Noomi Rapace steals the screen as Lisbeth Salander, a 24 year old hacker with a troubled past, who is hired to work for Mikael Blomkvist, a magazine publisher and author, to solve a series of murders. Dark and grimly shot, only to set the mood for this intense, heart pounding, and very well made film. This movie dares to take you on waters that even in the book may have been much, but unlike most films it is necessary so the audience can truly understand and connect with the characters. Even though Rapace’s Salander comes across as a rough razor by the end of the film I felt I could trust her with my life. ****1/2

(+) Rapace’s performance is groundbreaking.

(-) 15 minutes too long.

Ratings: ***** (Classic) ****1/2 (Amazing)

**** (Very Good) ***1/2 (Good)

*** (Pretty Good) **1/2 (Okay)

** (Merely Okay) *1/2 (One or Two Good Things)

* (One Thing Stood Out)

No Stars (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)