THE DANMAN CAN

My previous post explains how I feel. After a rewatch I actually gave this a 1/2 * less. It's a great film and I'd be very interested to see what the same cast/crew could do with the other 2 films, but this is second tier Fincher for me.

The Extended Edition of the second Millennium film earns an extra 1/2 * from my previous rating. This fleshed-out version is more compelling.

The Extended Edition fills in some nice bits from the book that were cut out from the theatrical version. I can't say that I feel that it's vastly superior to the shorter version (I enjoyed them both), but I'm glad to own the longer version. After rewatching this, I DO think that I prefer it over the Finch version, but there are parts of both films (characters, dialogue, events) that I like and dislike or feel that were handled better in one version over the other. I think, if anything, it'll be fun to have both versions to rewatch, once the 2011 version gets released on Blu-ray.

Just as exciting, compelling and expertly crafted as the 2009 film .  Rooney Mara is a great Lisbeth Salander , neither better nor worse than Noomi Rapace , just different, in my opinion.  Fincher is obviously the more skilled and experienced director, but both films are excellent, so see them both. And no, I honestly don't think it matters which one you see first. There is a difference to the ending, that has been mentioned, and I won't spoil it, but it didn't affect my viewing or change the tone of the film for me.

I finally finished all three  of Stieg Larsson 's " Millennium Series " novels. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo  (2005)  is, without question, the best of the three and the one least bogged down by details.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest  (2009) is on par with the second film . I can't quite decide which one I like better; I think I'd need to see them both again. The third film in the 'Millennium Trilogy '  has the least "action", as it's more of a courtroom drama, but I found it quite engaging. The conclusion was slightly less satisfying than I'd hoped for, but then again I'm not exactly sure what I'd hoped for. The novels will be read soon!

The Girl Who Played With Fire  (2009) was a lot better than I was expecting. Not as good as the first film , but an engaging, competent thriller nonetheless. I'm almost tempted to give it another 1/2 *, simply because what makes this film better than average are the characters, and you have to have gone through the events of Dragon Tattoo  (2009) with them to appreciate that. I like that Lisbeth's past is weaved into the story, even more so than in Tattoo . What prevents me from giving the extra 1/2 * is that I feel the familial elements could have been explored more interestingly.

I finally watched The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo  (2009). And it was really good. If you like investigative/procedural detective/reporter thrillers (think Zodiac   (2007)) with nicely developed characters that don't shy away from a few brutal scenes, you will dig it. Speaking of Fincher , I am now looking forward to his version this year (and the soundtrack by Trent Reznor / Atticus Ross ), however I fear that Rooney Mara's  version of Lisbeth is going to get toned down (although it is Fincher directing). I have no doubt that Finch & Rez/Ross (my newly coined phrase for this director/composer team) will bring it, but here's hoping Mara will equally rock it. The second film  in the original 'Millennium Trilogy' should arrive from Netflix this week, with the third film  following shortly, so I'm excited to watch those. I'd like to get around to reading the novels as well. * *Edit - I ordered the Stieg Larsson   Millenium Trilogy novels ...