Review: 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Leaves A Lasting Mark

By Michael Lopez

Love it or hate it, it'll be hard to forget the imagery director David Fincher's cooking up in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Definitely not for the squeamish, this dark, brooding tale proves to be rather rewarding (for those who can stick it out) and features a brilliant performance by newcomer Rooney Mara.

Based on the popular Swedish book of the same name, Dragon Tattoo is a slow burning mystery, full of twists, turns, and an ending that will not disappoint. It's also extremely graphic and features subjects like incest, rape, and stuff that we doubt good old Sherlock Holmes would ever tackle.

But, we for one, enjoy a solid R-Rated outing every now and again, especially when it's as well crafted as Dragon Tattoo. Current James Bond Daniel Craig delivers a very subtle performance, which actually serves his character well. His role as journalist Mikael Blomkvist is the one most audience members will be able to relate to. He's not a larger-than-life, ass kicking detective. Instead, Blomkvist is an educated everyman, who finds himself entangled in a very engaging mystery.

It seems a Swedish billionaire by the name of Henrik Vanger has requested Mikael to help him pen his memoirs. But we soon discover that Vanger's family is holding some very dark secrets, including the possible murder of a missing young girl.

Blomkvist's research soon leads him on the path to the young girl's whereabouts, but he'll need a little help along the way. And that's where The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo comes in. Lisbeth Salander (Mara) is an inked, pierced, Swedish doppleganger for Kat Von D! But she's also a brilliant investigator and soon becomes a love interest for Mikael.

Together, the two amateur sleuths uncover clues that will crack the case, but not before an explosive finale (and one last twist that's certain to fool the audience). We've all seen cheesy whodunits on the big screen before (M. Night Shyamalan has built a career on it). But Dragon Tattoo is able to create an intricate plot that still feels fresh and original. Plus, Fincher's moody ambiance and the intriguing back story of Lisbeth adds even more icing to the Swedish cake.

Bottom line: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is no lighthearted piece of 90-minute fluff. This nearly three-hour epic requires quite a bit of serious concentration. But if you're willing to invest in these characters, you'll be more than amply rewarded. The mystery is intriguing, the performances are top-notch, and the final twist will keep you stirring long after the movie ends.

Are you planning on watching The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Daniel Craig, David Fincher, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, Rooney Mara, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo