Relevant: The Girl Who Fixed the Umlaut. (WARNING: HUGE SPOILERS FOR ALL THREE BOOKS)

Pretty much everything you said about the books is true. This is one of those series you either dislike for the reasons you mentioned, or love in spite of them. I'm in the second group: for me, the sheer awesomeness of the characters completely makes up for the problems with the writing.

 

This. The book wasn't great, despite everyone telling me to read it I found it passable at best.


I couldn't even finish the book, after the climax I was just done, there was nothing to hold me. And considering the other books in the series, I don't think I'll go any further.

I can see why Hollywood wants this movie though, it's basically every mystery/thriller ever made yet now they have a big name for the ad department to plug. Hell, in fact I think this should have been a film from the beginning. Same cliche'd search for a killer, same limited suspect pool,same supposedly climactic ending that was ripped from a dozen other movies/books...

 

The core of the plot definitely isn't novel in the first book, but for me it's more about how well it's implemented, not whether it's the most original idea ever. I found the films compelling enough, and wasn't shocked by the fact that the murder mystery in the Dragon Tatoo is slightly formulaic. The plot gets better as the series advances, too.

 

I've read the series and watched all 3 Swedish movies, and I have to say that I think the 2nd and 3rd books are better than the 1st IMO. Things get much crazier as the story advances.

I actually don't remember much from the Swedish adaptations because I watched them all in a row one night a few years ago, but I do remember liking them. Not sure how the Hollywood version is going to stack up against them.

 

I have the impression that Hollywood is getting more and more out of ideas lately. Okay, a remake of a 50 year old or more movie might make some sense (i.e. The Day The Earth Stood Still) even though it never reach the original film's level of quality. But after 2-3 years, common...

Enjoyed the books, enjoyed the Swedish movies, it's enough for me. I definitely won't be watching it.

-_-