Right; that film
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was on the telly. You know, the Daniel Craig one. And oh, dear, isn't it odd to see him in that kind of picture?
Let me tell you a story. One summer a few years back, I had a rather difficult digestive disease. I recovered, of course, but it was on the level of saying "Oh, my, it's practically clear..." to yourself. I was confined to the lavatory most of the time. I had decided to read that book, mostly because I happened to have it and also to see what all the fuss was about. Also really ill, and it was the first book that I fumbled out of the shelf. And frankly, if you are shivering and got the spit of a toad, it's impressive for a book to still make you go "what the hell
is this?!" I could, and can, see why the book and the films made a splash. They're pretty well made, and I imagine they rode on a lot of shock value
tm, too. Still, it's odd to see James Bond bumble around in that kind of
Midsummer Murders/Law & Order: Special Victims Unit-esque plot, with actors like Christoffer Plumber and Stellan Skarsgård along for the ride.
It's odd. It's like when a moderate quality crime drama or a gangster film steps up to jolly well tell you something about life. It's more amusing than anything when they do that. With an admitted undercurrent of unpleasantness, in this case. Stieg Larsson is (well, was) working some difficult things out, and we're invited to watch. And, of course, take the piss, should we want. It's one of those "lemme tell ye how it is, sonny"-films that is also weirdly pornographic about it. Staying true to material, of course, but seeing that sort of "ermgd, shocked yet, public?! Huh?! Yeah!" story played out by amongst the best pros the industry has to offer is just fantastic fun. It's like the local middle school doing a confrontative play about the Trail of Tears and then a bunch of top-tier actors comes crashing in to play it out. It stumbles on its shoelaces to be dark and confrontative, and it's impossible not to adore that, in a way.
On to the seven spoiler seas, now.
The best part is that Mr. Blomqvist is an incredibly thick character (*ding-dong* "Hello, Mr. Murderer, can I borrow a cup of sugar?"), and seeing Daniel Craig in that sort of role is incredibly amusing. Particularly if you pretend he's James Bond on a gap year or something. Of course, it's a more "realistic" scenario, but that's even better. James Bond trapped on holiday in a slightly more real pocket of reality where his usual tricks don't work. And where he left most of his brain in the office.
And there's also the classic ridiculously elaborate torture room basement thing, that makes you think of the builders.
Bob the Builder: "So, uh, boss, this 'ere thing on the print, says 'rape basement', what's the story with that, then?"
The Villain: "OH SHIT!" *Bonk!*
Builders in fiction-land are deaf, blind and mute, or are incredibly replacable, it'd seem. Or maybe they've got a pretty severe no-disclosure arrangement. Odd thing to rip on, but there's a lot of films where the creepy baddies has a way too elaborate and complicated workshop for a lone freak with unpleasant hobbies. And speaking of, I'm sure Enya was absolutely thrilled. But then again, what could they've gone for in the royalty free pile? Turkey in the Straw?
Then there's Lisbeth the Violent Wondermind, who does come across as a cruise missile in the shape of a human being. I'm not entirely sure she doesn't have super powers. Hell, imagine if she showed up in one of the big annual super hero films, that'd be fantastic. Point her at a problem, make it interest or stimulate her, and clock off for lunch. Refuel with Happy Meals now and then. It'll get done.
In brief; this film weirdly amused me, I had a few good laughs. That is a pretty big WTF. I don't think that was the intention. At all. Lord help me.
Try the book. It's an excellent distraction if you're really, really ill and can't bother to find anything else to read. 6 Artefact Werewolf Tables out of 10.
~This has been
Off to the Movies, with your host, Mr. Silverthrone.~
Author
Topic: Things that made you go "WTF?" today o_O (Read 14489532 times)