Män som hatar kvinnor (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)

Poor Stieg Larsson.  He finished this series of 3 novels, and died before he even saw them published.  For his sake, I hope the novels are better than this movie adaptation.  Also for his sake, I hope the American remake coming out in December is better than this Swedish version.

The girl in the title, Lisbeth, a counter-culture computer hacker, comes to the aid of Mikael, a journalist hired by a wealthy industrialist to look into the disappearance of his niece 40 years ago.  The industrialist and his extended family, creepy super-rich people who live on an island, have mystery and secrets surrounding them.  They do not approve of this journalist and punk girl living in the guest house on the island.

Aww, an established journalist having an affair with a tattooed and pierced girl half his age.  Isn't that sweet.

So this unlikely pair figures out that a serial killer has been stalking young women.  And guess what?  Big surprise!  The killer is an ostensibly upstanding citizen who quotes scripture!  Give me a break.  I get so sick of seeing these "religious" serial killers.  Come up with something original.  (Oops.  I'm speaking ill of the dead.  Sorry Stieg.)

Besides this major thematic turn-off, I guess it was an OK movie.  No, I take it back.  It was a muddled mess with questionable plot manipulation and poor characterization.  Bleh.  I have a feeling the American version will be slicker, with better music, but will still be a mess.  Oh, by the way, the dragon tattoo has nothing to do with the story.

Bottom line, 1/2 star.