The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

After watching the entire Stieg Larsson series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I feel like I'm partly fluent in Swedish.

Okay, maybe not, but I thoroughly enjoyed the movies. Although it is difficult to watch hours of subtitles (since you can't take your eyes off the screen), the movies are well worth it.

I find them interesting for a multitude of reasons, but before I dive into a critique, I want to address the fact that there are two versions of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Apparently, Hollywood found it necessary to remake the first movie. It stars Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig, and although I love those actors, I found it ABSURD that our country felt it necessary to remake a movie that didn't require re-making.

The Swedish version of the first movie is stellar, and it would seem that the only reason it was remade in America was so that this country could cash in on it. I personally think it's a shame that we don't show more movies in their native form with subtitles. I mean…most Americans can read…right?

While I don't mind Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist in the American remake, I really just cannot see Rooney Mara as main character Lisbeth Salander…she just doesn't work for me. Sorry not sorry.

Anyway…the first movie, (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) is jarring for many reasons, but behind the suspense and thrill is a love story developing between Lisbeth and Mikael. Since I do not wish to give away many details from the (movies for those of you who haven't seen them) I want to focus on the relationship between these two characters.

In the first movie, we see the very guarded Lisbeth Salander begin to form a bond with Mikael Blomkvist, despite the fact that they both have (kind of) girlfriends. The movie gives us two sort-of love scenes between them as well as a kiss.

When the story resumes in the next movie, The Girl Who Played With Fire, the audience awaits more scenes between these two characters, but we aren't so lucky. The story begins to delve into Lisbeth's dark past, and her mistreatment by others is the focus. While we do see Lisbeth falling into a trap and Mikael doing his best to save her, we still don't get those scenes between them.

The mysteries of the story grow seemingly more complicated and there is a burning desire in the viewer for justice to be served. This incredible character, Lisbeth, has suffered atrocities that would break the average person and her reserved nature only adds fuel to the desire to figure her out. What is she thinking? What is she feeling? We, and the characters, only see her stone cold facade. She even keeps Mikael at arm's length in the first movie.

I wanted to see her open up to him just a bit. Especially since he is the one trying to compile the evidence that will save her.

Between the last two movies, (which are really more like 4 movies) the story seems to drag just a bit. I feel like interest could have been hiked up if we would have been given just a nugget of a scene between Lisbeth and Mikael. The last two movies seemed to move away from their relationship and the story is swept up in the conspiracy that is the main plot.

While Mikael searches for what he needs to save Lisbeth, he stumbles upon a video of her rape. This revelation, this glimpse he is given into her trauma, brings him closer to understanding what she's been through. He learns a lot about her in fact.

But the movie misses the opportunity to capitalize on the fact that despite not having seen each other since the first movie, they are now even closer.

Through the six hours that comprise the last two movies, I DESPERATELY wanted to see these characters interact. And it was only in the last five minutes of the last movie, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, did they finally reconnect.

Now comes the kiss…now comes the love scene…now comes the reconnection…the desperately needed conversations right? WRONG.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to pick up my laptop and throw it out the window. I had become extrinsically linked to these characters, vested in their wellbeing, obsessed with the outcome of their relationship and I got jack shit nothing.

Here's what happens…if you don't want to know, stop reading...

She's taking a bath. He knocks on the door to the apartment. She opens it with clothes on, all wet. He's all like…"is this a bad time?" And she's like "nah…I was just taking a bath." (I'm paraphrasing of course) She's like "thanks man for literally saving my ass." He's all…"You're welcome." There's 20 years of silence between them. I sat there nervously sweating as I watched the time tick down. He shuffles back a bit and is like…"See you around homie." And she's like "Yeah, see ya."

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

This trilogy was fantastic, the story was on point, the characters were complex and kick ass and then there's this unfinished love story…that kills it all.

If you'd have told me when I started watching that they weren't going to get together…I probably wouldn't have started watching.

I'm just in disbelief. It's like going to Chick-Fil-A because you're craving a cookie and you get home and realize that they gave you your drink, your meal, your dressings and FORGOT YOUR F*$@&*%! COOKIE. (Which has happened to me btw, it sucks)

So overall, I give the entire trilogy (which is more like 6 movies…) a rating of 8 out of 10. If the story hadn't dragged a bit, it would be a 9 out of 10. And if Lisbeth and Mikael were together in the end, it would have gotten an eleven out of ten.

Should you watch it? Sure. But if you hate unresolved love stories…you will be mad like me. I am mad.