The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Blu-ray) Official AVSForum Review

( Max score: 100 )

89

Film Synopsis:

Disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) accepts an invitation to surreptitiously investigate a forty year old unsolved murder on behalf of the victim's uncle, Swedish industrialist Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer). Meanwhile, tattooed hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), hired to investigate Blomkvist, discovers the truth behind the conspiracy that led to his fall from grace. Thrown together by fate, the unlikely duo uncovers a secret history of murder and sexual abuse festering beneath the veneer of Sweden's industrial past, all the while drawing closer to a quiet evil waiting to engulf them both.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first film in Columbia Pictures' three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson's literary blockbuster The Millennium Trilogy. Directed by David Fincher and starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, the film is based on the first novel in the trilogy, which altogether have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and become a worldwide phenomenon.

My Take:

I haven't read Stieg Larsson's book series or seen the Swedish film but have heard nothing but good things about The girl with the dragon tattoo. When David Fincher's film was released in theaters last year we saw it day one. This is a gripping and edgy mystery/thriller with superbly drawn characters driven by a multi-staged narrative. The storyline essentially has three parts, the main plot surrounding the death/disappearance of Harriet Vangar and two subplots involving Mikael and Lisbeth. Later on Lisbeth and Mikel together are integrated in the primary storyline where things turn toward solving the 40 plus year old mystery of Harriet Vangar, an investigation which leads them down a dark, windy road where secrets lie at the heart of a wicked family. What they discover is something far more sinister than either of them could have imagined. Fortunately for Mikel, he has Lisbeth, whose resourcefulness and prowess makes her a viable commodity in what will soon become a deadly game of cat and mouse.

As with most of Fincher's films I found his visual style to be intriguing, beginning with the opening/title sequence and then with the use of cinematography (framing, color and panning sequences) that visually draws you in. The story/screenplay is intelligently crafted and effectively establishes the story's primary plot while fostering a viable connection to the main characters in Mikael and Lisbeth. Lisbeth's subplot is the more dominant of the two and contains many of the film's best moments. The girl with the dragon tattoo is thematically dark as it broaches subjects of redemption, violence, familial dysfunction, mental/physical abuse, and disturbing elements of torture, including rape. David Fincher's apt direction keeps the pacing on point as the film doesn't seem as long as it is at over two and a half hours. The cast consists of an excellent blend of acting talent that each brings an air of credibility to their respective characters. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara get the bulk of the screen time. He is very good in the role of Mikael but it's the scene stealing Mara that makes the film. She makes the character her own and pulls it off with the right amount of quiet cool, angst, and taught edginess. The girl with the dragon tattoo is a thoroughly engaging film that runs the gamut as it takes us on a captivating psychological thrill ride while introducing one of the most intriguing female characters ever. I found it even more enjoyable this second time around and look forward to the next installment.

Parental Guide:

The rating is for brutal violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language.

Audio: 88

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Video: 90

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The girl with the dragon tattoo comes to Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 33 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.4 Mbps.

This film's visual style doesn't lend itself to eye catching color or infinite levels of dimension but this is a creative decision that doesn't reflect negatively on its presentation. Shot on high definition video resolution is excellent as images are clearly rendered with appreciable detail and discerning nuance during close ups. The filtered chromatic range is purposefully limited to muted primary colors and softer secondary hues. That coupled with the drab lighting schemes and dark cinematography makes for a visually pallid but thematically affecting look. Skin tones among the cast vary and range from Rosy to pale while appearing textural and predominantly lifelike. Blacks are deep and dynamic and shadow is excellent. I didn't see any signs of video related artifacts in this whistle clean high definition presentation that looks spectacular.

The high resolution DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack features dialogue that is presented with crystal clear intonation, full bodied texture, and deep room penetration. Imaging across the front of the room is excellent as the mixture of sounds, dialogue and music is integrated with precision. The films score is distributed through the main speakers and surrounds which accents presence. The music has an enriching dynamism, clarity and sweet sounding mid range. There are moments where the track springs to life with the power of the music or the snap of a purposeful effect. Each is charged with dynamic energy and tactile bass response. This is an excellent audio presentation that successfully transitions from being raucous to subtle while positively reinforcing acoustic presence and aural dimension. It perfectly suits the thematic tone of the film and sounds great.

Bonus Features:

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  Disc 1:

  
  
• Audio commentary with David Fincher
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  Disc 2: Disc 2

  
  
• (HD) Men who hate women - 6 minute featurette with cast/crew
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• (HD) Characters (3 segments with branching featurettes) :
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• Lisbeth Salander:
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  2. Casting Salander
     
  3. Different in every way
     
  4. The look of Salander
     
  5. Mara/Fincher
     
  6. Irene Nesser
     
  7. Salander test footage
  
  
• Mikael Blomkvist:
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  2. Casting Blomkvist
     
  3. Daniel Craig on film acting
     
  4. Dressing Blomkvist
     
  5. Investigation (stills)
  
  
• Martin Vangar:
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  2. Stellan Skarsgard on film acting
     
  3. Psychotherapy
     
  4. Bondage
     
  5. Torture
     
  6. Wrappers in plastic
     
  7. Set design
  
  
• (HD) On location (2 with branching featurettes) :
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• Sweden (5 segments)
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• Hollywood (7 segments)
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• (HD) Post production
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  2. In the cutting room
     
  3. ADR (automated dialogue replacement)
     
  4. Main titles (3 versions) with optional commentary by Tim Miller
     
  5. Visual effects montage
  
  
• (HD) Promotion
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  2. Hard copy - 80/90's era mock episode of the tabloid show with optional commentary
     
  3. 7 TV Spots
     
  4. 4 Trailers
     
  5. Metal one sheet
  
  

  Disc 3:

  
  
• Bonus DVD of The girl with the dragon tattoo
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• Ultraviolet Digital Copy

Final Thoughts:

The girl with the dragon tattoo is a film adaptation of the book by Stieg Larsson. It is a thoroughly engaging albeit dark film that runs the gamut as it takes us on a captivating psychological thrill ride while introducing one of the most intriguing female characters ever. Alongside David Fincher's masterful direction is a terrific cast lead by the superb performance by Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara in the title role. It comes to Blu-ray Disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment featuring excellent high definition video, rewarding lossless sound and four hours of supplemental material that include interviews of the cast/crew, and an in-depth look behind the scenes at the production. The girl with the dragon tattoo is a must see and comes highly recommended.