not for kids
Part 2 of subtitled crime trilogy has same brutality, sex.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that, like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the first movie in the subtitled Swedish trilogy based on Stieg Larsson's best-selling books), this film is not for kids. It has lots of violent sequences, including those in which characters are beaten, burned, shot, buried alive, captured, and tortured. Women are brutally attacked, though they do fight back heroically. There are also several explicit sexual scenes (both opposite-sex and same-sex), with partial and full-frontal female nudity. The story involves sex trafficking and the abuse of power, specifically against women. On top of all this, there's some swearing ("f--k" and "s--t" etc.), graphic sexual language, and the lead character is a chain smoker.
- Families can talk about your reaction to the movie's violence and brutality. What purpose do you think they serve? Would the movie have been as effective without them?
- The phrase "you can't tell a book by its cover" could apply to Lisbeth Salander. What did you learn about appearance versus reality from this movie?
- If you've read the book this movie is based on, how did you feel about the movie version? What did you miss? If you haven't read the book, did seeing this movie make you want to read it?
- The staff of Stockhom's Millenium magazine, led by Mikael Blomqvist, are courageous journalists with a profound sense of right and wrong. Which newspapers and/or magazines that you've read live up to these standards?
The good stuff
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Messages: Although violence penetrates every part of this story, the film's ultimate message is that with vigilance and courage, even those who seem powerless can triumph over great evil. Teamwork, respect for one's colleagues, and a strong sense of others' worth are essential for a successful outcome
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Role models: Lisbeth Salander is a most unlikely role model. Small, antisocial, unorthodox in appearance and dress, she uses the skills she's painstakingly developed (computer hacking, boxing, martial arts, and more) to overcome prejudice against her and malicious attacks on her life. Mikael Blomqvist and others on his magazine's staff are brave and diligent members of the press. Other than the victims of sex traffickers, the women in this film are portrayed as strong and self-sufficient. And, though wrong-headed initially, the police finally redeem themselves by being open-minded and siding with the forces of right.
What to watch for
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Violence: Lots of brutal, bloody action, including threatening interrogations, physical attacks in which women are beaten and kicked, a rape seen in flashback, savage fist fights, and more. A young girl throws kerosene on a man, then lights a match and watches him burn. A woman is shot and buried alive. Lots of gun action, and a scene in which one character is bludgeoned with an axe.
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Sex: In a lengthy sequence, two women engage in sexual activity, with full-frontal nudity and lots of breast exposure. A man has sexual intercourse with a girl who's a victim of sex trafficking. More nudity in a post-sexual scene between two consenting adults. Graphic sexual language.
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Language: The English subtitles include multiple uses of "f--k," "s--t," "bastard," "whore," "bitch," "bullsh--t," and "dyke." "Christ" and "Jesus" are also used as exclamations.
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Consumerism: Apple computers, Sunoco, Ikea, Dole.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The lead character chain smokes throughout the movie. A few instances of beer drinking in social settings. Drug trafficking plays a small part in the criminal activity being investigated.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
Sexy, dangerous, and smart by thejeffersonlee
Stieg Larsson's second book of his posthumously released Millennium Trilogy makes it to the silver screen and is no less a treat than it's predecessor, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyquist return as the unlikely investigative team of Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomquist. Rapace gives a compelling performance and makes Larsson's abilities as a suspense-thriller-mystery writer visually tangible and satiating. The story of Lisbeth Salander becomes clearer and darker all at the same time, and it will leave you craving for the third and final film. These films bring a fresh and powerful credibility to Swedish cinema and film. Who wants to go to Stockholm?!? ME!!
4
Once Again...Smashing by KalelFan
Noomi Rapace draws the attention of any reader of the Millienium series as Lisbeth Salandar once again. Her portrayal of the young lady with the boyish figure warrants her depiction for the American screen versions. The film was written in near similarity to the novel, which means that even if you have never read the book series, you can watch the film and get the gist of the storyline with 95% accuracy. Not for children, the film has a very intense intimacy scene between Salander and Miriam, it was still appropriate as it was written according to Larssen's work. The story begins in a slow fashion, similar to the novels, however, as you meet Paolo, Zala, and Niedermann for the first time, you will enjoy seeing Blomkvist again. Your sympathies will be extended to Salander as she makes her way through the beatings, memories, and agony of running for her innocence. True fans should see this and newcomers must see the first film "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" first.
5
Swedish fire by Mister Right
I disagree with the critics that say this is a poor follow-up to "the Girl With the Dragin Tattoo",this movie is good in it's own way. In fact some of the flashbacks to the rape scene in the first movie were unnecessary and spoiled the pace of the movie. All we need to know is Lisbeth is back in Sweden with a ton of money and is going to take care of her girl friend and continue to punish her enemies. However, everything back-fires on her we she gets blamed for three murders, and by tracking down the killers she finds out even more about her past and who her father really was besides being the wife beater who she sets on fire in the first flick.Please go see these movies now before Hollywood does the English version with some stupid skinny actress like Kate Hudson. Noomi Rapace may be skinny and kinda ugly ( which is mentioned several times in the movie) but she is perfect for this part. She is a 88 lbs. dynamo with a can of mace,a stun gun and oh yes don't forget the can of gasoline!
5
Excellent follow-up to the Dragon by bubble_head
Superb movie. The action never stops.
4
great by jshama711
i really enjoyed the movie. having read all three books, I am enjoying watching them on big screens.
4
Just like the book by nerak06523
Great adaptation of an exciting novel. I like that the story spoke for itself as there was very little dialogue throughout the film.
5
No knowledge of the story or the books and LOVED the film..
Can't wait to pick up the book series and Netflix the first film!
3
The Girl Who Played with Fire by judish
As a member of the sub-title reading audience, the subtleties, that define a film as this, are nearly impossible to catch. The stories of this trilogy are about detail and then, more detail. These mysteries, at times bizarre yet always interesting, are inticately woven with subplots that explain the crosscurrents often felt in the movie, but whose pure messages are lost in the sea of vagueness; which often happens with subtitles. I actually think I would have liked the movie alot if I had the ability to watch it as the author/director intended.