Luftslottet som sprängdes
Rating: 9/10
Running Time: 147 minutes
US Certificate: R UK Certificate: 15
The final Stieg Larsson novel has made it to the big screen and it’s an impressive end to the series. With marks of 10, 6 and 8 respectively, the Millennium Trilogy comes out with an impressive average of 8, so it’s a box set that should find its way into everyone’s Christmas stocking in the future and if you’re Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist, you should just go out and buy it anyway.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest (or TGWKTHN for a catchy acronym) catches up with the unique anti-heroine Lisbeth Salander (Rapace) as she recuperates in hospital after being shot in the head/hip/shoulder. The man who shot her was her mean ol’ papa (Staykov) and Lisbeth is soon to be put on trial for his attempted murder (in fairness, she did take an axe to his face). As usual, pro-active journo Mikael Blomqvist (Nyqvist) makes it his business to get her off the charges, publicise her abuse at the hands of the state and bring down a group of shady covert operatives. All this and he plans to be back home in time for Daim bars and tea in front of the 6 o’clock news.
Over a pretty hefty 147 minute running time we are treated to action, surprise revelations and conspiracies galore and everything comes together in the end in a very satisfying way that leaves you wanting more. The pace never lets up as it hurtles towards the climax and rarely do any of the scenes act as fillers. It’s a welcome return to form after the disappointing lull of the second film – a necessary but disjointed effort to bind the series together.
Characterisation is once again at the forefront as Lisbeth’s backstory is continuously fleshed out and other peripheral players come into the story more. There are some memorable characters on show here – the albino giant who doesn’t feel pain, the evil psychiatrist and the secretive Dad’s Army but The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest succeeds in making it all seem very lifelike, no matter how far-fetched it is.
It's Got: Everything a thriller needs, bikers who travel around in a Hatchback, a journalist who actually cares about the truth
It Needs: To be seen after the other two Millennium films. To do otherwise will be confusing and pointless.
Summary
Everything comes together nicely in a final instalment of the Millennium trilogy that oozes thrills, class and memorable moments.