The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/), The Girl who played with Fire (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1216487/) and The Girl who kicked the Hornets Nest trilogy of books must already be known to anyone who has walked past a Waterstones or been to Amazon.com. They are all over the best seller lists.
But the movie of the first book is out on DVD and the second releases in the cinema today. They books are excellent and the films are likewise outstanding. Rather than write a review myself (I'm lazy) I suggest you go read the mighty Roger Ebert (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20100317%2FREVIEWS%2F100319981%2F1023&AID1=%2F20100317%2FREVIEWS%2F100319981%2F1023&AID2=). Make sure you catch the original Swedish films before Hollywood grab them and butcher them for a mainstream English speaking audience. (remembers La Femme Nikita and the dreadful The Assassin :sad: ). The remake of the Dragon Tattoo is already in pre-production. The remake may well turn out to be a great film but Hollywoods record on remaking existing foreign language films is not good. :sad:
Quote from: smilodon;315448Hollywoods record on remaking existing foreign language films is not good. :sad:
Taxi. 'Nuff said :(
Smilo mentioned this trilogy to me when we met up not that long ago and I bought the first book, then went out the next day and bought the next two as well to complete the trilogy. Bluray bought today, will watch tonight.
The books are absolutely excellent - thoroughly recommended.
I picked up the girl with the dragon tatoo during the last LAN, and I LOVED IT, I've orderd fire and hornets nest too, they will be read as soon as I finish my Japanese Culture book.
can't wait for the movie (I will no doubt be disapointed after an excellent read, as always, but still I want to see the images and ideas the scriptwriters etc had while reading the book themselfs).
cast can be found here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568346/
Will have Daniel Craig
That's the remake for the usa a movie.
I have to say shouldn't be made when the original is soo amazing. Very dark and disturbing in places. But because it is subtitled it has to be rehashed by Hollywood.
As an update, I think it was the best trilogy I've readen so far. Absolutely loved it, and will read again.
I have seen a part of the origional movie on ZDF and I wasn't really impressed. So I think I will actually wait for the Hollywood release.
I agree. I watched the Swedish version and thought it was really superb. Bizarrely I can't remember if it was subtitled or dubbed. I think it was dubbed but either way I don't recall it being detrimental.
I'm not sure about the casting for the USA version, some of the characters seem a bit strangely cast imho.
Quote from: Penfold;320999I agree. I watched the Swedish version and thought it was really superb. Bizarrely I can't remember if it was subtitled or dubbed. I think it was dubbed but either way I don't recall it being detrimental.
Big shout of agreement from me too, superb. Certainly the bluray offers the choice of dub or sub-titled, I watched it both ways and seem to recall I preferred the sub-titled route for these films, the dubbed just did not sound quite right.
As Lumi said though, the books are a simply stunning trilogy and well worth the price. The fact that the manuscripts for the whole trilogy were delivered as a completed whole makes me wonder what gems we are missing Stieg Larsson's death at the age of 50. I know he was already a published author and known journalist, but the impact of this trilogy has to be one of the biggest things in the book world since someone like Grisham came onto the scene and had his run of bestseller books (and burnt out quickly thereafter).
The second film is out on DVD and while it's good it's not quite as good as the first film. The third film had it's (limited) cinema run recently but I missed it and will have to wait for it to hit on Blue Ray.
Looking at the cast for the Hollywood movie I'm hopeful it won't be a disaster. There are some seriously good actors in there (Plummer, Skarsgard and Daniel Craig) and I'm a fan of the director (Fincher), who I think will at least try to use his source material well rather than go for helicopters and car chases etc. I've never heard of Rooney Mara though and she will need to carry most of the film.
Agreed, 2nd film not as good. Like you though I will get the 3rd on bluray when it comes out to complete the collection.
Fingers crossed for the US version, let's hope it is not a special effects film as that would ruin it.
Quote from: smilodon;321020The second film is out on DVD and while it's good it's not quite as good as the first film. The third film had it's (limited) cinema run recently but I missed it and will have to wait for it to hit on Blue Ray.
Looking at the cast for the Hollywood movie I'm hopeful it won't be a disaster. There are some seriously good actors in there (Plummer, Skarsgard and Daniel Craig) and I'm a fan of the director (Fincher), who I think will at least try to use his source material well rather than go for helicopters and car chases etc. I've never heard of Rooney Mara though and she will need to carry most of the film.
Yes but I'm serioulsy struggling with Daniel Craig as Blomqvist. I just can't see him playing that tortured intellectual role but oh well we shall but see.
My main issues with it being remade is that it is Hollywood being lazy, stifling the talent in the original. Would love to see more original IP come out of them.
Here's a couple of reasons why I think the Hollywood film might work. Also the comments might be a tiny bit spoilery so please note.
First the film is being shot in Sweden, mainly in Upsalla, where the book is largely set and where the original Swedish film was shot. That's a huge plus for the Hollywood version as it suggests they're trying to actually make a film of the book rather than just a cash in.
Second the Director David Fincher hasn't directed any Hollywood money films to date. Everything he's directed have been 'proper' films, (Fight Club, Se7en, The Game, Zodiac).
Steve Zallian the screenwriter and one of the producers has also not made anything too dreadful. He wrote the screen plays for A Class Action, Awakenings, Gangs of New York and Schindlers List. OK he also did Mission Impossible and Clear and Present Danger but neither of those films was dreadful although they were both 'Blockbuster' type films.
Scott Rudin, the main producer has also made some decent stuff, Sleepy Hollow, Zoolander, The Truman Show, No Country for Old Men, There will be Blood, Revolutionary Road and the new True Grit which has had some great reviews,
So the crew list is looking pretty good at least. Even so there isn't any need to remake this film. However seeing as it's going to happen I'm hopeful it will be a decent film and worth a watch for those of us who love the books and the original film.
Having watched the original swedish film a few weeks back on doovd I happened across this earlier -
[video=youtube_share;DqQe3OrsMKI]http://youtu.be/DqQe3OrsMKI[/video]
The music is done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Rose and is very very good :)
While a remake isn't really necessary there's nothing so far that says this won't be a success. The trailer just adds to that feeling
To be honest, If I wasn't already intrigued by the books so much, the trailer would not have spiked my interest that much.
It's quite boring, and it feels like they are trying to overcompensate. Now the fact that it takes them 4 minutes to true to convince you is lame as it is, but thats partly besides my point.
I hope the movie will be better then the trailer. I will watch it, hope they stay close to the book.
The characters in the movie, do and at the same time totally don't match the ones I created in my head, will be nice to see them on screen and weight them against my own :)
will be interested to hear opinions on this film vs the older ones
Get the book free. (http://dragontattoo-bookoffer.co.uk/)
3,760 left :thumb:
And......... they're all gone!
So Marduk and I went to the movies last night, pre-premier of The girl with the dragon tattoo.
I have never seen a movie, where they followed the book to the letter!
Loved it, well it's quite a graphical movie, some parts a bit too much, but loved it nonetheless.
Imo the acting was great, the thrill and excitement, even though I read the books, were completely back, 9/10 for me.
Even though it's only half of Jan, I nominate it for the best movie of 2012, doubt there will be many better ones, so it might just become it too (at least in my opinion).
I loved the books. I just wish Hollywood would have waited a bit more with their adaptation, if they just had to do one. The last original film came out not that long ago. That's totally stealing their thunder. How could the people with the rights to the story (is it the authors wife?) sell them to two productions in such short order? Does anyone know? Maybe they were dissatisfied with the first film? Or the production company couldn't hold on to the rights because of a too high price tag? I just think it's strange.
I imagine the first Swedish company didn't get exclusive rights to make the films. I think Lord of the Rings is the same.Ppeter Jackson was allowed to make the films but in theory anyone else could remake them again if they wanted to and had the money. It would be maddness obviously. On the other hand J.K Rowling sold exclusive rights to the Harry potter books to Time Warner. So no one can make those films again and she was able to have complete script approval over the movies. She also got other consessions like having Warne agree to filming in the Uk, with an all British cast etc.
went to see this latest one at the weekend having not seen the others or read the books i thought it was a very good film but the ending was overplayed.
Finally caught up with the new version on Blu-Ray. I've read the three books and seen all the Swedish films and so am comparing the new version to them. Basically it's the Swedish version remade in English. The crucial things to get right in this film are the authentic Swedish locations, the two main characters Blomkvist and Salander and the generally menacing tone of the story. The US version managed to do all that well. Rooney Mara is very good as Salander and very quickly I stopped comparing her to Noomi Rapace who played her in the Swedish version. Daniel Craig is a little better as Blomkvist than Michael Nyqvist (Swedish actor). But other than that there's little to separate the two films. They both cover more or less the same parts of the book, in the same order. There is one significant change to the plot that I won't spoil here but while it's a significant move away from the original story it doesn't really change anything or improve or detract from the film. I suppose for those of us that are very familiar with the story it will add a little twist at the end which we weren't expecting.
So if you've never seen the films or read the books the US version is an excellent film and well worth the rental. If you've read the book it's still worth watching as it's a decent and faithful adaptation of teh story that doesn't pander to the US market in any real way. If you've seen the Swedish film it is worth a look to see the extra twist and enjoy the story again.
My only real critisism is that while the original film was in Swedish the US version while obviously spoken in English is all over the place with accents. Each actor does their job well but some are speaking with a Swedish accent in English and some are speaking English in well English. It's a little odd and my opinion is that if a film is going to be in English then do it straight without fake accents. To be fair some actors were Swedish and so maybe they were speaking English in their normal voice, but it was still a little distracting with the various accents. It's a small nit pick of an otherwise fine movie. Enjoy.
Just resurrecting this old post. The original Swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is on Channel 4 tonight at 10.30pm should any UK forum members be interested to take a look.
I loved the movie.it was brilliant!
I prefer the Swedish version tbh, I have all 3 of the films (and both version of the first) and would choose to watch the Swedish version any day. It seems more atmospheric to me, grainier and grittier. The sub-titles are a non-issue as far as I am concerned.
Agreed. I do prefer the original and think the Swedish leads did a better job of capturing the characters from the book than their English speaking counterparts. There's nothing at all wrong with the US version but the Swedish effort is better IMHO. Then again there are two more films for the US to make (Girl who Played with Fire - announced) and I guess a truly fair comparison can only be made if and when we have six films to watch.
First swedish movie was directed by Danish filmmaker Niels Arden Oplev and frankly that was the best one. IMO the first book was written to be stand-alone, but when Stieg Larsson had written it he built 2 more books to go along with the characters. Im just speculating, but it seems that way to me.
What a superb book. It should be on the list really. Finished it a couple of nights back and have been googling abuot it since. I'm loathed to read the next as I'd hate it to be an anti-climax. Next stop, the English then the original movie. Great recommendation chaps.
Don't be loathed at all. I'm inclined to think Larsson wrote the first novel without a clear idea if there would even be a second. When the original did so well I imagine the natural plan would probably be to write a 'Blomkvist and Salander team up one again to track down a new killer..... blah, blah, blah." However Larssen didn't go with the easy route but wrote a completely new story arc that while it naturally follows on from the first book and includes many of the original characters doesn't simply send them off on a new adventure.
The closest analogy that comes to mind is comparing the sequel to Pitch Black. While the Chronicles of Riddick is set in the same universe and stars the same protagonist it's nothing like the original film. It's a Sci-Fi chase movie compared to a Sci-Fi monster horror movie.
In the same way the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo moves from crime thriller to political thriller. To be honest I found the second book to be better than the first and the third to be better than the second. The new story arc is utterly compelling and I defy anyone to happily put the books down rather than sit up half the night to read "just one more chapter...!"
Go for it!
Git....done, added to Kindle, I've got 8 hours on a plane to kill next week :)
Worth doing.
I don't remember being overly disappointed with the second and thirds books in the series.
What an engaging trilogy. Cheers fellas, really enjoyed it.
If anyone is hesitating, they are all three worth a read.
Get all three blurays in this trilogy on Amazon today for £10.23. A most excellent, dark and gritty three films. Highly recommended if you have not already seen these Swedish originals (which are way better than the single Hollywood film version)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [Blu-ray] - £4.25
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003H9N2G0
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest [Blu-ray] [2010] - £2.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003XT797M
The Girl Who Played With Fire [Blu-ray] [2010] - £2.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003XRD8X8
Interestingly I'm currently enjoying Michael Nyqvist in '100 Code'. Not sure if anyone else is watching it, but it is a great tv drama series.