I assume you've read this by now?

http://badassdigest.com/2011/12/28/the- ... noco-flow/

7/10 -> B-

Before watching this movie I decided to read the damn book. It was hyped for years, then came the Swedish trilogy of films (which I haven't seen, but plan to eventually) so I thought to check out the source of it - the books themselves. And The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is a pretty good crime novel. First of all I have to say that the original title Men Who Hate Women is such a perfect name for the book that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo looks pale and completely misrepresents it as Lisbeth isn't really a main character. I actually felt like Mikael was the main protagonist, but whatever.

So after being satisfied with the novel itself I expected to genuinely love what Fincher made on screen. He has nearly an impeccable track record and after he made one of the best thrillers in recent years out of a Facebook movie with a good material like this there was no way he would miss, right? But he proved me wrong. While not a bad movie, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo takes a somewhat baffling way to adapt the book. It cuts so many interesting events around the mystery that the basic plot could be solved by Nick Knatterton in one of his 7-8 minute cartoon shows. While every frame is beautiful, there's way too many sweeping and lingering shots which don't help this movie's pace.

I also expected more gore and sex. Compared to the book the movie easily gets a G rating.

Craig and Mara are good in their roles. As I've already said the cinematography is great as are other technical aspects (are Reznor and Ross becoming to Fincher what Williams is to Spielberg?).

Overall a good movie, but not as good as it should've been based on the material and the people involved.

B

For me, the original is superior. I felt the acting is on par with the original, but the story falls short. It does run a little long, and I didn't like some of the changes made. In particular, the Lisbeth flashback. I also didn't dig the slick, neat feel Fincher went with. I certainly prefer the gritty, rough, gothic tone of the original.

The rape scene seemed more graphic and disturbing in the original as well.

endlessly boring

Gets better with every viewing. Mara & Craig work so well together.