Millénium 3 : La Reine dans le palais des courants d'air

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009)

Made to the same high technical standards as the other two in the trilogy, this final installment continues along the same lines without flagging.

And that's the problem. After five hours previously, and already weary of the complex plot and some repeating strains, we have this two plus hours of more of the same. It is never bad, it is often good, but enough is enough.

And the leading forces in the events, the couple who cemented the magic of the first movie (which is quite good), are in this one less than ever. So if you love Noomi Rapace as the "girl" int he title, you'll see almost nothing of her, and in much of it before the semi-exciting climax she is sitting in a courtroom or in a car. That is, nothing much happens. In fact, much of the movie is a matter of wrapping things up--for two hours straight. And the brooding insistence of Michael Nyqvist is here on and off, reminding us how we need more of him, too.

If you are total fan I think you'll enjoy parts of the movie enough to make it worthwhile, but if you're someone like me who flagged in the second movie you'll be better of skipping this third one. If you need to know what happened, read the plot summary on wikipedia. Or I hear the books, which are long, are much more consistently engaging. The movie-making here, the photography and editing, and even the acting, is on a very high plane, so don't get me wrong there. It's just the story that is increasingly redundant and nuanced out of normal engagement.

Oh--and if you haven't seen the other two, don't even think of watching this one. It will make little sense on its own.

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?

I will not call this a third part in the Millennium series, since it starts exactly where The Girl Who Played with Fire left off and continues with the same story. However, if the first film was a classic mystery thriller and the second film was more of an action thriller, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest goes in the direction of a political thriller. Spies, government agencies, covert operations, etc. It successfully explains things and closes all avenues opened by the first two films.

I have to say that I felt the movie both unreal and gratifying. Trained with US films about shadow agencies that kill anyone stand in their way, I found the Swedish counterparts meek and overly cautious. But what version is the more realistic one, I have no idea. So, yes, it felt strangely different from American thrillers, but it also made sense. Clearly it has a refreshing point of view on the matter.

Bottom line: I guess there is little purpose in watching this film and not watch the other two preceding it in the trilogy. And since you liked the other two, you should see this one as well. I enjoyed it, it explained everything that was left unexplained and everybody got their share. Of course, there is still room for another Micke and Lisbeth story, but clearly with a new plot.

After watching Hornet's Nest, you'll want to go back to Dragon Tattoo and experience all three films again in sequence. Like coming to the end of an exceptional book, you'll hope for more, surely another way to eke out a Lisbeth Salander film to enjoy. She has become with this trilogy one of the strongest female characters in 21st century film. No wonder actresses were battling to play her--she is the equivalent to Jason Bourne in any regard. (I can't imagine Hollywood doing a better job of these films--can you?)

I believe Hornet's Nest is best of the bunch. Salander is cornered, in hospital and under arrest, in danger of being recommitted to the institution that held her under guardianship. Despite her uncommunicative nature, Salander has friends, true friends who'll stick their necks out to protect her. But Salander is always willing to fight for herself, and she finds ways to do battle.

Hornet's Nest gives us a better film than the other in terms of suspense and dramatic flow. The pieces assemble, the foes are distinguished from the good guys, there is conflict and threat launched in surprising ways. Of the three, Hornet's Nest is the most suspenseful and best executed of the films in my opinion, a superb finish to a wonderful series.

Excuse me while I start reading the books.

Excellent! In my opinion, maybe the best of the three installments of the 'Millenium' trilogy. I tend to disagree with Mr. Berardinelli's review in calling this 'an abject failure as a stand-alone motion picture', simply because it was never supposed to be a stand-alone motion picture. In Sweden, this was just part 5 and 6 of a TV Miniseries, and for being that it is excellent! My compliments to the Director, the writer and the entire cast.

Like Ebert, I also hope they manage to complete the 2 unfinished scripts by Stieg Larsson thus giving us parts 4 and 5 of this Saga. I will definitely be looking forward to it, both as books and movies!