WHY, but WHY did they replace Rapace...

Rating: 6/10 (1 March 2013)

I've read the books first. Really liked it.
Then, I've watched the Swedish version and I was really mad about all the things they changed and deleted from the book. They had a hard time linking all the different part, but they did a good job in some few parts, like I preferred the photograph of the parade, I believed more into the setting of the parade or of the bridge accident and stuff. I've started the second movie, it's really horrible. The girl they picked to play Myriam isn't even a little Asian. After 5 to 10 min, it was so boring I stopped it.
Then, I've watched the American version. I was immediately mad about the casting. OK, I get it, you need big movie stars and all. It's fine for Craig, I don't care that much and even though he has a big part in the story, his character personality isn't as marked as the one of Lisbeth. BUT WHY, WHY DID THEY CHANGED LISBETH? Rapace speaks English AND she is the PERFECT actress to play the part of Lisbeth. In my mind, when I read the book, the face and body I had in mind was almost exactly alike. Mara is just so generic in her strangeness. And she's SO dull! Lisbeth isn't suppose to look or be shy, she's suppose to be asocial, there's a big difference. Maybe it has something to do with her acting skills, I don't know. I pray that they switch it up for the 2 movie that still remain, but I know I'm wasting my time. Such a waste when you have an actress that is just so totally perfect for the role. I prefer almost all the cast of the American version better though, except for her (obviously) and for Plague, the hacker, who's just... he's too cliché.
The story, the respect they kept for the original book, it's so much better in the American movie. But maybe a little too much clean, too much "high budget", it somewhat distracted me sometimes - too much American overall even though they kept the Sweden scenery and stuff. But it was OK for the setting of the island and the houses of the Vanger family (is the Swedish version, the houses are not fancy enough, it's just a little weird)...
The best movie would have been a mix of both, the American version could have been awesome if they just understand how important the casting of Lisbeth is (for those who did not read the books, you'll see what I mean in the next 2 movies - I really feel like she is much more important then Blomkvist in the trilogy).