machine behind it. I'm not trying to sound smart; I'm just giving my impression, which is that nothing about it particularly wowed me.
Regarding the "happy" ending—it's just trash. There's no other word for it. I'm talking about the first movie since I haven't seen the others or read the books yet. Once I watch the full trilogy, maybe my opinion will change.
Obviously, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Sure, the girl is still struggling, but you can't deny that every single situation resolved in the best possible way. Like I said before: that corporation that framed the journalist is collapsing, a sadistic killer gets trapped in a burning car, the girl becomes a high-society type hacking accounts in the Cayman Islands or wherever, and the writer starts writing again despite telling his boss at the beginning that he was totally blocked... The only thing missing is for a cat to show up at the writer's door, jump into his arms, and they both ride off into the sunset. 🙄

That’s exactly my point. You’re letting all that movie hype cloud your judgment. Now you're attacking the film for completely the wrong reasons—I already told you that in my last post.

I’m not trying to act like an expert here. I’m just giving you my honest take: nothing about that movie actually blew me away.
As for "happy"... honestly? It just sucks. I don't even have the words for it. I'm only talking about the first movie since I haven't seen the others or read the books yet. Maybe my mind will change once I actually sit down and watch the whole trilogy, who knows?
Look, obviously it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Sure, she’s still going through hell. But you can't deny that every single situation got resolved the best way possible. Like I said before: that corporation that framed the journalist? They're circling the drain. That sadistic killer gets trapped in a burning car. She transforms into this high-society lady who hacks bank accounts in the Cayman Islands—or wherever. And the writer actually starts writing again, even though he was telling his editor at the start that he was totally blocked. The only thing missing is for a cat to show up at his door, jump into his arms, and they all ride off into the sunset together. 🙄

Alright, let me quote myself again:

First off, I’m looking at how everyone’s trashing that "happy ending." Happy? Give me a break. Given everything she went through, what exactly was happy about it? What did she actually gain from all that? It’s like people think a movie only counts as "art" if the protagonist gets brutally murdered. Is that the standard now? Does a story need a bloodbath to be taken seriously? Apparently, some people think real life doesn't have happy endings, so why should movies? 🙄

Believe it or not, folks, corporations crumble, sadistic killers get what's coming to them, and people who’ve been through hell actually make it.