An interesting cartoon

Rating: 3/10 (2 April 2012)

David Fincher (director) and Steven Zaillian (screenplay) accomplish a solid, if limited, vision of Stieg Larsson's internationally acclaimed novel. If that required making a dark cartoon of the title character, she's an unusually interesting one that apparently appealed to the filmmakers: the underdog/heroine with ready-made (by Larsson) makeup, wardrobe, and "attitude." With a personal story that could be tweaked to "keep it simple" but is, by its nature, compelling. No worries about a sequel; "Lisbeth's" story is tweaked into movie-style completion in this film. Something about international high finance to gratify "Lisbeth" before she rides into the sunset on her motorcycle.
If Rooney Mara's acting struck me as robotic, where's the harm? "Lisbeth" = "tough;" robots = "tough." To add a little - realism, is it? - she doesn't have to act just a little "vulnerable," she just moves through the plot element emphasized by the filmmakers to imply that she is, a little. Within their vision, a glaringly unrealistic element, in my opinion. And her halo slips while she viciously performs an unnecessary cruelty. But we suspend our better judgements when we are watching a cartoon, anyway. No big deal.
Tweak the internationally acclaimed plot a little more, and the respected investigative reporter, "Mikael"/Daniel Craig becomes the (surprisingly well acted) perfect foil, an absent-minded professor type who bumbles his way through his part in an investigation while our heroine saves the day. (To make sure we don't miss his bumbling, Stellan Skarsgård's character calls attention to his idiotic behavior, chalking it up to human foibles). No point in throwing out the investigation of a decades-old mystery completely, as it adds its own "spice" to the titillating mix. Besides, it's a ready-made (by Larsson) way to bring in "Mikael"/Daniel to elicit "Lisbeth"/Rooney's "vulnerability." But no need to dwell on any details of why/how two seemingly unlikely, previously unacquainted people manage to solve an "unsolvable" mystery. (BTW, Chris Plummer overacts his part: he brings poignancy and gravitas to this throwaway "sub"plot).
I did mind the film editing, which unbelievably won the 2012 Oscar. But if you're already familiar with this story and you keep your wits about you, or if you use mind-enhancing drugs, you should be able to follow along some of the rushed through, chopped up plot elements chosen by the filmmakers to sort-of-include in this tale.
Overall, if you don't find the caricaturization of a punk "tough cookie" to be offensive, you should find this movie enjoyable. Sort of like a "real-life" Batman ensemble, with very nasty sex. If you might prefer characterization over caricaturization, and a story of two excellent and complementary detectives, the Swedish film of TGWTDT is for you.