Saturday, July 31, 2010

Dragon Tattoo

I saw the Swedish film tonight, made from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (our June Book Chat book), and I thought it was better than the book. The story was clearer, the casting was excellent, and the dialogue was sparse enough that it was easy to read the subtitles without missing the video. No reason to believe Hollywood will do any better, and good reason to believe they'll screw it up. Check it out if you can.

10 comments:

fairyhedgehog said...

It's not often a film is better than the book. I wonder if they'll show the Swedish film around here.

Evil Editor said...

I saw it on my television thanks to Netflix, which may not exist there, but it might be available wherever DVDs are rented or sold..

LSimon said...

If you have Netflicks you can watch it instantly on your TV (with the right equipment) or on your computer.

I'm a fan of Scandinavian cinema. If you want to see a movie that tells a sweet love-story between a human and a vampire but gets it spot-on right... check out "Let the Right One In" (also available on Netflicks). Don't watch if you are queasy about blood though... turns out vamps drink the stuff! Who knew?

Phoenix Sullivan said...

"Let the Right One In" was recommended to me. I thought it was a bit slow, pacing-wise, and could have been more effective at 2/3 the length. But I suppose that's a hallmark of many Nordic films.

Did a cleaner story line mean "Dragon Tattoo" had good pacing, too, EE?

Evil Editor said...

Yes. I thought the book had so much detail that it was hard to follow the plot. It's been pared down nicely. And Lisbeth is no less compelling a character on screen than she is in the book.

fairyhedgehog said...

I'll look out for it on DVD.

Sylvia said...

I read the second book based on the discussion in the book chat and I'm glad it did. It really is more streamlined and compelling than the first.

What's the third like?

Evil Editor said...

I'll let you know when the paperback edition comes out here.

Joe G said...

I'm watching this film now. I really liked the book though, couldn't put it down. I'm reading the second one now.

angela robbins said...

So totally agree. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was nasty and sadistic... so, basically, downright entertaining. Loved watching Lisbeth "kick ass," and do I mean that literally!