Review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) by Sagaciousfrank . — 08 Oct 2016

I first watched the American (Fincher) adaptation about two years ago because it was going for cheap on Blu-Ray. Fincher is a competent director, but I wasn't overly impressed with that film. From what I remember (and it was all a bit forgettable come to think of it), it was all a bit vague, plodding, and disconnected - especially with regards to character and story development.

So, having recently spotted the Swedish version super cheap on Blu Ray, I naturally snapped it up and gave it a watch. I was surprised at how much better the Swedish version is in every single way. The story and characters are more engaging - the mystery of the crime itself is better told, and the characters are better portrayed, and this time around I actually felt a genuine bond between the two main leads, Lisbeth and Mickael.

This version also better depicts them tackling the crime together as a joint effort and team, and both Lisbeth and Mickael are fleshed out in more detail with their own personal problems.

In Fincher's version, Lisbeth is too cold, distant, and detached. In this version she is certainly odd, troubled, and somewhat disturbed, but she is also more warm and sympathetic. Likewise, I found Daniel Craig's Mickael to be a deadbeat nonentity who I almost couldn't care much about, but the Swedish Mickael is more spirited and likeable as a once respected journalist whose reputation and integrity appeared to have been compromised and future as a reporter in tatters.

I have not read the novel upon with both films are based, so I cannot say which one, if either, adheres more faithfully to the source material. What I can say is that if you not seen either version of the films, choose the Swedish version as it's incomparably superior to the American version in every single respect. 5/5.