37 minutes in I realised I was not watching Fincher’s remake. The fact that was in Swedish didn’t ring a bell, apparently.

It has three main advantages over the American version:

1. It doesn't try to convince us that people with British accents are Swedish.

2. Lisbeth has better eyebrows.

3. It actually connects Lisbeth to Mikael slightly better, narratively.

But only a little bit. Mostly it retains the same storytelling flaws, the disjointedness of the narrative, the lack of exploration/connection of the Nazis thematically to the modern problems of the system and the class character of the Vangers, and the underplaying of Lisbeth's queerness.

"He wasn't a victim. He was an evil motherfucker who hated women." ~ Lisbeth

If I had seen this before the 2011 David Fincher remake, I'd probably rate it higher. Noomi Rapace's portrayal of Lisbeth Salandar is a cut above Rooney Mara's. She's darker, crazier, sexier and altogether more the star of this than Mara was in her version. I felt Michael Nyqvist as journalist Mikael Blomkvist was more vulnerable and therefore a bit more believable than Daniel Craig in the part, too. Also, I may be wrong, but it seems this story was a bit fuller than the later production, and certainly the ending gives us a lot more interest in seeing the two follow-up films that are part of the "Millennium Trilogy." Kudos to director Niels Arden Oplev for his BAFTA win (Best Film not in the English Language). Well deserved.

damn, that Swedish prison looked more welcoming than my uni accommodation

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is a tense and gripping thriller that, in my opinion, slightly surpasses Fincher's remake. Maybe it's the colder, more realistic atmosphere, but this version left a stronger impression on me. The story starts off relatively simple: a disgraced journalist and a brilliant but troubled hacker team up to investigate an old missing person case. But as the film progresses, the mystery deepens, turning into something far darker, filled with family secrets, hidden truths, and disturbing violence. The film doesn’t shy away from difficult topics like abuse, misogyny, and the corrupting power of certain social dynamics. The acting is flawless, every actor brings their character to life with great authenticity. The direction doesn’t rely on flashy effects but focuses on substance, and it works perfectly. It’s a raw, intelligent, and compelling movie, in my opinion it's one of the best thrillers of the last 20 years.

I've never seen someone taking "wash your mouth out with soap" so literal

There are elements that I prefer in Fincher's remake and elements that I prefer here, but ultimately, I just really love this story! I loved the book, I loved the two adaptations I've seen and while this lacks some of Fincher's directorial pizazz, this is definitely the more book accurate version. If that interests you. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest.

My Last Review: | Sherlock: The Reichenbach Fall |

Noomi Rapace is my Lisbeth Salander.

A seemingly long ride, but a satisfying one.
A fine mystery-thriller that has a few good surprises.