Book: http://www.catsmeowbooknook.com/id101.html

NOTE: My apologies for a longer review than normal. I offer it because I believe that this movie cannot be adequately reviewed out of context as the middle movie in the trilogy, nor can it be fairly reviewed outside of its place in the literary context of Stieg Larsson's extraordinary Millennium Trilogy. 

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Not having read either, I can now understand the rush and the thrill that fans of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books or Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy felt after the books that they have loved for so long were made into movies. To see the visions of your mind's eye turned so beautifully into cinema magic is something else indeed, and this is exactly how I felt earlier this year when "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" became the first of Swedish author Stieg Larsson's "Millennium Trilogy" to make it to the silver screen. My review of that movie is here:

http://www.catsmeowmoviecritic.com/id329.html

and my review of the book is here:

http://www.catsmeowbooknook.com/id97.html

That movie is now available for rental, and I would STRONGLY advise that you see that movie before you see this movie. Better yet, I would equally advise that you first read the book, or both books, before seeing either movie, as this is one of those rare moments of cinema magic where the books have been translated to the silver screen with such pitch perfection that hardly a single note is lost or wasted. The cinematography is perfect, and the score beautifully enhances the film. The casting is sensational with each character perfect for their roles, but none more so than Noomi Rapace, who is absolutely riveting as Lisbeth Salander.

"The Girl Who Played With Fire" is the second of what is called "The Millennium Trilogy," a series of books by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. They are all huge international literary sensations. (Sadly, there won't be any more novels coming from this author, as he died from an unexpected heart attack in 2004 at the all too young age of 50.) All three of his books were made into Swedish movies in 2009, and this is the second of the three to hit our shores. 

The third Swedish installment, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," will follow in October. Any of you who choose to forego the pleasure of seeing this film because it is in Swedish with English subtitles will receive some satisfaction, I suppose, in the knowledge that Daniel Craig of James Bond fame has been cast to play the role of crusading journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the upcoming American versions. However, I will never put it past Hollywood to screw up a sure thing, so take my advice and make a point to see these original versions.

Each of Larsson's books consist of complex plots, subplots, and multiple characters populating the stories. This necessitates some culling and abbreviation to fit everything into the movies, both of which run close to two and a half hours in length. The first movie was the truest to the actual story with only two unnecessary romantic liaisons passed over. 

It is somewhat different here, as the entire first section of the book was deleted since it has nothing to do with the events unfolding back in Sweden. That story, which would make an interesting movie in its own right, involves Lisbeth Salander using her skills to rescue an unsuspecting wife from being murdered by her avaricious husband while on vacation at a luxurious spa in the Caribbean. Once again she proves to be the nemesis of evil men who are scheming to harm or kill one of her own sex.

Another problem with the movie is that the entire context of the criminal enterprise run by Zala through Ronald Niedermann, his right hand man, and the gang of motorcycle thugs is glossed over, leaving some confusion as to how evil these men really are. Given the complexity of the story, all I can say is that the script writer (Jonas Frykberg) did a masterful job at a very difficult task. An additional technical problem with this film deserves mention, and that is the annoying instances of subtitles occasionally disappearing on a light background.

Over and above all that, this movie has much in common with many other trilogies in that as the middle novel and the second movie of this trilogy it serves merely as the transition between the beginning and the end of the story without the emotional satisfaction of either. No wonderful set up, as we have already experienced that, and no cathartic resolution, as that has yet to come. This is the part of the story and the part of the movie without a beginning or an end, so it will hardly satisfy some and it will surely mystify others who are not familiar with the plot.

Michael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is still a crusading journalist and the editor in chief for the Millennium Magazine, which is now thriving after his exposé of a crooked Swedish industrialist (and with the help of a sizable investment from the Vanger Corporation, which is also not mentioned here). 

Lisbeth Salander (the charismatic Noomi Rapace) has looted the industrialist's bank account and has treated herself to a trip around the world ever since. She has not maintained contact with anyone back in Sweden, and the few people who would like to think of themselves as being her friends, especially Mikael, are at a loss as to the reason for her long disappearance.

Lisbeth occasionally hacks into the computer of her court-appointed guardian, Nils Bjurman (Peter Andersson), to make sure that he has been following her instructions. She is disturbed when she reads that he has contacted a clinic to remove his tattoo, so she decides to leave her Caribbean spa and return to Sweden. This genius can "hack" into apartments just as easily as computers, and a late night visit to Bjurman's apartment evidences that he has not been sending his favorable reports on her behavior to the appropriate Swedish authorities. She finds a revolver in his desk, and she threatens him with it unless he follows her instructions to the letter. 

Meanwhile Mikael and Erika Berger (Lena Endre), the publisher of Millennium Magazine as well as Mikael's long time love interest, are setting up the next huge exposé about a major sex trafficking ring involving the power brokers of Sweden cavorting with young prostitutes smuggled into the country from the Eastern Bloc. Most of the leads have been cross-checked by the author, a temporary employee of the magazine, and his girlfriend, the woman who has written the exposé in book form for her doctoral thesis.

No one else knows that Lisbeth is home again except for Miriam Wu (Yasmine Garbi), a long time friend and an occasional lover. Wanting to protect her anonymity, Lisbeth offers Miriam her old apartment for free since she has purchased a palatial apartment elsewhere under an assumed corporate name. 

One evening while calmly walking home Lisbeth is thunderstruck to see her picture plastered all over the news as the suspect in the brutal murder of the two authors of the sex article. It seems that Bjurman's gun, still with her fingerprints on it, was used to kill them, and when Bjurman turns up dead as well, Lisbeth is suspected of committing all three murders. A nationwide manhunt ensues with only three people, including Mikael Blomkvist, convinced of her innocence. 129 minutes and rated R for brutal violence, including rape, some strong sexual content, nudity, and language.