I definitely agree. I was most interested whenever Lisbeth was on screen and the mystery became more interesting once she got involved.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo doesn't satisfying the text it derives from enough. One of the great aspects of the novel was how the reader could follow the investigation as it goes on and actually experience the shocks and thrills along the way. In the film, all these twists are basically spoonfed to us. As well, it seems near the film's end that it takes some larger side stories and puts them in just to say they didn't forget about them. Then there is the ridiculous ending from the book that tries to be a happy ending that is rehashed here in a much faster fashion. Noomi Rapace is the only great thing about the film and is the only thing close to fulfilling what the novel put in place. A big disappointment for what was a good read. *1/2