The Movie "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [Extended Version]"
2009 / Country of Origin: Germany, Sweden, Denmark / Running Time: 183 minutes /
Original Title Man som hatar kvinnor English Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Director: Niels Arden Oplev
Trailer (Japanese Version)
Trailer (International Version)
STORY
Forty years ago, a young girl disappeared on a remote island in Stockholm. Mikael, a journalist convicted of libel, is hired by a prominent figure in a major corporate group—a relative of the girl—to investigate. Together with Lisbeth, a female investigator with a dragon tattoo on her back, he uncovers the grim truth lurking behind the case!
Multiple scenes that were cut to fit the theatrical release runtime have been restored in this <Extended Version>!
Scenes depicting the human relationships surrounding Lisbeth and her inner feelings have been added, allowing viewers to see various moments that serve as foreshadowing for the upcoming second and third installments!
Review
A suspense mystery in which a male journalist and a female hacker, both fighting with their intellect, join forces to boldly challenge a case that has been hidden in the "darkness" for nearly 40 years.
First of all, the perfection of Stieg Larsson's original novel is magnificent. On top of that, the flawless selection of the production team and cast for this film has resulted in a masterpiece.
Note that this film was later remade in Hollywood by director David Fincher, and the fashion of the protagonist, Lisbeth, is outstandingly superior in the Hollywood version. However, in all other respects, I personally believe this version surpasses the Hollywood one.
*Therefore, I have chosen the original "Extended Version" rather than the Hollywood version as the subject of this review.
One of the main characters, Lisbeth Salander(hereinafter: Lisbeth), is a highly skilled hacker with an extraordinary memory, but in her mid-twenties, she is almost completely isolated from society and has virtually no social communication skills.
The other main character, Mikael Blomkvist, is the publisher and journalist for Millennium magazine, a man of integrity with no dark history, and a 45-year-old man with strong social communication skills.
The existence of this duo alone is wonderful, but the way Lisbeth's fascinating past is exquisitely glimpsed adds further depth to the character portrayals, drawing the viewer completely into the inner worlds of the two protagonists.
Naturally, the mysteries and truths of the case they take on are intriguing, and in addition, even the minor characters are carefully crafted without any corners cut, so most viewers will ultimately become completely captivated by the world of this story.
While it ranks at the very top as an entertainment piece, its socially conscious content is also wonderful, and I would like to recommend it as the ultimate film.