It was in 2009 that I first became aware of the Millenium Trilogy written by Stieg Larsson. Every train I got on had at least one person reading ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”. I made a mental note to do a bit of research and, if the book had any good reviews, to buy it when I reached the bottom of the pile of novels in my ‘to-be-read’ pile.

Time went by and I saw that the movie version, directed by Niels Arden Oplev, was coming to cinemas near me. I was still halfway through my book pile so hadn’t yet read it. But off I went to the cinema, knowing next to nothing about the plot.

To say I was enthralled would be an understatement. I became so involved in the brilliance of the film that I became oblivious to everything around me. Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace and the rest of the cast portrayed their characters so well that they seemed real, that is they became more than characters of fiction. Such was the acting and direction that these characters really came alive to me. I felt involved in their journey. feeling their pain and celebrating the resolution. So engaged was I in the movie that, when a shot was fired at Nyqvist’s character, Mikael Blomkvist, I was startled by the sound and jumped in my seat.

At the end of the movie I knew I had to read the books. I also knew then that Hollywood would make a version of this book as well and hoped that they would do it justice. I was concerned that they would not do so as sometimes Hollywood adaptations of foreign films fall flat.  I also knew that I was going to really enjoy the sequels, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest”.

So I bought the books and read all of them. Again I was pulled into the world of the characters, Lisbeth and MiKael, and felt that I was journeying with them through their adventures. These books are so well-written, the characters so well-defined, that once you start reading you feel compelled to continue to the end. You just have to know how it is going to be resolved.

Once I had read the books, I waited for the release of the movie adaptations of the sequels with great anticipation. I had faith that these would not suffer from the curse of the sequel and that they would be as good as the first movie. And I was correct. The sequels were excellent, compelling viewing.

The announcement that Hollywood was making a version came as no shock, but I was ready to be disappointed as I was concerned that the the result would not be as good. When it was released there were mixed reactions. Purists loudly declaimed the “Hollywood-isation” of an excellent movie, with comments like ‘They should have left it alone’. Some said the David Fincher version starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara was better than the Swedish version. Other said the Arden Oplov version was better. I was not going to be swayed by anyone else’s opinion. I wanted to make my own comparative judgments.

So today I have seen the Fincher version. It, too, is excellent. The cast was great and the direction was superb. Again I found myself so absorbed in the movie that I was not aware of my surroundings. I was engaged in the story, which this time held no surprises for me as I had both seen the original movie and read the novel. And yet again when Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) was shot at I was startled and leapt in my seat., so much was I involved in the story. Again, I felt the pain of the protaganists and their sense of achievement in the resolution of their journey.

I can’t wait till the next one is released.

Though I have been vindicated in something I suspected since reading some of the feedback about the Hollywood version. I suspected that some people preferred it because it is in English. On my way out if the cinema I overheard three separate conversations where people were discussing the fact that they thought it was better because it’s ‘easier to understand what people are talking about’. One person even said ‘I’m glad it was in English and that I didn’t have to read subtitles. It made it a much better story.’ To people like that, I would like to say that the story is the story. It’s the same in both movie adaptations. It’s a strong story that adapted well to the big screen and both adaptations are excellent. which I attribute to Larsson’s brilliant story-telling. He is well-deserving of the awards and accolades his books have received. It is sad to think that he did not live to see this but I am sure he would be pleased with the legacy of his creativity.