No. 21. (2020) THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO April 8th.

Film No. 21 (2020)  April 8th.  7:45 PM. SBS World Movies, Living Room, Mt. Hawthorn. W.A. 

"Maybe you need to learn to be more sociable. Why don't you start with me?" (Salander's probation officer Bjurman has only deviant thoughts about how he is about to treat his subject).

The Swedish original (2009) still wins the duel for best film in this, the Millennium franchise (without subtitles). It was inevitable this world famous adventure fable would get the "Hollywood" treatment and the verdict for this effort is positive.

TGWDT, English style, is entertaining but fractionally sillier. Daniel Craig as Blomkvist is more vulnerable than his James Bond alto ego and most importantly Rooney Mara's Salander is the equal to Noomi Rapace's in the original. What's great about this yarn is, for those film buffs who can't do films with subtitles, they get to experience this world famous fiction adventure.

There is nothing like the book however. Stieg Larsson first published this story in 2005. It's a masterpiece of pulp storytelling with far more detail on the page than on screen. Meanwhile Craig and Rooney are an unlikely couple, but have the chemistry to make this iconic duo compelling. An easy, 150 minute edge of the couch ride. As if you were riding pillion with Salander! 8GUMS.