Review: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

My boyfriend and I went to see The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo last Friday and I thought I'd post a mini review, spoiler free.

First off the opening credit sequence was so imaginative and an interesting way to start the film, I loved how dark it was and how well it set the undertone of the film (in fact there is a whole article on one of my favourite websites about the symbolism of it, check it out if you're a fan of the books or want to watch the actual sequence) and the visuals were actually gorgeous (which isn't a word I would expect to use in reference to this film), it was set to an awesome track as well (a cover of the Immigrant song). In fact throughout the whole thing the music was subtle but very atmospheric, at points it was almost soundscape but was still really effective. The visual style was also powerful but descrete at the same time.
Something I noticed was just how well the suspense was built up, thanks to the music, acting and the subtlites of the director I was constantly on the edge of my seat (and clawing at the boyfriend), tiny things put me really on edge which isn't something I usually experience with films. Because of this the two and a half hours of the film flew past without me once thinking about anything else other than what was happening on screen. And it kept you guessing (unless you've read the book), you had no idea what was going to happen next and when it did happen you believed it, it was believable, it wasn't a twist for the sake of a twist (unlike a certain Doctor Who season finale I could mention), each twist was one that worked entirely as part of an amazingly well written plot.
Speaking of well written, it wasn't just the story but the characters as well. Such rich, layered characters, Lisabeth (the leading lady) especially was a perfect and absorbing mix of deeply troubled and nessecairly strong. The relationship between her and Mikael was again, like the plot, believable, thanks in part to the writing but also to the phenomenal acting.
As well as the acting the directorial choices were unflinching without being gratuitous, the brutality of certain scenes was nessecary. Nothing was glamourised but a message was conveyed. Sometimes a film needs to bring these issues to light in a way that will really open people's eyes and get taboo subjects that need addressng addressed, this book may be a fictional one but the stories told within in it are stories that many people around the world have sadly lived.

All in all amazing film that I definitely recommend you go and see. It won't be a completely pleasant experience but it was definitely get you thinking.