'THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

The third part in the wildly popular Swedish crime series the 'Millennium Trilogy' (following 'THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO' and 'THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE', both released earlier this year in America and last year in Sweden and other parts of the world.) based on the successful books by the late Stieg Larson (who died in 2004 before the first book was published in 2005). The films are so successful that they're already being remade in America, the first of which is to be directed by David Fincher and star Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig. This final chapter is adapted by Ulf Ryberg and directed by Daniel Alfredson, who also directed the second installment (the original was directed by Niels Arden Oplev). The title has been changed from it's original Swedish title of 'The Air Castle That Blew Up' for American audiences, like the original's title was changed from 'Men Who Hate Women'. The film once again stars the beautiful and stunning Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander (the title role) and Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist.

As the movie opens Lisbeth is being taken to a hospital for urgent care due to being shot multiple times, including a head shot, by her father at the climax of the second film. The police are awaiting her recovery so they can arrest her and charge her with the attempted murder of her father, who she struck in the head with an ax in self defense. Her freakish, abnormally strong half brother (once again played by Micke Spreitz) is also waiting to finish the job he and his father started of killing Lisbeth. It's up to her journalist friend Mikael and his Millennium magazine co-workers to clear her name and bring the conspirators against her to justice. The people out to silence Lisbeth are very powerful though and Mikael and his team soon find themselves in grave danger as well.

The film has received only mediocre reviews from critics, with many calling it a boring disappointment, but the fans so far mostly think otherwise. The packed 'Darkside Cinema' viewing I attended appeared to love it, with many cheering the film throughout and applauding the ending. I found the film to be much more entertaining and involving than reviews had lead me to believe and thought it was a very satisfactory conclusion to a great trilogy. While it doesn't quite live up to the classic original it is better than the second chapter, despite a decrease in action and violence. It's suspenseful as well as emotionally drenching and full of crowd pleasing moments. The court room drama that fills the third act is extremely captivating and emotionally involving. The directing and cinematography are superb as well as the thrilling score (once again composed by Jacob Groth). The acting is all stellar as well, especially Rapace who once again steals the show (with a character soon to become iconic). It's a well made and satisfying conclusion to an outstanding trilogy that should please almost any fan, despite what critics say.

Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffxjYiwLUko

'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is truly excellent, one would be hard pressed to find a Swedish thriller better. It wasn't flawless, but it comes close.

It was followed by two follow ups and the David Fincher film, all worth a look but the original 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' is the real deal. It is hard to say which is better or worse overall between 'The Girl who Played with Fire' or 'The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', in terms of atmosphere the former is weaker but in terms of more consistency in the storytelling the former also fares stronger. Both are flawed but very decent films, could have been better but for less cinematic sequels/follow-ups they are really not too bad.

Of the three, 'The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' fares the weakest of the three. After being so gripped by the first book, the source material for this film didn't fare as strongly. There is a lot of extraneous filler in the book, and that the film trimmed the fat was not a problem. However, whereas 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' was faithful in detail and spirit and one of not many book-to-film adaptations to treat the source material with respect, even with the not-so-problematic trimming of filler/fat what also made the book still intriguing, especially the latter chapters, doesn't quite make it in translation in the film. The conflict/tension between Section and the alliance was really powerful in the book, but barely explored here and it was shame.

What is always important though is to always judge films/TV adaptations as standalones. On its own, 'The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest' has a lot of good things as well as noticeable flaws. It does get bogged down by too much tying of loose ends, meaning that the film does feel a little bloated and both pedestrian and rushed due to cramming in a lot in a running time that contrary to some opinions could have benefited from being 20 minutes or so longer. Some of the stuff with Niedermann (played with the menace and charisma of a frozen pizza this time round) is disjointed and pointless, and while the restaurant shoot-out is exciting and suspenseful the very end is far too anti-climactic and wrapped up too conveniently.

However, while not as cinematic as 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', it does look good and makes a welcome return to the bleak atmosphere missing in 'The Girl who Played with Fire'. Daniel Alfredson's direction generally is much more confident and atmospheric, again not as chilling or as shocking as 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' but unlike in 'The Girl who Played with Fire' attempts at replicating those are made. The script while lacking polish and flow in places is still thought-provoking.

Storytelling may not be flawless, but there is a sense of doom and claustrophobia and there is tension and suspense (like in the courtroom scenes that help make Lisbeth want to succeed) that could have been more if the conflict between Section and the alliance was explored much more. The acting is very good, Michael Nyqvist is suitably determined but in a quietly dignified sense but even with much less to do Noomi Rapace nails it once again, bringing nuances and subtle command even when not speaking or even moving all that much.

All in all, disappointing but good conclusion. Could have gone out with a bang, and while with some great things it doesn't quite make it. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I decided to go all-out and give myself the full Millennium experience by watching the TV miniseries (9 hours in total) over the space of three nights. As a result, these reviews are of the extended, three-hour editions of each film rather than the condensed, theatrical two-hour versions.

Let's just say that THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST doesn't disappoint. It finishes off the Millennium trilogy in an intelligent, emotionally satisfying way, drawing up all the themes and mysteries of the last two films. Great direction, great plotting, great acting, great cinematography...what's not to love?