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TV show review: CONTINUUM season 4
PHOTOGRAPHY

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST
DVD Review by David Blackwell

DETAILS: 146 minutes, theatrical trailer
VIDEO: 1.85:1(Anamorphic Widescreen)
AUDIO: Swedish 5.1, English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English

STUDIO: MusicBox Films/ Yellow Bird/ Filmpool/ ZDF Enterprises/ Zodiak Entertainment
RELEASE DATE:  1-25-2011

Lisabeth Salander ends up in intensive care after the events in THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE.   In the conclusion of the adaptation of the trilogy written by Steig Larsson, Lisabeth finds herself on trial for murder as Mikael Blomkvist searches for evidence to clear her name and expose the rogue government unit who seek to cover it all up.   Mikael’s sister is defending Lisabeth who is stubborn as usual and doesn’t trust the system.  Exposing the rogue unit puts everyone’s lives on the line.

 

I have been reading the novels head to head with watching the movies.   A little bit is lost as the films streamline events (and the films are actually 30 minutes shorter than how they were shown in Sweden, but MusicBox is supposed to release the uncut films later this year) and yet Noomi Rapace helps hold the films together with her intense performance as Lisabeth Salander- the anti-social bisexual goth computer hacker.  I loved the first two films and I mostly love this film too.  I also enjoy the books which were intended to be part of a ten book series (which Larsson’s girlfriend supposedly ahs the unfinished fourth novel in her possession).  Even though the ending fits in with the characters, I felt the last ten minutes felt a little anti-climatic and seemed a little rushed.

 

The only extra on the DVD is a theatrical trailer for this film and previews for other movies.   This film will be included in a box set with the other two films (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE) and the box set will have a fourth disc that features interviews, a documentary on the Millennium trilogy and a featurette on author Steig Larsson.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  I wonder how the uncut versions will improve on these films including THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST.  The third film breaks to the conclusion of Noomi Rapace’s stellar performance as Lisabeth Salander.   Too bad MusicBox skimmed on the extras again and include extras on a box set when many have already bought the films individually.

 

This DVD review is ©1-29-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com