“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” recently began playing in theaters. Based on the original Swedish film from 2009 and a book trilogy by Stieg Larsson, the film has generated much talk. Those on this latest project were nervous that the American version wouldn’t measure up to the original movie. However, most who viewed it were positively impressed by this successful film.
The story follows the life of a troubled woman named Lisbeth Salander, played by Rooney Mara and originally Noomi Rapace, and an outcast journalist named Mikael Blomkvist, played by Daniel Craig and originally Michael Nyqvist. Lisbeth is a skilled researcher who comes across her findings by illegal means. However, she runs into financial trouble because her probation officer takes control of her finances. He sexually molests her each time she needs money. Lisbeth, however, is innovative enough to film an incident of rape and threaten to expose the video if he does not play by her rules.
Mikael was hired by Henrik Vanger to investigate the disappearance of his granddaughter, Harriet, who appears to have been murdered four decades ago. Henrik had suspected all members of the Vanger family ever since. The paths of these beautiful youths cross when Mikael finds out that Lisbeth has been researching him illegally and appoints her to assist him in his investigation.
The producers of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” retained many aspects from the original movie, but, like anyone recreating a movie, they had to change some things. The new version did a remarkable job of staying very close to the original. They kept the details of the storyline and retained the mood, even the symbolic and foreshadowing events that gave the movie character, such as the death of a cat. Another event taken from the original was the attempted mugging of the heroine. However, she took control of the situation and reclaimed her bag, showing her strong character.
Lisbeth is unique because she does not allow herself to be influenced by social norms; she is bisexual, unsociable, and a hardheaded female. However, the American film does make changes from the original. The beginning of the original movie moved quite slowly and consisted of many scenes involving Mikael walking in the snow, while the new film remedied this, while still retaining the character of the original film.