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The first film of the trilogy was the best, the second was the weakest, and this one is somewhere in between, but still worth watching. The difficulty lies in the fact that not only is the first book the best of the three, but it is also the one in which Mikael and Lisbeth have most page/screen time together, and since it is their relationship that propels the emotional core of the narrative, the fact that they spend so much time apart in film/books 2 and 3 is a problem. In this final episode, Lisbeth also spends a good deal of time in hospital, while a lot of slightly uninteresting business goes on elsewhere; and it is only really in the courtroom scene towards the end that things come alive.
If there was any justice in the world, Noomi Rapace would get an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of this complex, fascinating and obsessive woman, who is after all the main reason why Stieg Larsson's stories are so compelling and popular. Her refusal to compromise or yield an inch to any (male) authority along with a fanatical determination to take revenge on her persecutors makes her a heroine we can root for, even if she might not be the easiest dinner guest - in the unlikely event of her accepting the invitation in the first place. I also like the fact that Mikael's devotion is so total, despite the almost invisible degree of appreciation he receives in return.
I assume that if you're planning to watch this film, you've seen the other 2 films and/or read the books, because frankly, there wouldn't be much point in starting the whole Larsson thing at this point. But I'm not giving away any secrets when I tell you that film opens with Lisbeth in hospital, having survived a homicidal attack by her evil father, and done sufficient damage to him in return so that he is in a hospital bed next door. Meanwhile her mutant half-brother who can feel no pain, is roaming the streets with sibling murder on his mind, while the secret branch of the Swedish MI5 is trying to cover its tracks, and Mikael is doing his best to save Salander's skin from her enemies. It all goes on for two and a half hours, but there's never a dull moment; in fact you need to stay alert to keep up.
It's not good pretending that either the books or the films are High Art; they're thrilling thrillers with a political edge, and thoroughly enjoyable. Now we just have to see what David Fincher and Daniel Craig do with the same material. Expectations low.
