'The Girl Who Played With Fire' — 4 out of 5 stars
Still reeling from the sheer stupidity of the last Bond film? No hard feelings, James, but a super sleuth with a motive, Lisbeth Salander, may give you some competition. The second installment of the Millennium series series directed by Daniel Alfredson, “The Girl Who Played With Fire,” proves itself to be a calculated, sleek sequel.
If you aren’t acquainted with Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Repace) by now, you should be. The title heroine from "The Girl Who Played With Fire" has returned to Stockholm after travelling to manage her relationships. Lisbeth soon finds herself accused of murdering three people — two being journalists investigating sex trafficking amongst officials in the government. A series of quick, violent attacks on Lisbeth indicate that someone wants her dead, but as to who this is remains a mystery. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Mikael Nyqvist) and Lisbeth inadvertently partner once more, continuing the investigation on sex trafficking while trying to clear Lisbeth’s name.
The only aspect of the Millennium series that isn’t controversial is how well it has translated into film. While the first film of the series maintained a raw primal intensity, clipping at a fast pace, don’t expect the same from “The Girl Who Played With Fire.” It is a slower film, exploring the subjectivity of Lisbeth and divulging more information about her tortured past which proves to be the most engaging mystery of the many in the film. Though it retains the same sharp, sleek sophistication as its predecessor film, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” lacks the same, surmounting suspense. The detailing of this film sometimes feels excessive — artful, engaging, but still excessive.
If you have yet to pick up the series of novels, it may be wise to do so. Seeing the film without prior knowledge of material may not only be shocking but confusing and disturbing. Either way, “The Girl Who Played with Fire” proves itself to be an intensely enthralling, artistic crime thriller.