Serial killers should stop using Bible references

Rating: 4/10 (5 February 2012)

It is difficult to review a movie with such a dense narrative and multi-layered references. As almost everybody knows, the story is based on a best-selling trilogy of novels, written by a Swedish journalist. Based on the novels, Swedish TV produced a mini-series of six episodes.
I saw the whole thing and was underwhelmed. Enough to put me off from reading the novels. Theoretically, the author aimed at glorifying his strong heroine, Lisbeth Salander, who manages to thrive despite the physical and mental violence she has to endure. In the Swedish series, Lisbeth comes across as an unpleasant weirdo bent on revenge (even if most rightfully so) and not so much as a role-model for battered women.
This movie summarizes what in the Swedish series is two longish episodes. Inevitably, much had to be cut off. Unfortunately, I doubt I could have followed the movie without having previously watched the series.
The first part of this long story deals with introducing unorthodox leading lady Lisbeth and her partner, disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Their meeting is catalyzed by a weird investigation on a missing girl. Unfortunately, this investigation is not much more than a rehash of the "closed room" investigations from many thrillers of the past. To make things more "modern" we have rape and serial killers thrown in in what is a very trivial background.
Forty years before the beginning of our story, a young girl named Harriet Vanger, disappears from a small island. The island belongs to the Vanger family, each and every member being on it the day of her disappearance, to increase the number of suspects. Her uncle Henrik seems to be the only one upset by her disappearance, but he still waits quite a long time before reopening the case.
Henrik Vanger assigns the investigation to Mikael, after having had his background researched by the company that employs Lisbeth as an "investigator" and hacker. In turn, Mikael asks for Lisbeth help to solve the alleged murder mystery.
The mystery revolves around the" usual" serial killer who goes around leaving clues based on the Bible. I lost count on how many times I saw an investigator solving a case by "finally" deciphering obscure numerical clues by cross-checking the Bible. This is sloppy narrative. Unfortunately, also the other main point of the movie – the battles of fierce Lisbeth against abusing men – is equally disappointing.
Compared to its Swedish counterpart, this American version is much more opulent and visually brilliant. Interiors and exteriors are sleek, polished and expensive-looking. Both main characters are played by actors a lot better looking than the Swedish ones. However, they lack credibility. The Lisbeth played by Rooney Mara is accurately styled as a post-punk heroine, wearing trendy clothes and jewelery. The one played by Swedish Rapace, was more a Joan Jet of the poor, looking disheveled and not styled at all.
I am sure many will appreciate this movie as a stand-alone thriller, because of its sleek visuals and recognizable basic plot (the Bible serial killer), missing completely the intricacies, plot twists and convoluted heaviness of the whole series.