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Originally Posted by Red Brooklyn
Interesting. Did the movie add anything to the experience? Or would you just recommend reading the book?
I guess, something like Fight Club was a fairly faithful literal adaptation, but Fincher enhanced the experience by doing things that were very faithful (to the spirit of the book) that couldn't be done in a written format. He added to the book with tools that could only be employed with film. In many ways, I'd say FC the movie is superior to the book because of what Finch did.
Is Dragon Tattoo the same sort of thing, or is it just a (more or less) straight forward visual representation of the book?
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The books are interesting. Book 1 sets up everything while telling a good stand-alone story. Books 2 and 3 are like two parts of the same novel. However, Book 3 seemed to finish with someone other than Steig writing it. It was out of his style and element. In many ways, it finished hollywood-y on the page, which books 2 and 3 are definitely not.
It's mainly a visual representation of the book. However, the book is pretty dark at times and the film didn't shy away from it. That's where I really emphasize it being a clinic. Also, it's the reason I'm interested in Finchers because American audiences don't usually like in your face darkness or violence, especially sexual.
So, are they worth reading? Yes.
Did book 3 hurt the series? A tiny bit. Consider it a lot like the finale of LOST. It wasn't series killing but it did take a hit because it felt different and out of character.
Would I recommend the movie? Yes, because you can follow it perfectly fine without having read it. Another hallmark of a good adaptation. (Potter, take note.)
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Originally Posted by Baby Lee
Sure you can, if the plotting or the secondary character development or cinematography, etc. etc, was rescued by a strong performance.
Think The Blind Side without Bulloch or Erin Brokovich without Roberts. Everything else exactly the same, without those leads, are made for Lifetime fare.
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Hence my hate for Seven Pounds. Without Smith, that movie never sees the light of day. Honestly, that would have been a good thing.