The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest Closes Book on Great Movie Series By Art Byrd

One of the hottest books of 2010 is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (TGWTDT), which was written by former journalist Stieg Larsson. He died in 2004 before the book and its sequels -- The Girl Who Played with Fire (TGWPWF) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (TGWKTHN) -- became popular. Very popular.

The books were turned into three movies with the same titles which also are very cool. Stieg Larsson was Swedish, so the movies were made in Sweden.

Last fall, I was in Cleveland and had a chance to see TGWTDT but I went to another movie. I’ve regretted that not seeing the movie on the big screen.

The Swedish producers and filmmakers of TGWTDT have done something unheard of in the way of sequels: They released TGWPWF within months of TGWTDT being in theaters. Now they have released the final chapter of the trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.

Within the last month, I have seen TGWTDT and TGWPWF on DVD. Both movies were excellent. They left me very interested in seeing how it all ends.

All three movies center on Lisbeth Salander, a computer hacker whose punk rock look, complete with piercings, makes her an unlikely heroine. But she is that -- and much more. 

In TGWPWF, Lisbeth (played amazingly by Noomi Rapace) is set up for three murders. She is on the run while trying to solve the murders. In the end, she finds out that her own father, Zalachenko, a crime lord, is part of the conspiracy against her. 

In a bloody showdown, Lisbeth is shot in the leg, shoulder and head by her father. She summons enough strength to strike her father with an axe. Surprisingly, he lives to be put in the same hospital as Lisbeth.

It turns out that as a young girl, Lisbeth set Zalachenko on fire because he abused her mother. In TGWKTHN, Lisbeth is in the hospital recovering from her injuries. The police still want to charge her with attempting to kill her father.

Another integral character of the all three movies is investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist, played by Michael Nyqvist. He believes Lisbeth is innocent and strike out to prove it. The conspirators, a secret group, are determined to silence Lisbeth. They threaten Mikael and his colleagues at the magazine he works for, the Millennium.

TGWTKHN has a lot of “how are the heroes going to win?” moments. The evidence they have and need is taken; people are beaten up and followed around. Lisbeth is put on trial and the findings slowly start to prove her innocence. At that point, the movie picks up speed, yet it slower than the two other movies.

I didn’t read the books. I knew I couldn’t wait for the TGWKTHN to hit DVD release, so I went to Cleveland to see the last film on the big screen. It was worth it, but the last scene with Lisbeth and Mikael provided a weak ending.

Currently, there is an American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo being filmed. It’s directed by David Fincher, whose last movie was The Social Network. I can’t predict how it will be, but I can tell you the Swedish version of TGWTDT will take you to the edge of your couch.

Edited by Michele Ristich Gatts