The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden) (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  Following up the amazing Girl With The Dragon Tattoo film was a tall order. This was no where near as good as the first movie and seemed to be very haphazard in patching together important parts of the book while leaving the parts out that might make sense. The books excellent the… More
  Following up the amazing Girl With The Dragon Tattoo film was a tall order. This was no where near as good as the first movie and seemed to be very haphazard in patching together important parts of the book while leaving the parts out that might make sense. The books excellent the movie is good but not great.

• Mike S

  
  Discounting the weak and slow beginning, this second part in the Millenium trilogy is just as enthralling as the original. I long pushed off to watch it, after hearing about all the low to luke-warm opinions, but it actually proved to be a very worthy sequel. In the first 30 min… More
  Discounting the weak and slow beginning, this second part in the Millenium trilogy is just as enthralling as the original. I long pushed off to watch it, after hearing about all the low to luke-warm opinions, but it actually proved to be a very worthy sequel. In the first 30 min you'll be tempted to hit the fast-forward button, but those patient enough to endure it, will be greatly rewarded in the second and final act. For what started out rather dullishly, eventually blossomed into a taut and compelling follow-up, with some incredibly fascinating plot twists. Not fully to the level of being on par with "Dragon Tattoo", but I'm still willing to give it the same rating, as the shortcomings are mostly in the margins.

• Randy T

  
  With very few exceptions, sequels, prequels and trilogies are inherently unoriginal. Generally, they put recycled characters through déjà vu scenarios in marketable attempts to recapture previous box office glory. This film does that, but in an artful, intelligent manner.

• Matt G

  
  It definitely has its moments, but "The Girl Who Played with Fire" doesn't have the grittiness that made the first one so spectacular. I did like the sequences involving Noomi Repace, but the parts with Michael Nyqvist felt so forced and unnecessary, hence my rating.

• Jan Marc M

  
  The Girl Who Played With Fire is the second film adaptation of the critically acclaimed Stieg Larsson work with the same title that explores the past. An efficient expansion with genuine suspense, though losing sophistication and subtlety in exposition from prequel The Girl With The… More
  The Girl Who Played With Fire is the second film adaptation of the critically acclaimed Stieg Larsson work with the same title that explores the past. An efficient expansion with genuine suspense, though losing sophistication and subtlety in exposition from prequel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Still, a jolting experience.

• Dead A

  
  Out of three, this movie was a bit of disappointment. I don't know why but I liked it less than the other two.

• Raymond W

  
  The second instalment in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series isn't as tense or gripping as the first, but it still has the great performances, the atmosphere, the awesome score and the violence of the first.

• Martin S

  
  This was not nearly as good as the first one. They changed the director...and they really shouldn't....cause this guy ain't good. He has terrible storytelling....and he buries people when they should look cool...numerous times. And the story wasn't very good...we… More
  This was not nearly as good as the first one. They changed the director...and they really shouldn't....cause this guy ain't good. He has terrible storytelling....and he buries people when they should look cool...numerous times. And the story wasn't very good...we can't feel the chemistry of the lead characters...cause they don't meet....and when they finaly do...It's not fun...

• Lady D

  
  Another superbly acted installment of this gritty trilogy. Impressive performances all round. More cover ups, corruption and abuse lead to an uncovering of more of Lisbeth's past and a deeper investigation.

• Dan S

  
  A well-made sequel to the smash hit 'Dragon Tattoo', this time chronicling the ongoings of mysterious Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) and how she fights to clear her name after being framed for a triple-homicide, two of which were authors writing about people involved in… More
  A well-made sequel to the smash hit 'Dragon Tattoo', this time chronicling the ongoings of mysterious Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) and how she fights to clear her name after being framed for a triple-homicide, two of which were authors writing about people involved in prostitution and sex trafficking in Sweden. While it is not as intense as the first film, it still packs a vicious punch, and like the first, contains great acting (especially Rapace, who is utterly phenomenal yet again), and a gritty, thrilling conclusion. I didn't like how every man Lisbeth has run into her life has been a sadistic figure, something I think this film pushed a little to far here. However, this is still a very good sequel, and one that deserves a view, especially for the fans of the "Millennium" trilogy.

• Mark W

  
  Second installments of a trilogy have a history of being just the midriff of the story. They tend to lack the essential elements of coherence. No real beginning and no real end is the common problem. This has a few snags like that but it's still a solid enough follow up. Lisbeth… More
  Second installments of a trilogy have a history of being just the midriff of the story. They tend to lack the essential elements of coherence. No real beginning and no real end is the common problem. This has a few snags like that but it's still a solid enough follow up. Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) returns to Sweden, becomes a suspect in three murders and goes on the run. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) is sure Lisbeth is innocent, but realises she is being pursued by dangerous criminals who have a connection to her troubled past. Not as gripping as the first, (which is mainly down to the investigation, it doesn't have the hook the first one had). What it does have in it's favour though, is the backstory of Lisbeth. We learn a bit more of her motivation and what her history has done to shape her character. Blomkvist doesn't really contribute very much this time around, mainly just providing support and keeping the flag flying as a decent male character. This second installment is not afforded the same time as the first. It doesn't develop the characters or story in the same way and as a result it seems rushed, as if director Daniel Alfredson was eager to get onto the third part. Like all middle segments, it's stutters. Having a change of director can sometimes be a hindrance also, as is, the lack of any proper conclusion. However, it still grips and a major plus is having Lisbeth as the main focus this time, with Noomi Rapace once again a joy to watch, when handing out her form of tough justice on some unsavoury menfolk. It was always going to be a hard task to emulate the first part, but the additional interesting characters add much more to the story in terms of Lisbeth's history, preventing it from being just another mid-section.

• Anthony L

  
  The acting and direction in this film is good and I liked the characters and the cinematography. If I'm being completely honest though, I just have no enthusiasm for the Millennium trilogy. I have found the story so far to be quite forgettable. Maybe it's because it's… More
  The acting and direction in this film is good and I liked the characters and the cinematography. If I'm being completely honest though, I just have no enthusiasm for the Millennium trilogy. I have found the story so far to be quite forgettable. Maybe it's because it's been over hyped, maybe neither film so far have been very good adaptations, either way, I enjoyed the film to a point but I found myself fidgeting throughout. Good, not as good as the first, I'm really hoping the last film will have a grand finale, otherwise I'm going to be very disappointed.

• Chris W

  
  Set roughly a year or so after the events of the first film, this one is a crackling police procedure, filled to the brim with mystery and intrigue. A lot of people said it's not as good as the first, but, seeing as how I didn't find the first to be quite a masterpiece, I… More
  Set roughly a year or so after the events of the first film, this one is a crackling police procedure, filled to the brim with mystery and intrigue. A lot of people said it's not as good as the first, but, seeing as how I didn't find the first to be quite a masterpiece, I think this one is just as strong if not a bit better actually. Of course there could be some mroe depth and insight, maybe even a slightly longer running time, but there's not a whole lot to complain about here. It's a well made and very gripping film that never lost my attention, and kept me continually wanting more (in a good way). Rapace and Nyqvist are once again excellent in their roles of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist. The rest of the acting is decent too, but it seems like these films are primarily concerned with just these two. The film, like the first, has a great sense of mood and atmosphere, and it is just really nice to look at, even if what's being shown on screen isn't always pleasant. You do need to see the first, or it most definitely helps, but that's okay because that one is worth your time too. Check this one out. If you liked the first, you'll probably like this one. If not, you might still like it, since it is shorter and a bit tighter with the pacing.

• Emily A

  
  This is another rich, intricate movie in the Millennium series, and if you liked the first one, you'll like this one as well. The aesthetic has changed slightly, and it doesn't quite stand alone as well as Dragon Tattoo did, but it is overall just as intriguing and engaging.… More
  This is another rich, intricate movie in the Millennium series, and if you liked the first one, you'll like this one as well. The aesthetic has changed slightly, and it doesn't quite stand alone as well as Dragon Tattoo did, but it is overall just as intriguing and engaging. There are a couple of things I might have changed, though: I found the villains a little bit cartoonish, and their designs reminded me of Henrik Starr from the Pracher comics or The Russian from The Punisher. I also wish that Blomqvist and Salander had gotten more screentime together. I don't think there was any, now that I think about it. They have parallel stories, both of which have a lot going on, but the two characters never actually interact, which is one of the things i found the most delicious about the first movie. I have trouble simply watching this on its own, because I kept comparing it to its predecessor and viewing it as a set-up to the sequal. This and Hornet's Nest seem to be two halves of the same movie which are, by themselves, incomplete, whereas Tattoo played like its own movie. In addition, the novelty has worn off, and a familiarity with these characters diminished this experience a little bit. I liked they mystery of Lisbeth's past inherent in the first, and revealing her origins undercut much of her mystique, I found.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Fight fire with fire."</i> As computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name. <center><font size=+2… More
  <i>"Fight fire with fire."</i> As computer hacker Lisbeth and journalist Mikael investigate a sex-trafficking ring, Lisbeth is accused of three murders, causing her to go on the run while Mikael works to clear her name. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Even though I liked The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo very much, I wanted to keep my expectations for The Girl Who Played With Fire low, because at being a sequel I considered that it was not going to equal the innovation from the first film, or that it was going to repeat the fascinating development of the relationship between the two main characters.And even though that I was right on both things, I have to admit that The Girl Who Played With Fire is a solid movie on its own, with an ingenious and complex screenplay and with a good atmosphere of suspense. The central mystery from The Girl Who Played With Fire might be a bit more conventional than the one from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but that does not avoid it from being a very interesting film.And I have to mention that you should definitely see the first film before watching this sequel, not only to appreciate the dynamic between the two main characters more, but also to understand the motivation from characters who occasionally act against any common sense.I think that The Girl Who Played With Fire fulfills with its intention of enriching the narrative from the first movie by introducing new characters and enough revelations which genuinely make it a continuation, without losing the attention of the subjects which had already been established. The Girl Who Played With Fire kept me interested the whole time, but I understand why some people could find it boring, because the methodic rhythm from this film can be translated as parsimony, because the movie tells the mystery from the screenplay without any unnecessary melodrama or forced clichés.Sure, there are some fight and some action scenes, but they are not used to satisfy commercial requirements, but to serve as integral parts from the screenplay.So, you do not have to expect a Hollywood style action film, but a tense thriller with the taste of European "old school". As for the leading actors, Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist back to bring excellent performances in this sequel; as for the supporting cast, I liked the performances from Lena Endre, Per Oscarsson and specially, Mikael Spreitz.On the negative side from this film, I have to mention some forced coincidences in the story, some scenes which do not seem to totally fit in the movie and an instance of the classic "talkative villain", who is always useful to tie the loose ends from the screenplay.Nevertheless, despite those fails, The Girl Who Played With Fire ended up being better than I expected, and I liked it pretty much, so I think it is worthy of a recommendation.

• Zach B

  
  One thing one must understand and learn about sequels is that they are always going to be worse then the original, sometimes equal to the original, or better than the first. On the second film in Stieg Larsson's Dragon Tattoo Trilogy, it is not better then the fist, defiantly not… More
  One thing one must understand and learn about sequels is that they are always going to be worse then the original, sometimes equal to the original, or better than the first. On the second film in Stieg Larsson's Dragon Tattoo Trilogy, it is not better then the fist, defiantly not worse then the original, but at the same time not equal. The main thing that makes it not equal is the already lower shock value that the original had. The original was unexpected and that made Men Who Hate Women (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) beyond wonderful. Regardless, this film is still great. One of the things that has changed is the director. Being Daniel Alfredson (brother of Let The Right One In director Thomas Alfredson) in the chair of conducting this film, he does have the story stray away from the novel, but does it in an wonderful fashion. For me personally, this is both a good and a bad thing. While I admit that the film works, there are a few subplots from the novel that I would have liked to see in the film. But, for what it is in terms of direction and story, it is satisfying. The score for this film is basically the same as the first: Wonderful. If you loved the score for MWHW, then you will love this one (mostly because it is basically the same). Now for the acting. Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander) is still a bad ass babe in this film as she tries to free her name that has been slandered upon and uncover the dark secrets from her past that has made her the person she is. Michael Nyqvist (Mikael Blomkvist) is still wonderful as his character, but plays the role pretty much the same. I would have liked some more emotion, but that is just me. Overall, this is a good sequel that stands on it's own, but it is BEYOND strongly recommended that you have the third film "The Air Castle The Blew Away (The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest)". Why? Well, you just have to watch the ending to find out. RECOMMEND.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  With a change of director (from Niels Arden Oplev to Daniel Alfredson), the franchise has lost its dynamism and its ground on reality and has exchanged its arthouse charm for generic action formula. Lisbeth Salander gets reduced to a much smaller role (and separated from Mikael),… More
  With a change of director (from Niels Arden Oplev to Daniel Alfredson), the franchise has lost its dynamism and its ground on reality and has exchanged its arthouse charm for generic action formula. Lisbeth Salander gets reduced to a much smaller role (and separated from Mikael), favoring a series of new (but nearly irrelevant) supporting characters. It's not the worst film, and it's somewhat entertaining, but compared to its predecessor, it feels like a joke. It's clear that this is a trilogy and that there's yet another film after Flickan som lekte med elden, but the incredibly abrupt ending gives no closure on this episode.

• Alexander W

  
  I prefered this movie than the first just because the scenes were less haunting but the essence of a Swedish Crime Drama was still captured in this remedy of the second in the trilogy. Afterall it feels good for the next follow up which I have yet to watch.

• Dean !

  
  A very good second film in the trilogy. It doesn't quite reach the levels of the first, but that was an outstanding film. Where the first was a bit more dramatic in story along the lines of a whodunit? mystery, this is a bit more like an action/thriller with a conspiracy plot.… More
  A very good second film in the trilogy. It doesn't quite reach the levels of the first, but that was an outstanding film. Where the first was a bit more dramatic in story along the lines of a whodunit? mystery, this is a bit more like an action/thriller with a conspiracy plot. Lisbeth has been set up as the main suspect in 3 murders and is on the run to prove her innocence. We find out a bit more back story to her character in this which is good to see. I can't wait to see the last one in this set of great thrillers!

• Carlos M

  
  A completely forgettable follow-up that is underwhelming and overly convoluted, depending on too many coincidences and plot holes to keep the implausible story moving on. A big mess full of inconsistencies and nonsensical situations.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings