REVIEW: "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"

Still from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Although I never thought much of Niels Arden Oplev's original Adaptation of Stieg Larsson's international Bestseller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I am a huge Fan of David Fincher's interpretation of it.

This first installment in the Trilogy-to-come centers around an unlikely Duo brought together by a family Mystery haunting wealthy Swedes The Vangers for well-over 40 years. Shamed Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is called upon by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to solve the mystery behind the presumed murder of his beloved Niece Harriet. After reaching a roadblock in his investigation, he is connected with volatile 23 year-old Computer Hacker-for-hire Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). Coincidentally, she also is the same Hacker who was enlisted to investigate Mikael amidst his own controversy.

As Mikael and Lisbeth continue their fact-finding, they begin unraveling some deep, dark secrets about the Vanger Family never before brought to light and we realize that danger is ever-imminent as they are being watched by someone closer to home than originally believed.

"THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO" EMBARGO CONTROVERSY

Still from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

He went ahead and done that! After much controversy this weekend over his Review of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The New Yorker's David Denby went ahead and violated Sony Pictures' request to adhere to a Media Embargo for the Film until Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

What is an Embargo you ask? Essentially it is an agreement on the Movie Reviewer's part  (I hate the word "ban") to not post their Comments on the Film before a set date by the Studio. As often is the case, the Reviewer gets to see the Film up to months before it actually gets  a release. This ensures that the Studio has full control over its Marketing and Publicity, allowing all Reviews to surface when interest in the Film is optimal - around its actual Release Date. Also it keeps things fair for Publications as one won't beat the other to the punch with an unfair disadvantage of posting the Review earlier, even though several publications like Variety, for example consistently get the Exclusives first often.

H&M ANNOUNCES "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO" COLLECTION

Trish Summerville for H&M

As if it weren't exciting enough that David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is hitting theatres over the Holidays, H&M has announced today that they will be releasing a line of Clothing inspired by the Film by Costume Designer Trish Summerville.  Summerville oversaw the same designs which Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara will be donning in the U.S. adaptation of the Swedish hit.

Summerville says, "Salander’s look is very real and very lived in, with pieces that her character has worn for a long time, like her jackets that act as her armour to shield her from the world. I wanted the collection to have the essence and strength of Salander, with a fashion edge, and I’m pleased with the result! My goal is forwomen to find pieces in it that they love and then mix them with their own wardrobe to create their own personal style.".

The Women's Collection hits 180 stores worldwide and Online on December 14, 2011.

Click here to watch a Promotional Video for the Collection.

Visit the Official Website for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Movie here.

(Photo credit: H&M)

NEW NSFW VERSION OF "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO" POSTER

They're going all the way with the edge factor!  A new Poster for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has been unleashed and you won't believe your eyes.  Did Rooney Mara really pierce her nipples for the role of Lisbeth Salander?  I'm speechless.  I haven't even seen a proper Clip of the Movie and I'm already convinced we have a Best Actress caliber performance for the Oscars next year. She's totally owning it.

And if she weren't commanding enough, did you even bother to notice Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist? Me neither.

Sony Pictures releases The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo this Christmas and here's a link to the NSFW version of the Poster. 

"THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO" TRAILER LEAKED

Rooney Mara

Although I honestly didn't think much of the original Film Adaptation of the late Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, this U.S. Adaptation from Director David Fincher looks astounding!  Edgy, vicious, scary and dangerous, this is going to make Rooney Mara a Mega-Star - the next Natalie Portman. It is being marketed as "The Feel-Bad Movie of the Year".

See this leaked Trailer for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, out this Christmas from Sony Pictures:

DANIEL CRAIG AND ROONEY MARA IN STOCKHOLM FILMING "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"

Daniel Craig filming in Stockholm

Oh yeah. As many of us know, David Fincher's U.S. adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is filming already in Stockholm, Sweden and our favourite hunk Daniel Craig is starring in the film.  For those of you who have seen the original Swedish version of the film, you'll know disappointingly that the character Craig plays, disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist, is clothed for most of the film. Bummer.

All eyes right now however on the movie's female lead Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander, who steps up to the physically demanding role in three instalments. Mara got lots of exposure this weekend in Fincher's The Social Network which not only debuted at number one at the Box Office, but continues to perform strongly, slaughtering the competition even based on Monday and Tuesday's numbers. Mara's big sister Kate appears briefly in Danny Boyle's 127 Hours which recount's mountain climber Aron Ralston's hours stuck in a cave under a boulder.

To see more candids of Craig in Sweden, click here.

(Photo credit: Fredrik Sandberg/Scanpix)

DANIEL CRAIG CONFIRMED FOR U.S. VERSION OF THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

OMG. They're practically Twins.  Daniel Craig has been confirmed to play the role of disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist in the American adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  The role was played originally by Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist in the Millennium Trilogy.  As you're all aware the amazing David Fincher will be directing the first instalment of the series.

Of course, casting for the edgy starring role of Lisabeth Sander is still up in the air with Carey Mulligan no longer among the candidates.  Rumoured actresses up for the role at this point in casting include Ellen Page, Mia Wasikowska and Rooney Mara according to Entertainment Weekly.  Expect them to throw us for a loop and cast someone obscure.  Sneaky.

CAREY MULLIGAN TO STAR IN U.S. VERSION OF "THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO"

Can I spot a star or what?  The radiant and talented Carey Mulligan has signed in to star in all three film adaptations of Stieg Larsson's trilogy starting first with The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo.  I reviewed the original Swedish version of the film here last week and overall wasn't wowed, but hopefully the U.S. version will make a few modifications. 

It will be interesting seeing the sweet and soft-spoken (I can confirm after meeting her in-person) Mulligan transform into the dark role of Lisabeth Salander who gets tortured, raped and ultimately fights back.  Brad Pitt is rumoured to play the male lead role of disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist.  One thing I'm sure of in the very least is that the names will probably be changed to Liz and Mike for the American adaptation:p  And things aren't looking like they're slowing down any time soon following a star-turning role in An Education last year. 

Mulligan will also be appearing in Wall Street 2: Money Never Dies which opens this September alongside Michael Douglas and boyfriend Shia LaBeouf.  She's it.  (Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

REVIEW: "THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO"

I'm not sure what to make of Niels Arden Oplev's highly-touted The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Despite a feverish amount of publicity for the Swedish thriller based on Stieg Larsson's best-selling novel, its film adaptation doesn't quite hit the mark.

Shamed journalist Mikael Blomkvist is sentenced to prison after being framed in a Libel case.  Before he serves his sentence though, wealthy Henrik Vanger (Sven-Bertil Taube) enlists his help to solve a 40 year-old mystery involving the disappearance of his beloved niece Harriet, who happened to babysit Mikael as a child. He however, is being watched by 24 year-old computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) who becomes obsessed with wanting to help him while he is in exile.  She reaches out to help Mikael finally, holding key evidence which proves that he in fact innocent of the crime for which he had been convicted.

While staying with Henrik, Mikael learns of the Vanger family's sordid and secretive past.  Henrik is certain that his niece was murdered by someone in his family but he does not know who.  Piece by piece, Mikael begins to place this puzzle together using Harriet's diary, archived photos and his own intuition, but it is only after Lisbeth enters the picture that real progress is made.

Mysterious Lisbeth is not without some secrets of her own.  She undergoes every type of abuse possible, including a brutal rape scene.  We know only that she has something of a dark past which has resulted in her not being allowed control over her own finances as an adult.  She develops  an emotional bond with Mikael, but alas, is never fully able to trust men based on her past traumas.  Nonetheless, she inexplicably is compelled to help Mikael and together they unveil some shocking clues to a string of unsolved murders that took place over the span of the past 40 years throughout Sweden.  At this point, danger is imminent as they realize they both are being watched by someone closer to home than they originally had believed.