Saturday, December 31, 2011

A review of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and a Happy new year for 2012

There is a quote I came across the other day it is:

"Learn from the past and look to the future"

So it should be with 2012.  A time to look on what has gone before and hopefully a little wiser greet the new year with a glass in the air.   Although personally I'm still catching up on my sleep after Scotland so I could well be asleep before the new year comes in.  If I'm snoring away then nothing will disturb me.  If it's anything like last year there will be fewer people opening their doors and windows than before as the old goes out and the new comes in.

This afternoon I took Layabout lad out to watch a movie.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I'd read the book so already knew what the film was about however, if anyone went to see the film without knowing the story I'm sure they could easily get lost.  Truth be told the English version of Sieg Larson's book is quite accurate, unfortunately it is a little boring.  I doubt if it will break the box office and if it does it will be because of the hype from earlier sales of the book.  Were there no book success no way would movie of attracted so much attention.  Watch this space though, my prediction is it will be a flop, a big flip flop.  Somethings just sometimes don't convert to picture format.  The written word while engrossing and exciting to read, except for the first sixty pages doesn't play so well.  It's one of those things which should really of been done in a series.  In this way more depth in the characters and sub stories could of been interwoven.  Perhaps a set of six or even twelve episodes might of suited it.  Then it should of been sold to the rest of the world.  It would of only been something the BBC could have done justice in making, lets face it they are amongst the best two or three TV series makers in the world.  As for Daniel Craig playing one of the main characters, Mikael Blomvkvist he really was too young and not fat enough for the image I drew from the book.  Where Blomkvist is portrayed as a middle aged, bit more worldly, slightly overweight investigative journalist.  Craig doesn't pull this off because he doesn't physically hit this portrait but also because he has already been James Bond and Bond is still too fresh an image in the public eye.  Lisbeth Salander is played by Rooney Mara.  Someone I have not seen act before.  Although Mara may have the physical characteristics of Salander, I am unfortunately not entirely convinced in her portrayal she does not come across as hard enough of psycho enough.  This could in part be down to the directing and editing of the movie, which leaves out little linking snippets which would give the film more sense.  Her performance was a little on the flat side, like coke without the sparkle, you endure it but it's just not satisfying.  To sum up, my advice is: don't see the film unless you have seen the book and really want to complete the loop because it will not leave you wanting more and will leave to many questions on your mind.  It demands attention and concentration, so don't see it if you are drunk as well, unless you need to sleep.

So with this as my last BLOG for 2011, happy new year to all.

Thanks for reading.

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