Review of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009) by Bryan B — 18 Feb 2011

Based off the final novel of the Millennium Trilogy, we find our protagonist Lisabeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) recuperating in the hospital after the end of the second film. While she is no longer as suspect in the murders in the previous film, she must still go to trial for attacking her father, Alexander Zalachenko (Georgi Staykov). She is also trying to gain her independence and be declared legally competent. Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and the crew at Millennium magazine work to uncover the grand conspiracy against Lisabeth at the risk of their own lives.

Here's what was good about The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest:

1) Noomi Rapace: I said this for every Millennium film, but Noomi Rapace gives it her all, once again, as Lisabeth Salander. Even through most of the film she's confined in a hospital or a prison, she still gives a fantastic performance as Lisabeth.

2) Michael Nyqvist: Kudos also has to be given to Michael Nyqvist for his fantastic performance as "Kalle" Micke Blomkvist. He gives us with this performance the more obsessive side of Micke's personality, the need to get something done no matter what the cost.

3) Political thriller: the film, like the novel, blends courtroom drama and political thriller in an extremely unique fashion, and it worked extremely well, keeping me on the edge of my seat for the entire movie.

4) Least Graphic of the series: For those who were taken aback by the graphic nature of the first and second films, the third one is the most tame by comparison, although it still does have it's intense moments.

Here's what I didn't like about The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest:

1) Endings: Of course since it's the last book/movie of the series, the ending is always going to be the part under most scrutiny. I won't spoil it for you, but the ending of the film was just awkward, while the ending of the book felt more natural and not awkward int he slightest.

Minus the bad ending, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest is a satisfying conclusion to the Millennium film trilogy. Now we just have to wait for December when David Fincher gives us his take of the Millenium Trilogy.