Post by Boomzilla on Nov 11, 2012 15:35:26 GMT -5
This is a 3-fer:
(Swedish versions with dubbed English soundtrack)
5 out of 5 stars for the series
The “American” versions of the second two films are still under development with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, but the Swedish originals are well worth seeing. This series is based on the book trilogy by Stieg Larsson.
The multiple, swirling plots of the books are well-captured by the movies, but perhaps too much so for viewers who are not familiar with those plots. Keeping track of “who’s who” during the movies is quite an effort on first viewing.
Some familiarity with the Swedish system of “Advocates” for the mentally ill and the Swedish court’s jurisprudence is needed to understand the films.
For example, once a person is declared incompetent by the courts of Sweden, an Advocate is appointed for them. The Advocate is in charge of their lives until the person is declared competent again by the courts.
During the time that the Advocate is responsible, every aspect of their charges' lives becomes the responsibility of the Advocate. The Advocate can allow or prevent their charges from taking a specific job, spending their own money, living in a specific location, etc.
This relationship is not spelled out in the films, and without this background knowledge, the plot rapidly becomes incomprehensible. Because the films were intended for domestic audiences in Sweden, the plots assume such familiarities and don’t clearly explain the “whys” of certain circumstances.
Exceptional performances by Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist dominate the films and build to breathtaking dramatic climaxes.
Much of the violence in the film is graphic and profoundly uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it is necessary to the plot line. I'll not give away the plot, but just say that if you can deal with the adult situations and the violence, the films are not to be missed - cinema at its best!
Boomzilla
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
- The Girl Who Played With Fire
- The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest
(Swedish versions with dubbed English soundtrack)
5 out of 5 stars for the series
The “American” versions of the second two films are still under development with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, but the Swedish originals are well worth seeing. This series is based on the book trilogy by Stieg Larsson.
The multiple, swirling plots of the books are well-captured by the movies, but perhaps too much so for viewers who are not familiar with those plots. Keeping track of “who’s who” during the movies is quite an effort on first viewing.
Some familiarity with the Swedish system of “Advocates” for the mentally ill and the Swedish court’s jurisprudence is needed to understand the films.
For example, once a person is declared incompetent by the courts of Sweden, an Advocate is appointed for them. The Advocate is in charge of their lives until the person is declared competent again by the courts.
During the time that the Advocate is responsible, every aspect of their charges' lives becomes the responsibility of the Advocate. The Advocate can allow or prevent their charges from taking a specific job, spending their own money, living in a specific location, etc.
This relationship is not spelled out in the films, and without this background knowledge, the plot rapidly becomes incomprehensible. Because the films were intended for domestic audiences in Sweden, the plots assume such familiarities and don’t clearly explain the “whys” of certain circumstances.
Exceptional performances by Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist dominate the films and build to breathtaking dramatic climaxes.
Much of the violence in the film is graphic and profoundly uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it is necessary to the plot line. I'll not give away the plot, but just say that if you can deal with the adult situations and the violence, the films are not to be missed - cinema at its best!
Boomzilla
American remake of the first is, well, really pretty much a different movie and not nearly as good as the original. IMO, anyway.