Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Review and Comparison

I will start this piece off by saying that I thought the Swedish adaptation of the wildly popular book series was one of the top ten movies of 2009. With a haunting and methodical pace and tone it had an eerie quality that when combined with Noomi Rapace fiery performance as Lisbeth Salander made for a surprisingly enrapturing experience. I was so caught up in the film it had me driving significantly out of my way to catch the very limited releases of the two subsequent sequels as they came to the US. Suffice to say when it was announced studios were going to "Americanize" these films I was confused; Why wouldn't audiences just go see the original Swedish films?  It made me angry that some people refused to see the moves simply because they would have to read the subtitles, how much do people need to be spoon feed.


But as details were released my anticipation grew, David Fincher directing, the man sure knows his way around dark crime films with his previous films Se7en and Zodiac being some of the greatest forays into the genre. Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist was an inspired choice and the out of nowhere casting of relatively unknown actress Rooney Mara was intriguing since her most prolific role was in David Fincher's previous directorial effort, The Social Network, as Mark Zuckerbergs girlfriend. The movie had some really great early buzz but I was still skeptical, so here I am about to delve into what I always hope will be a detailed and informative review but also trying my best to get across my exact feeling on the original this remake and each of their strengths and weakness.

The opening sequence of Fincher's "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is beautifully crafted with a fantastic score by Trent Raznor and Atticus Ross the duo who crafted the fantastic Golden Globe and Academy Award wining score on The Social Network. They return here giving a score that in my opinion out does their previous work by a wide margin, they seamlessly blend heavy-metal undertones with sharp and tension building cords, its all really quite impressive. But after the gorgeous leather and technology filled intro the movie gets to work quick, already having its lead character Blomkvist being successfully sued for libel and losing his reputation. Rooney Mara makes quite the entrance herself, with your first look at her as strapped, zipped, pierced, dyed and disinterested as anyone can hope to look. Mara dives head first into this role and quickly sets out to differentiate herself from Rapace's performance by portraying Lisbeth as a more  vulnerable and traumatized person. Rapace's performance in retrospect was to easy, and comes off overly aggressive to the point where its hard to sympathize. And while many people will take this as sacrilegious, I truly believe Rooney Mara embodies a more humanizing yet still incredibly fierce Lisbeth, which I think gives her portrayal more depth and earns significantly more sympathy. Simply put Mara is a revelation as Lisbeth and gives one of the very best and truly transformative performances of the year.

Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist gives a far better portrayal  than Michael Nyqvist, who even when I originally saw the film came across as too light hearted and just generally out of place. Craig on the other hand is the rock which everything else in the film crashes into. He is our eyes to the story and he is fantastic. I will admit I think I enjoyed his performance in this film more simply because of how unlike his typical roles it is. He is curious and determined to earn back his reputation and its a great driving force to the film. More important than any of that however is his relationship with Lisbeth which is infinitely more interesting as are their true feeling for one another. Lisbeth in the original film was simply intrigued with Blomkvist and when she threw herself atop him one night, she just as quickly tossed him aside. While in Fincher's version they both gain something out of their relationship. Lisbeth finds what I'm sure she would hesitate to call love, in the one man in her life who doesn't treat her like shit and in fact treats her with the utmost respect. It helps that Craig and Mara are also absolutely terrific together, coming across like a perfect albeit incredibly bizarre couple. Its quite touching really, the way Lisbeth begins to let her guard down and even show interest in a real relationship beyond simple sexual pleasure given her horrifying past. It became such that their relationship was my favorite part of the film.

The big mystery, as to who in the royally screwed up Vangar family killed their own flesh and blood, Harriet Vangar is the driving question in Blomkvist and eventually Salanders investigation, and all-in-all it is vastly superior in the Swedish film. The original Swedish film spent the majority of its time in the investigation with the main characters getting interviews and police reports from various towns and their residents. Fincher opts to leave the investigation a little more spontaneous with several "light-bulb" moments striking a new lead or inquiry into the great mystery. While I greatly appreciate the quicker pace of the new film, I felt like the original really made the mystery much more compelling with several possible suspects and even more red herrings. While the new films mystery is completely squandered by having the only other well known actor as one of the suspects, it really ruins the ultimate reveal but its still at the very least an interesting journey. The last thing I'll mention has to do with the films look, which was very sparse and chilling in the original Swedish film, here its a little more in your face. The much talked about rape scene is especially brutal in Finchers version coming across even more gut-wrenching and horrifying, which in turn makes the eventual payback even more satisfying. But generally Fincher strives for a more stylish and cohesive tone, so when it breaks into scenes of graphic violence it doesn't seem jarring as it sometimes did in the original.

In conclusion, Finchers remake is better in someways and worse in other and for every flaw in this film the Swedish films thrive and vica-versa. Its quite amazing really how perfectly mirrored these two films are. Fincher depicts its characters and their relationship far better than the original film but the original included an engaging mystery that kept you guessing till the end. Both films have their merits and so I can safely say both films deserve your attention. Neither is better than the other and they even compliment each other in an odd way, its really the best outcome that could have occurred. Two slightly different takes on the same story and both utterly captivating and mesmerizing in their own way.

(4 out of 5) >> "American"
(4 out of 5) >> "Swedish/ Original"

Mission Impossible IV: Ghost Protocol

Most franchises find themselves stagnating and directionless by a fourth installment but surprisingly and against all expectations the fourth entry in the Mission Impossible series acts like an adrenaline shot straight to the heart for this franchise.With inventive and thrilling death defying action set-pieces that excite on a visceral level mixed with some of the most legitimately funny scenes this side of a comedy and the end result is the best action film of the year bar-none.

The film is directed by Brad Bird this time around, a director known for his much beloved animated films such as The Iron Giant and The Incredible's. There were many eyes on Bird to see if he could capture live-action performances as well as he could in the animated realm and unsurprisingly he knocks it out of the park. Bird directs Ghost Protocol like his life depends on it, as if his entire career lays in the hands of this films success. Bird stages action scenes better than any director who has had 20 action films under his belt. Bird keeps the action in camera making it easy to follow and infinitely more exciting to watch unfold. The movie contains some of the most inventive and down-right brilliant set-pieces of the past 10 years of action films, I hesitate to even describe them, in that I might risk ruining their effect. Suffice to say a jaw-dropping vertical action scene set along the side of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is a real standout.

The entire cast in this film is pitch perfect, Tom Cruise is ... Tom Cruise but he is likable and seems like he is  having fun. Interestingly Bird decides to trade some Cruise brooding scenes for comic relief from Simon Pegg's character as well as some intrigue with the newly introduced Jeremey Renner as a mysterious IMF analyst. Paula Patton who is the quintessential sex appeal, is given a few emotional hooks as well as some pretty kick-ass fight scenes. Everyone on the team has their strengths and them working together is the best part of the film, the teamwork aspect is handled incredibly well given that this could have been a simple Tom Cruise starring vehicle with some interesting supporting characters. Instead there is some great chemistry between all the actors and as you can see from the video above, it makes the proceedings feel fun and light even if the stakes are incredibly high.

There are several "missions" in this movie and all of them could have been the grand finale in any other film, a prison break sequence set to Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" is a fun and creative choice that accentuates the generally light and fun tone the film strives for. Even a chase scene amidst a sandstorm is brilliantly staged and surprisingly easy to follow. While most people wont appreciate how well the action is filmed, I urge you to make direct comparisons to the shaky-cam mentality of the Bourne films or even the recent Bond films were fast cuts and speedy movements are substituted for real discernible heavy hitting action, something Ghost Protocol has in abundance. Every punch, kick, or failed jump looks and feels brutal which adds to the stakes of the action as well as the general kick-assedness.

Mission Impossible IV: Ghost Protocol was an absolute joy to watch, it was one of the most purely enjoyable action films I have seen in a long time. Everything in the film just works, the action is breath-taking the performances are top-notch and the film is just generally thrilling. I never thought the fourth entry in a franchise could be this fresh, daring and overall fantastic. This film not only ignites Brad Birds film career but reinvigorates a franchise and challenges all other action films to top it. Do not miss one of the best action films in years.

(5 out of 5)

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Review

The bizarre double pairing of Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. made the 2009 Sherlock Holmes reboot a delightful surprise. With Downey's wit and charm matching perfectly with Ritchie's kinetic action and hyper stylized direction, providing a very entertaining yet wildly divergent take on the classic Sherlock Holmes story. For the sequel everything is cranked up; the action is more bombastic, the plot even more convoluted, and the gay sexual tension more palpable. This time Holmes arch-nemesis Prof. Moriarty has come forth for a head-to-head battle of wits that if lost could plunge western civilization into war.

Let me start off with the good (because there isn't much of it), the actors all give great performances Downey continues to prove himself an indispensable actor who oozes charisma and can pull up even the most stagnant of movies, which is very much the case here. The other notable performance comes from Jared Harris who plays a seething with anger yet playfully violent Moriarty, its a fantastic performance which is made all the better when playing off of Downey's manic and barely mentally coherent Holmes. The action continues to the Guy Ritchie tradition of heavy slow-mo usage and overly choreographed fights, all the action is staged well and looks incredible, with several fist-fights between Holmes and an ever rotating cast of "Hello My Name Is ________" being the big highlights. The mentally deduced step-by-step take down routine Holmes plays in his head before engaging in a fight is a welcome return from the first film and is always fun to watch unfold.

Unfortunately now we get to the bad; the script is a mess, serving up plot points that are never explained clearly then brushed away leaving you wondering why any of the events just happened or why they are deemed important in any way. Characters are introduced then vanish then pop up again when convenient. There are massive plot holes that are so blatantly stepped over including one that was clearly added in to justify a later set-piece that had me seething with frustration. Every joke, and I mean EVERY joke falls flat. While most are recycled jokes from the previous film that are recited verbatim others are so painfully low-brow they barely rate mentioning. The few smirks all come from Sherlock's increasingly ridiculous disguises that somehow seem to fool everyone in the movie but not a soul in the audience.

The movie has a great breezy pace that is entirely negated by a completely baffling sense of rudimentary fictional peaks and valleys. Most films follow a particular structure so that the audience can follow along with the rise and fall of the emotions and events that occur through the length of the film. Sherlock Holmes has a massive climax filled with literal cannons and gunfire 45 minutes before the end of the film which in turn leaves the end of the film uneventful and unfulfilling. The movie is just generally moves at an erratic pace from set-piece to set-piece all the while leaving the movie feeling hollow and the actions unfolding meaningless.

Sherlock Holmes is a colossal failure as a sequel. It manages to squander all excitement and mystery that its predecessor had in spades and instead opts for a run of the mill action film with light charm. The movie comes across as trying to hard to maintain the out of the blue appeal of the first film, jokes come across forced and the action comes across as artificially heightened and blown out. Its unfortunate this sequel turned out as bad as it did, I was really looking forward to what this reinvented Holmes had in store. Fortunately/ or unfortunately (leaving room for hindsight) there will undoubtedly be a third film in the series and I can only hope they bring it back from the abyss of utter disappointment.

(2 out of 5)

Contagion Review

Contagion is a slick and tightly paced disaster film, subtle yet horrifying in its depiction of a world in chaos due to an outbreak of an unknown virus. The star studded cast includes Matt Damon and Kate Winslet among many others all under the masterful craft of Steven Soderbergh. Contagion manages to capture in the most eerily realistic way possible the backdoor politics and sciences that are involved in creating a cure and alerting the public on a world-wide epidemic.

Soderbergh shines a light on many facets of the mass hysteria from freelance bloggers spreading rumors and persecuting those at the CDC, as well as how scientist would even begin finding a cure for an all new highly contagious virus. Its dour but never depressing, trading sinking hopelessness for a more wide eyed look at the events as they transpire from through the eyes of several characters. Matt Damon whose wife and son her among the first to be afflicted and killed by the virus must protect his daughter as an ever more hysterical and violent population grows restless for a cure. Lawrence Fishburne who heads up the CDC must face the media and the every growing conspiracy that the vaccine is being kept from the general public.

Contagion doesn't depict any one side as necessarily evil, as pharmaceutical companies rush to find a cure but also clearly intend to make huge profits from the pandemic. While conspiracy bloggers point fingers at the government and politics. Even a hostage taking Chinese health official merely wants to save a small fishing village where his family lives. There are one too many plots going on throughout the movie and at least one feels entirely arbitrary and could have been excised completely without a single effect on the movie as a whole.

Contagion is a fast moving often times scary disaster movie. It strikes an interesting balance between showing how the many facets of government the world over would handle a situation like this even if they aren't always depicted in the best light. My biggest relief comes from Soderbergh deft navigation through what is clearly a hot button issue between the american people and its government, the movie is never heavy handed and doesn't push any agenda and I was hugely appreciative to that fact.

(4 out of 5)

Jurassic Park: The Game Review

Jurassic Park as a franchise is almost as untameable as the monstrous dinosaurs that inhabit its extensive fiction. It really is a wonder how any success was found with any of the three movies, the countless videogames, books, or any other form of media Jurassic Park sunk its teeth into. When Spielberg captured lightning in a bottle with the first film everyone and their mothers tried to recapture that same magic in any and all forms they could but all were meet with failure. Even the sequel directed by Spielberg himself was critically and commercially reviled, and since then Jurassic Park has failed to receive the proper treatment it deserves. With Jurassic Park: The Game, Telltale -developer of traditional point-and-click adventure games- decided to take a crack at telling a compelling and classic Jurassic Park story. Telltale has always had a penchant for strong storytelling but could they pull of the inherently action filled Jurassic Park franchise.

Unfortunately they stumble, hard and fast, making them the latest victim to the dinosaurs insatiable appetite. The game starts off as a simple adventure game, it just so happens to be set on Isla Nublar within the timeline of the first Jurassic Park film. It isn't long until it quickly devolves into a series of tedious, frustrating, and punishing quick-time-events; the button prompts come fast and obscured as Telltale attempts to mimic similar mechanics from far superior games like Heavy Rain. Trading fast button presses for legitimate action sequences, making the entire game a roughly 5 hour process of trail-and-error. Interactive buttons are nearly impossible to see with dark environments and poorly placed prompts being among the many problems, prompts are also erratically different in their timing. It should be pretty obvious you spend a large majority of your time in this game fleeing from dinosaurs which makes all the flaws I just mentioned incredibly frustrating when the sense of urgency is at its height, it feels as if the game is actively working against you and its infuriating.

It's not all bad, the games characters are well developed and realistically portrayed given the circumstances. The voice-acting lended to each of the frequently newly introduced characters are all top-notch as are the lines they speak. The writing and the story are where this game exceed, picking up with the fate of the Barbasol can Dennis Nedry had filled with dinosaur embryos and dropped when attacked by one of the islands more flamboyant dinos. The story follows a fast-paced and often dramatic race to the coast with numerous unforeseen twists that legitimately had me shocked; fantastic new dinosaurs are consistently introduced including a cunningly poisonous little bugger that is at the center of some of the games most thrilling moments.

Jurassic Park is great, except the part where you have to play it. If this had been the plot of a new entry in the Jurassic Park film series it would have been mind-blowing instead its a shoddily if still lovingly made videogame.
Telltale clearly loves the Jurassic Park franchise with plenty of winks and nods to the original film, even rewarding those who know exactly how many time to flip the primer switch. Telltale was just not ready to delve into such an action oriented game with little to no experience, instead opting to take the easy way out creating what amounts to a 5 hour quick-time-event.

(3 out of 5)