Tech News
Reviewed by Cas Harlow, 26th November 2011.
The late Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series is something of a global publishing phenomenon – released in dozens of countries across the globe, and selling around thirty million copies in the process. Adapted into an extended TV mini-series with a theatrically released ‘pilot’, the first story, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was so popular, and so well received, that they edited the remaining four episodes into two further movies designed for theatrical release. Unfortunately, whilst Dragon Tattoo remained a compelling, excellent mystery thriller, its sequels were more disjointed and increasingly lacklustre. Now the whole series has finally been released as it was originally intended to be seen: in a 6-part extended mini-series of 93-minute episodes; the considerably longer runtime (we get about 2 hours of new footage) allowing for a more respectful adaptation of the original source novels, and finally doing justice to them.
On Region B-locked UK Blu-ray we get a decent enough release, sporting solid video and good audio, and a hefty documentary that somewhat makes up for the lightweight supporting extras. To those who enjoyed Dragon Tattoo on its original release, who loved Noomi Rapace’s visceral take on the tough lead heroine, Lisbeth Salander, and who were marginally disappointed by the theatrical sequels – this is what you have been waiting for. Honestly, after you’ve seen Rapace’s Lisbeth, and seen the original Swedish TV series in its original extended format, you will likely find it hard to know what, if anything, Hollywood is going to be able to bring to the table with their own adaptation due out over Christmas. Highly recommended viewing.
Read the full review...
The late Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Series is something of a global publishing phenomenon – released in dozens of countries across the globe, and selling around thirty million copies in the process. Adapted into an extended TV mini-series with a theatrically released ‘pilot’, the first story, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was so popular, and so well received, that they edited the remaining four episodes into two further movies designed for theatrical release. Unfortunately, whilst Dragon Tattoo remained a compelling, excellent mystery thriller, its sequels were more disjointed and increasingly lacklustre. Now the whole series has finally been released as it was originally intended to be seen: in a 6-part extended mini-series of 93-minute episodes; the considerably longer runtime (we get about 2 hours of new footage) allowing for a more respectful adaptation of the original source novels, and finally doing justice to them.
On Region B-locked UK Blu-ray we get a decent enough release, sporting solid video and good audio, and a hefty documentary that somewhat makes up for the lightweight supporting extras. To those who enjoyed Dragon Tattoo on its original release, who loved Noomi Rapace’s visceral take on the tough lead heroine, Lisbeth Salander, and who were marginally disappointed by the theatrical sequels – this is what you have been waiting for. Honestly, after you’ve seen Rapace’s Lisbeth, and seen the original Swedish TV series in its original extended format, you will likely find it hard to know what, if anything, Hollywood is going to be able to bring to the table with their own adaptation due out over Christmas. Highly recommended viewing.
Read the full review...