The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Excellent

Great book

This is truly the case where a movie is better than the novel on which it is based. Stieg Larsson's novel is complex, wanders, has whole lines of drama that don't add to the story (Erika taking a job at another publication is a prime example). It is still a fine work, but pretty tough to read in places (I sometimes skipped whole scenes involving the unraveling of the conspiracy by the small unit that ended up overseeing Zalachenko).In the movie, the story line about the governmental unit that ended up protecting and working with Zalachenko is much cleaner. So, too, the powerful trial scene. In the book, the trial scene is long, Salander's attorney appears to me to be given way too much latitude, Teleborian's testimony seems interminable. The movie tightens this up considerably--without compromising the power as the scene concludes in the novel.In short, a satisfying conclusion to a powerful trilogy of movies (originally conceived as a TV series). Noomi Rapace continues her extraordinary run as Lisbeth Salander. She even smiles broadly! Of course, in character, it is when she learns that her father, Zalachenko, has been killed. Kind of chilling as you watch the scene play out. She also features a handful of "crooked smiles," as Larsson describes them in the novels. The team at Millennium, led by Erika Berger and Mickael Blomkvist, work to exonerate Salander and speak to the misuse of government power used to throw her into a mental institution when she was 12.Her final confrontation with her half brother is very much in keeping with the novel and quite satisfying, including how she takes care of the motorcycle gang while using them for her purposes of vengeance. Well done indeed! Other highlights: Salander's use of her handheld to access the Internet while in the hospital, Plague's taking on a more central role (a rather unlikely "hero"), Salander's neo-Rocky sequence in which she exercises while in prison, her play acting in the trial as she Goths out (or whatever the term is), her final meeting with Blomkvist as the movie closes (I think the novel's ending was superior). Other pluses: Blomkvist's sister's role as Salander's defense attorney; Teleborian's demise; the more complete picture of Erika's and Mikael's relationship.The movie is long, coming in at about 2 1/2 hours, but it doesn't seem to drag. There is not always a lot of action, but the story line seems to move ahead quite nicely. This movie, also, suffers less than the first two for not providing key information (How would one know that Palmgren, in "The Girl Who Played with Fire," was her former guardian before the evil Bjurman?).At any rate a most convincing conclusion to the Millennium trilogy. And, alas, unless the partially written fourth novel by Larsson as he died before completion can be filled out and made to work, this is the last we shall see of Salander and Blomkvist and the full cast of characters.

I just watched this movie and this movie blew me away with its faithful and suspenseful adaptation of the last novel in Stieg Larsson's Trilogy. Noomi Rapace is simply riveting and outstanding in her definitive portrayal of Lisbeth Salander -- there's no way a remake can match her searing & intense performance. Lisbeth Salander is confined to her hospital room or cell in the first part of the movie -- she does not express herself verbally but by the way she looks at people. Lisbeth Salander is a very interesting character whom the audience roots for because she is an extremely capable young woman who is a strong fighter and survivor. She cares about and fights for justice to be meted out to those who abuse women. She went through so much crap and mistreatment at the hands of authority figures in her life, but she is able to overcome all these difficulties due to her intelligence, resourcefulness, and capabilities. We come to understand her antisocial behavior. In this film, we get to see more of a glimpse into the relationships that Lisbeth develops with those people who come to her aid and who genuinely care about her well-being. This movie is appealing because it talks about healing from abuse and oppression and the fight for seeing justice being carried out.Daniel Alfredson did a great job of faithfully adapting the book to film. Even though I knew the outcome by reading the novel, I was riveted to the screen; this movie was very suspenseful and dramatic. A lot of things in the book are portrayed and explained -- more details of Lisbeth's ordeal at age 12 in the St. Stephen's Psychiatric Ward under the care of Peter Teleborian, what happens to Lisbeth as she's recovering from the wounds she suffered in "The Girl Who Played with Fire", Mikhel Blomkvist's (and the staff at Millennium) effort to publish Lisbeth's side of the story, what happens to Zalachenko/ Zalachenko's ties to the section in the Swedish government and their effort to bring down Lisbeth, a glimpse of the key people that come to Lisbeth's aid, the pivotal courtroom trial where Giannini (Mikhel's sister) ably defends Lisbeth, and what happens to Lisbeth's brother. Suffice it to say, that this film, like the book, ties up all the loose ends of the Trilogy into a very satisfying conclusion.The section in the book which I wanted to see the most portrayed in the film was the dramatic courtroom trial -- the book devotes several chapters in great detail to this trial and the film does a great job of portraying the essential aspects of the trial and its outcome.I felt this third part of the Trilogy was just as good if not better than the first one, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. You'll watch this movie and cheer. Very satisfying and highly recommended!DVD Features:Sadly, the DVD features are meager. The only bonus features are the English language dub track and a theatrical trailer, nothing else. I wished there were featurettes and commentary to the movie, but there are none.

This is a fantastic foreign film. When I found it was in Swedish I didn't care to watch it, but after talking to a few individuals who thought highly of the novel I thought about it. It also received great reviews from several critics. Overall this is a great crime film and it's not like typical crime or mystery stories. The story is well written, the actors are well-chosen for the characters and the quality of the film is terrific.I would recommend this film for anyone and I have doubts that the upcoming Hollywood version (to be released in 2011) will be anywhere near as great given the cast that has been chosen. I would recommend watching the original Swedish version.

Item shipped promplty and was received in good condition.I've read the trilogy before watching the movies. and it made the understanding of a few scenes easier.Good sweedish littérature and movies. I recommend both.The movies feature mostly ordinary looking people and not much strikingly handsome stars.Plot is elaborated, there is action, suspense, some unlikely twists and turns, the heroes suffer and the villains finally get it.To watch it in Sweedish with English subtitles provides an exotic ambiance.

Good

I highly recommend the Swedish version over the American. Yeah, it has subtitles, but you're reading this, right? This is the third in the series and although I like Rooney Mara, Noomi Rapace has more grit and this role needs it.

Excellent movie. Arrived in excellent condition. Fast shipping from dealer.