Just curious what other readers out there think. The American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo will be released on Dec 21st and I wanted to ask you all to share your thoughts with others who might be unfamiliar (yes they are out there) with the books or the author if they should read the book first before seeing the film or not. Your advice is appreciated. Of course I recently read where the sales have surged for the book so maybe people are preferring to read the book first.
The reason for the post: I was recently asked if I would recommend reading the book first before seeing the movie. I would say yes for several reasons with one of them being that you would be better served to know what to expect as the book is very dark. Also, I found The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a page turner. The prologue of the book with the pressed flowers set a sinister tone for the novel. I found parts of the book very hard to read for obvious reasons. Enough of what I think. What do you say? The film promises to be just as dark as the book, so that’s why I say read the book first but I’d like to hear what you all think if you happen to pass through here today. Thank You.
Poll is now closed. Thank You! Results are below the break.
To be honest my answer would be “read the book, see the Swedish movie (subtitles and all) and don’t bother with the American version”. But I suppose that’s unfair as I haven’t seen the new version myself (and am not sure if I will…probably wait until it is on DVD).
I have seen the Swedish version and agree with you. I am curious about the American version. Not all of their remakes have been stellar (the Killing anyone? on AMC – didn’t bother seeing it).
I’d probably recommend the original movie over the book… It’s definitely essential viewing.
For people who don’t read much, I would recommend seeing the US remake first because the first 20-odd pages of TGWTDT are painfully dull. Who gives a crap about financial whatis and economics? The novel comes alive the moment a) he makes his visit to the House or b) the girl makes her first appearance.
For people who do read, I’d recommend reading the novel first.
For people who have read the novel and wants to see the film, how would I recommend depends on these two things – if time is an issue, watch the US film. If it’s not an issue, watch the Swedish film. Or both.
I’d go with choice b: when the girl makes her first appearance because that’s when it took off for me.
Unfair or not, I agree with Bernadette.
I know this is probably heresy, but I liked the first book, thought the second OK and didn’t finish the third. So not bothering with the films anyway, Looking forward to a review though Keishon!
From the trailers I’ve seen so far, the movie will be far darker than the book, at least to my mind. As happened with “Pelle the Conqueror,” most of the humor of Stieg Larsson’s writing will be missing. And the ending of the book has been changed, of course.
I agree. Scary! I mean there are parts of the book that were gruesome and to see on it on the big screen – oy. I am NOT looking forward to that. May have to watch certain scenes while covering eyes.
Oy indeed. The translation factory have decided we’ll wait for the DVD so we can fast forward through the creepy bits. I must say the casting and make-up still leave me cold. Not the image I have in my mind. Hope they didn’t delete the Billy’s Pan Pizzas!
I just saw the American movie a couple of days ago. I liked it a lot, even better than the Swedish movie and as much as the book, but in a different way. I didn’t feel that it was darker than the book though — for me the book was a bit darker than the movie. But then my emotional response to books is often more powerful than it is to movies. I have a much higher tolerance for dark themes (not graphic violence) in movies than in books.
Anyhow, I think the real test will be the movie of The Girl Who Played with Fire. I found the Swedish film of that book very disappointing, considering that it was my favorite book in the series. I hope that David Fincher directs the American version. If he does, I’ll go see it since for the most part I liked what he did with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
I must SEE THIS MOVIE soon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Janine. Most people in my acquaintance preferred the American version too. I think David Fincher is directing all three movies if everything goes well sales-wise for the franchise that is…
“And the ending of the book has been changed, of course.”
Really? I haven’t seen anything except trailers, so maybe others have had sneak peeks, but I hadn’t heard this before. Still, I will watch the US film because I am beyond intrigued about how they’ll pull it off. The Swedish version was excellent and my hopes are fragile.
Reading vs. seeing without having read? I voted for reading before seeing, but I think that question can only be answered in hindsight. Since we/I have no idea what to expect from the film, we’ll have to talk afterwards.
The news about the ending I read somewhere in an interview with Fincher, I believe. He didn’t think the ending in the book was cinematic enough. Or perhaps notice that the trilogy is essentially one long book. That’s Hollywood.
People should read the book first. The plot has a lot of twists and turns and it may be hard to follow without having read the book. Also, in agreement about the gruesome stuff. I had to fast forward through parts of the Swedish film, or cover my eyes. I saw it on dvd and even walked out of the room at one point.
I’ll see the U.S. version on dvd when I can get it from my library.
How did they change the ending? That’s kind of weird. I hope they didn’t change the basic line about who saved whom here.
No idea how the ending was changed… yet.
I really didn’t like the book. I found it clunky (not sure if that was the fault of the original or the translation) and the first 100 pages could have done with some serious editing. Plus something at the end (she says vaguely so as not to spoil it for anyone) had me rolling my eyes. So I didn’t read the other books and won’t be watching any of the films. But millions of people can’t be wrong, so who am I to say?!
Donna
Keep in mind that not all problems can be laid at the feet of either the author or the translator. There were editors involved at each stage in Sweden, the UK, and the USA, to speak only of the English-language edition. Why doesn’t anyone ever blame them for infelicities?
Editors should take responsibility. They can work magic with a manuscript, if they’re good. They can tighten up the wording, edit out boring details and tangents, focus the writing — a lot.
read the book, then watch the sweedish movie, then watch the holywood movie … the sweedish moviw is the best movie from a book, you could think of. I am very scared that the holywood movie is going to be some kind of pg13 or everybody must watch movie, this story is scarry, involving rape, murders, hate and mentally broken people.