When Swedish author Stieg Larsson finished the manuscripts for the Millennium Trilogy, he probably never expected that his books would become a must-read sensation around the world. With more than 20 million books released in over 41 countries, it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of Larsson’s irreverant heroine Lisbeth Salander. Bolstered by it’s New York Times Bestseller-status and an intensely twisted plot, the Millennium Trilogy had the potential to be box office movie gold. And yet, The Girl Who Played with Fire manages to take the thrill of the bestselling book and make it thoroughly boring.
There’s no denying that Larsson packed his books full. Complete with a massive cast and an extensive plot, The Girl Who Played with Fire novel spares no detail. In the transition from book to movie, however, the fine details never receive the same attention they deserve. Director Daniel Alfredson plods through plot points and character development with little suspense. Important characters are introduced briefly and then abandoned for the majority of the movie. Climactic moments are treated with blasé disregard. In what may have been an attempt to fit as much as possible into a two hour film, the movie ends up crowded, never fully developing a single storyline.
If you haven’t read the books or at least seen the previous movie, good luck finding interest in this most recent addition to the Millennium world. This generic and formulaic adaptation manages to make even the most gritty fights or heart-pounding car chases thoroughly sleepy. If Alfredson had attempted to cut back from the massive scope of the film then maybe The Girl Who Played with Fire might have captured some of the excitement of the book.
With an unimaginative execution and a soporific pace, there’s nothing here to get excited about. In the end, it’s probably better to just forget this film was ever made and wait from the upcoming American adaptation. Maybe then filmmakers will be able to do some justice to Larsson’s epic novel.
