Disgusting movie

Rating: 1/10 (6 June 2010)

If reviewers think that a movie with a tedious (3 hours) story line made up primarily of a how to guide to sadomasochism, bondage and discipline, serial rape and serial murder is a great movie it makes me really sad. I would have walked out of the movie but I did not want to embarrass my friends who brought me to see it. The sex was simulated but the violence was very explicit. There were numerous scenes of torture as well. While many felt the movie was well acted and well directed I would also disagree. The motivations of the characters were very unclear. For the most part the only emotions people showed were hate and glee over causing others physical pain on the one hand and the screams of physical pain by the victims on the other. As a matter of fact the emotions people showed were closer to those seen in a psycho ward. However, I do think the reason there is so poor character development and motivation is due to bad acting and directing. I must admit I do not understand why people go to bull fights either just to see animals being tortured.
Since I first posted this review, I have read the last two books of the Millennium Trilogy. They are masterpieces. I disagree quite emphatically with those who say the pictures follow the books. Stieg Larsson through his translator, carefully develops characters and the violence while it does occur is a minor part of the books. The most glaring difference is the nuance of the books. The books are spy, murder detective thrillers to be sure, but the underlying purpose of the books is to promote a scathing indictment of Swedish society after the cold war. Each volume tackles a different aspect of Swedish society. Human trafficking, internal secret police operations and corruption in the corporate world.