So on Monday I finally got to see the last film in the “Millenium” trilogy, “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest.” I’m still trying to process it. I don’t know if I was disappointed in the film, or if I have that “it’s the end of a trilogy” feeling that I’ll soon feel about Harry Potter (which yes isn’t a trilogy, but same point).
Unlike the other movies, there was a lot less thrills, action and butt kicking. In fact Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander) kicked NO butt in this film. How is that possible ?!?! I think that was the biggest let down. In fact watching this film now makes me WANT to read the books to see how the final book may have really ended.
The final film, I felt, had few shocks or surprises, unlike the first two. This one was more of a court/legal drama than anything. I felt like everything that was revealed, we knew or had an inkling about already. That’s why I think I felt disappointed. Yes it was good to see justice served. We knew that was coming though . . . where were the shocks and revelations we weren’t expecting? The first two movies delivered there.
No, that’s not just it. SPOILER AHEAD! I think I hoped Lisbeth would have ended up with her doctor from the final film. I thought that’s what they were leading up to, but it never happened. In fact the end to the whole thing, while I guess true to Lisbeth, fell flat in the expected happy Hollywood ending. Since this wasn’t a Hollywood film, I guess it wasn’t expected or needed, and says something about how the Hollywood ending is overrated . . .
I really wonder how the third book panned out in comparison, and now I need to read them all. First though I need to read through the rest of the Percy Jackson books, then I probably need to finally read the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have a list before I can get to the Millenium books. With the success of the films, and the fact they are being redone for American audiences, the original author is now contemplating a fourth book (though doesn’t that mean a new trilogy really, so 3 new books?).
For those who have invested in the movies, it’s a no-brainer, see it. Just don’t be expected to be completely fulfilled (unless you really like the anti-climactic ending genre).