Spoilers: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

[legion]

Okay, so I rented the recent English-language version of this movie starring Daniel Craig. I liked the plot, but this was probably the single most graphic, disturbing thing I've ever seen, and that includes being tricked into watching "Two Girls, One Cup". The violence was over the top. I kind of felt like the director was trying to out-do "The Silence of the Lambs", but he couldn't seem to leave anything to the viewer's imagination. I can't recommend this movie to anyone except perhaps Roman Polanski.

In the course of solving a 40+ year old disappearance, the viewer is treated to:

-Three rape scenes, two of which are extremely graphic. (All three of which involve the same two characters.)
-Two serial killer/rapists.
-Graphic descriptions/still photos of more rapes and murders.
-The insinuation of even more rape and sexual abuse.
-Three Nazis.
-Watching one of the serial killers practicing his craft in his custom-built torture chamber.
-A mutilated cat formed into a swastika.

There was also a ton of nudity, all of it from one very beautiful female character. I don't consider that a bad thing, but it was impossible to enjoy because that character was usually either getting raped or doing the raping. Even the "normal" sex scenes (of which there were several) were hard to get into after the traumatic viewing experience that preceded them. I seriously don't understand how this movie only got an "R" rating.

[porsche4life]

Have you read the book? Its just as graphic....

As far as the rating, well can't really get worse than an R, and considering what passes for pg13 these days.....

[masraum]

Have you read the book? Its just as graphic....



As far as the rating, well can't really get worse than an R, and considering what passes for pg13 these days.....

I saw the first NC17 movie when I was in college. IIRC, it was called Henry and June.

[craigster59]

I've seen the originals which are very good, and I can imagine the rape and other graphic scenes that were done "artistically" (it's a story point, it has to be portrayed) in the Swedish original are now seen in all their glory in the Hollywood version.

Anytime a foreign film is remade that quickly by Hollywood, nothing good can come of it. What, is it so tough to read friggen subtitles? (Not aimed at you Legion, just mad at terrible remakes of The Ring, The Magnificent 7, Cousin Cousin, etc.)

[legion]

"Showgirls" and "Kids" were both NC-17. While both were terrible movies, they each also featured a single rape scene that didn't even compare to the two graphic ones in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo".

[cstreit]

I must be jaded... didn't really come away with that impression. Thought the book was more graphic.

[porsche4life]

Like I said, read the book... They did a pretty good job of adapting the book, which is a bit more graphic....

[legion]

Originally Posted by craigster59

I've seen the originals which are very good, and I can imagine the rape and other graphic scenes that were done "artistically" (it's a story point, it has to be portrayed) in the Swedish original are now seen in all their glory in the Hollywood version.

They just plain screwed with you in this movie. They show the setup for the first rape scene. You know exactly what is going to happen and how bad it is going to be. That alone was extremely disturbing and would have sufficed in making the story point. Then they show the door of the room and it fades to black as the muffled screams are all that remain.

At this point you are shaken, and you collect your thoughts and prepare to move on, pondering the brutality of what you have just seen.

The screen stays black for maybe three seconds, then they go on to show the whole (or at least too much of the) brutal rape. The story point has already been made, this is just plain gratuitous.

[Porsche-poor]

As has been said above read the book. It is not a feel good story at all. For that matter read all three it explains a lot.

[Superman]

I'm glad you posted this Legion, as I do prefer to avoid films like this. Silence of the Lambs was a very good film, but the one you describe is the kind I do not wish to experience.

Then again, as far as I know you're not reading this because I'm on your Ignore List. Coward.

[cantdrv55]

Agreed. The sexual assaults in the movie pales in comparison to those in the book.

[dipso]

Maybe you should watch only PG13 movies.
Myself ,I am the opposite.

When my wife wants to see a movie, TV or theatre. I always ask what is the rating?
If it is R I will go. NC17, No. PG13 NO.

[john70t]

The original Swedish version was well made, and if you'll notice they used the hint of suggestion of acts, cleverly, in place of the actual graphic depiction in many scenes. Much scarier to let the mind work on it's own, like the Pyscho shower scene.

The American version I fell asleep to halfway through, even though it had Daniel Craig. Never finished.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by john70t

The original Swedish version was well made, and if you'll notice they used the hint of suggestion of acts, cleverly, in place of the actual graphic depiction in many scenes. Much scarier to let the mind work on it's own, like the Pyscho shower scene.

The American version I fell asleep to halfway through, even though it had Daniel Craig. Never finished.

I too enjoyed the Swedish version better. In Fincher's version, Lisbeth Salander's legal guardian was too sympathetic. In the original 3-part film, the guardian was more lecherous and thus Lisbeth's revenge scene was more satisfying, more clear-cut.

Sherwood

[NY65912]

I thought the movie should have left more to one's imagination. I could have done with the graphic scenes being tamed down a little. The plot was pretty transparent from the begining.

My big complaint about the movie was that I COULD'NT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL THEY WERE SAYING!
I kept asking my wife what the heck was said, she responded with " I have no idea" and that's with rewinding the damn thing multiple times.

[targa911S]

I thought the movie sucked and had a stupid ending.

[imcarthur]

Of the 2 films, the Swedish one was far more visceral imho. Maybe I just knew what to expect in the remake but the pervert & rape scenes were truly shocking in the original. Her revenge was sweet.

Ian

[herr_oberst]

I've seen the subtitled trilogy. Very well done, IMHO.
No desire to see what Hollywood wrought.

[jcommin]

I just finished the trilogy and the pieces fit very well. I found the book to be more graphic but also the characters were very well developed. I really enjoyed reading this series and I hard a very hard time putting the books down.

I never saw the original version and I'm told it is better than the English version. I have seen the English version a few times and I thought the movie was well done and adapted to the main theme of the book.

Both Craig and Mara have signed on for the next 2 movies to complete the series.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by NY65912

My big complaint about the movie was that I COULD'NT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL THEY WERE SAYING!

Originally Posted by targa911S

I thought the movie sucked and had a stupid ending.

+1 to each of these comments.