In all honesty, I was very surprised by the movie of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I have heard so many things about the book, and have actually tried, unsuccessfully, to listen to the audio version, that I really wasn't expecting a whole lot from the movie. That said, last night I finally got around to watching it.
First off, what I've heard or observed, myself, about the book. Like I said, I haven't successfully finished listening to the book, I made it a few hours into it and felt bogged down with so much information I ended up giving it up. It seemed as soon as I would get interested in what was going on, the the inner workings of the business world would take over and the story would start to drag. As for what I was told by people who had read it, well, that amounted to an affirmation of what I felt, along with being told of some very graphic sexual violence that I won't go into here. Lets just say it was very over the top and unnecessary in its excessiveness, and, from what I saw on the movie, I can easily believe it.
So, then, what made me want to watch the movie? In all honesty, curiosity. I didn't have the patience for the book, but I wanted to know what all the hoopla was about this supposedly inspiring story. I was glad my curiosity got the best of me, and a bit shocked at the plot. I had no idea there was a pretty interesting murder/mystery story involved...that seemed to get lost amongst the criticisms. I was pretty disconcerted at how this intriguing story was buried beneath over indulged details. I'm also tempted to give the book another try just to make sure I'm not missing something. I believe I would, none the less, only prove myself right and end up wasting good time I could have spent reading another book on my never ending "to be read" list.
Regardless, if you have the stomach for it, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is an interesting movie, though I don't recommend it for a romantic date night.
3 comments:
I don't know how I missed this, Glenna.
Anyway, I did read the book and saw the movie--the Swedish one (I'm not sure if the American version has come out yet.) I thought it was quite well cast, and rather beautifully filmed. A lot of people have told me they got bogged down in the excessive information at the beginning, but it didn't really strike me that way.
For me, though apparently no one else, there are some plot problems that mar both book and film.
I just read an interesting New Yorker article on Larsson and the phenomenon of his books here.
I haven't gotten beyond the first one, and doubt that I will.
I've read the first two books--the third has not come my way--and seen those two Swedish movies, too, and I find I like the movies better!
That is an interesting article Seana. I've never had much of an inclination to learn much about where, how or what happened with Larsson and his estate, but I suppose there must be a controversy of some sort surrounding it all for it to be as popular as it is.
Kathleen, I think I like the movies better too, although, It'll be awhile, if at all, before I watch the second one.
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