From what I read, I was expecting a letdown...but I actually really enjoyed this movie. I guess since most thrillers are so bland, Lisbeth and Mikael are still compelling characters. Plus, the two villains were pretty interesting. It just had that very dark tone that works well in thrillers. Plus, the location isn't the usual ones that you normally see.
shareI really like Playing with Fire although the first 'Män som hatar kvinnor' is my favorite in the Triology because it sets the tone and there's more of Mikael and Lisbeth's storyline in it. I was also afraid that the second would be a letdown but I thought it was a really good dark thriller with a great storyline and I simply love Michael Nyqvist who's playing Blomkvist. And of course Noomi. In my mind she is Lisbeth without comparison.
It has a pair of very intriguing villains.
shareI think Georgi Staykovis is good choice playing Zalachenko, although honestly I've had a hard time despite the fact watching the movie several times with Micke Spreitz casted as Ronald Niedermann. I just think he comes off as a wooden blond one-demensional almost cartoonish character. I'm well aware of that his scenes aren't suppose to be Shakespeare but still.
The most intriguing villain in my opinion, is Anders Ahlbom as Teleborian. He plays the role with accuracy, it's like he embodies the character.
I must say I'm surprised that Daniel Alfredson, brother of Tomas Alfredson, (Tinker Tailor, Let the Right one In) has got so much sh!t for this movie. It wasn't made for the theatres in the first place but for television with much less budget but when Dragon Tattoo made such a huge success in Scandinavia they edited into a theatrial version as well. I really think Alfredson did pretty good.
A quiet killer that can't experience pain seemed pretty interesting.
I think the location made the film look more interesting. It looks different than the usual locations.
Yes, a quiet killer who can't experience pain can be pretty interesting. But when bad acting is getting in the way from what's essentiell of a character it's kinda pity. My opinions of course. But the locations were thrilling, I agree.