The Girl .... movie series
Well thanks to my buddy Wyngarde, I am seeing the Swedish series of movies, first "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" then last night "The Girl who played with Fire" I have to tell you, I am really enjoying European movies. This series about Lisbeth Salander, a young woman who has amazing abilities and issues, is simultaneously great studies in character and involving stories.
It is interesting to see movies that don't follow American game plans, that are dangerous, both to the protagonists and the audience. The first movie is more complex than the second one, that's not necessarily good or bad, it has 3 story lines. "...Fire" is more direct, and Lisbeth is much more center stage than in the first. It is also VERY action packed and gory. One aspect that is quite un-American is that, while American movies may intimate that so and so is a lesbian or bisexual, Lisbeth is clearly that, DEMONSTRABLY that. She is one of the best realized characters I have seen in film, as is her semi-love interest Blomkvist (BTW Daniel Craig is completely miscast in the proposed American remake)
The first movie had a fairly upbeat ending, "Fire?" not so much. But I am so involved with these people I can't wait for the third movie, "The girl who kicked the hornet's nest". It may be that this 20 something semi-goth girl reminds me of people I know and care about, but I can't recommend this highly enough (noting that this is unrated but would get an NC 17 rating)
It is interesting to see movies that don't follow American game plans, that are dangerous, both to the protagonists and the audience. The first movie is more complex than the second one, that's not necessarily good or bad, it has 3 story lines. "...Fire" is more direct, and Lisbeth is much more center stage than in the first. It is also VERY action packed and gory. One aspect that is quite un-American is that, while American movies may intimate that so and so is a lesbian or bisexual, Lisbeth is clearly that, DEMONSTRABLY that. She is one of the best realized characters I have seen in film, as is her semi-love interest Blomkvist (BTW Daniel Craig is completely miscast in the proposed American remake)
The first movie had a fairly upbeat ending, "Fire?" not so much. But I am so involved with these people I can't wait for the third movie, "The girl who kicked the hornet's nest". It may be that this 20 something semi-goth girl reminds me of people I know and care about, but I can't recommend this highly enough (noting that this is unrated but would get an NC 17 rating)