THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO: MOVIE REVIEW

“ The Girl with Dragon Tattoo ” with its dark themes and graphic scenes of sexual assault, violence and nudity has earned five Academy Award nominations, notably for Best Actress (Rooney Mara), Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.

Ok, let's go to the bottom line. Is "The Girl with Dragon Tattoo" a good movie? or to those who was able to watch the original Swedish movie, how was it?

Well to start off, Rooney Mara certainly did a good job in portraying Lisbeth Salander, just as how Noomi Rapace did on the original movie. (Noomi is the girl from Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows). Although both Lisbeth performed well, to some there is a crucial difference. Noomi projected Lisbeth with focused anger setting her place, while Roony's Lisbeth was quite alienated and sometimes bummed.

Yes the movie is very graphic with violence and nudity, and I thank MTRCB for their open mindedness in approving the movie without cuts. Anyways, the movie, or should I say the story had good pieces in it to work on, with the paradise like place, you'd be shocked of discovering the dark side of it - The Nazis, the perverts, the serial killer and threats to journalism. The story is a hunt and chase of investigating on a mystery case that happened years back. The case was exciting and how they are able to find clues was engaging.

The remake I couldn't say was bad. It did had a great cast. Rooney Mara has been nominated for an Oscar for the title role, Daniel Craig as the journalist, Christophe Plummer, Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgard, Joely Richardson and Steven Berkoff.

I watched the original Swedish movie more than a year back and it is kind of blurry, but ill watch it again for me to properly compare the two. All I know with this one is that with this Hollywood remake, PRODUCTION VALUES are definitely up, good BEATS was provided and great STUNTS. So far those are the things that definitely changed (or as far as I can remember). The pace was the same, the adaptation changed a little.

Again, we go back to how Mara portrayed the role. Owned by the state, a punk covered in tattoos and piercing, and stealing data online. Still we will not forget Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander in the original film. Love how it was directed by David Fincher, and the screenwriter Steven Zaillian showing sexual and romantic side to the two mismatched personalities, Blomqvist/Salandar relationship. The whole of it as some might say is very Hollywood and yes I couldn't argue. Well, I couldn't say that it is not an entertaining film and engrossing, but it certainly is a good one.

The whole "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is a great remake and I would certainly recommend it, high quality craftsmanship, kick ass heroine, great mystery but somehow lacks the spark that it has with the original movie. (That is just my opinion). But definitely, this adaptation is big, it's graphic, jolting, sex and violence and sexual violence, and I am not complaining. It is a gritty, eye-opening thriller and I recommend it. Really nice.

I give the movie 5 out of 5. Because I love the original and love the adaptation. Love the production and the edgy sounds in the movie. Love that it is Rated 18 by MTRCB without cuts.