That’s Just a little Too Realistic!

Posted on December 31, 2011 Updated on January 13, 2012

Over the holiday break I was ecstatic to see many of the new blockbuster movies. One that was high on my list was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. The much anticipated American version of the Swedish novelist Stieg Larsson‘s complete Dragon Tattoo trilogy series hit the big screen in December. I believe this is the first in the series along with The Girl Who Played With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest.

I entered the movie full of angst and excitement. I took my seat with a big soda, a bag of freshly popped corn and hopes of a great movie. I had avoided reading the books because I wanted the thrill of seeing this on the big screen. I was thrilled all right, thrilled that it was over. This movie was just a tad bit too realistic for my brain. I experienced this same feeling twice before after seeing Pulp Fiction and Precious. I felt as if I needed to wash my eyeballs, take a shower and talk to a priest.

Bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people and bad things happen all the time to many people, but for the love of Pete, to put in the big screen for entertainment, are just too much! I was not entertained. I was horrified. So horrified, I have ordered the DVD set of the original movie collection. It was like watching a train wreck.

I lay in bed, mind wandering left and right trying to understand a man who would write such darkness. I also tried to understand the complexity of the relationships between the characters and look for the good in your fellow man. I wanted to understand David Fincher‘s direction. I saw glimmers of hope during the movie, but there was so much depravity that I longed for yester year when movies made you feel good inside. This movie made me feel really dirty inside and out. Yet there was something about it that resonated with me and I held out hope that in the end, our wayward girl would find a connection with humanity.

I am going to read the rest of the books and watch the dvd’s because I want to believe.