The Girl in the Spider's Web

Honestly, apart from the first film in the original Swedish trilogy, I was only really hooked by the first one; the others either weren’t worth much or were purely frustrating, but I didn’t get any special feelings from them. I still haven't seen Fincher’s American remake of the first film...we’ll see, maybe I’ll get around to it eventually. However, I was very interested in this latest addition because it offers a storyline that hasn’t been explored by the Swedes before. Alvarez caught my attention with Evil Dead, a fantastic thriller through and through. That’s why I was quite looking forward to The Girl in the Spider’s Web. It didn’t disappoint me, but it didn’t exactly blow me away either. I think Claire Foy was well-cast in the role of Lisbeth Salander; she convincingly captured her image and her behavior was quite close to the original when you compare it. On the other hand, the actor playing the main journalist disappointed me; I would have chosen someone else for that role. The action wasn’t bad; some scenes were well-shot, but I still wonder if they should have focused more on the thriller aspects rather than the action. Still, it was well done. I give it 64%. (18/03/2019)

I haven't read David Lagercrantz's book, and I'm not going to. I'm annoyed by Americans constantly parasitizing on great works. I can get over it when it comes to film, but that’s as far as I go. I was curious to see how the creators would follow up on “Millennium,” but it turned out they didn't have the slightest problem with that. They went about it in the same way as an idiot taking a mental ability test - they shoved a square peg into a round hole. It didn’t quite fit, but the task was completed. Logic had to take a break sometimes, a few corners were cut, but I'm afraid I have seen much worse. (07/05/2019)

Contemporary Hollywood really did quite something special with this sequel to the story of cult hacker Lisbeth Salander... The casting of the title role alone is highly questionable. Noomi Rapace is probably unbeatable in it, and maybe only Rooney Mara could adequately replace her a few years ago. The actor playing journalist Mikael Blomkvist probably needs no mention. It's the same thing but in pale blue. It takes a lot of self-confidence to skip the second and third parts and make a fourth. According to the mentioned facts, the result also seems to reflect that. This is a typical overseas-produced action thriller without a shred of invention, with the main characters desperately lacking in charisma. Maybe it was only the fast pace of the plot that made me finish the film. (40%) (07/12/2020)

Lisbeth Salander returns and is tasked with stealing an NSA program that its creator wants back. Unfortunately, members of a dangerous gang, who know Lisbeth better than she ever imagined, are also interested. The Girl in the Spider's Web is a lot less ambitious than the American version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and settles for being an entertaining, modern spy thriller with a surprising amount of good action. It's a bit sillier than David Fincher's version, but not boring in the slightest, just different. The two hours in the cinema passed quite pleasantly for me though. (07/11/2018)

Fede Alvarez, the director of the Evil Dead remake and the thriller Don't Breathe, has a go at the action genre with a well-known book and, though I would have been happier if he had stuck to horror, he doesn't put spy action thrillers to shame. I liked Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander and she is unexpectedly deft in the action. Story-wise the film doesn't surprise that much, though there are a few plot twists, but none outright breathtaking, and the action itself is very accomplished, especially the original sniper finale enriched with elements I don't think I've seen before. The contact fights are also good. It's not as good as the Swedish trilogy or David Fincher's version, but the film didn't offend in the cinema and those who are in the mood for a spy action flick shouldn't be downright disappointed. Visually and directorially it was done to perfection. 70% (07/12/2018)