‘Fire’: Part 2 of trilogy much less brutal

  • By Robert Horton Herald Movie Critic
  • Thursday, July 8, 2010 6:25pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

The runaway success of Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” trilogy, along with reminding us that people still read books, has spawned an immediate movie rush.

In the late author’s home country of Sweden, all three film adaptations have already come out, in rat-a-tat rhythm, including extended versions for TV. It’s almost as though the Swedes needed to hurry out their own versions before the inevitable Hollywood remakes — which are on their way.

Having seen the first installment, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” in March, we’ve already got Part Two on our hands. “The Girl Who Played with Fire” continues Larsson’s story and shifts the emphasis even more to Lisbeth Salander (played by Noomi Rapace), the damaged punk heroine.

Lisbeth has vanished after the events of the first movie, but when magazine editor Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist, also returning) gets on the trail of a sordid sex scandal, the pursuit once again leads to Lisbeth — whose sleuthing this time is combined with a journey of self-discovery.

The blunt violence and hammer-to-the-forehead melodrama of “Dragon Tattoo” is somewhat lessened here; perhaps the new director, Daniel Alfredson, is responsible. The fact that this movie was shot as a longer TV miniseries might explain some of the storytelling jumps along the way.

As a potboiler, “The Girl Who Played With Fire” bubbles right along, moving from one farfetched situation to the next. You’ll have to suspend quite a bit of disbelief to enjoy the film, but it helps that Lisbeth is such an offbeat character, and that Noomi Rapace creates such a peculiar presence on screen.

It is disappointing that the chemistry between Lisbeth and Mikael — two people coming from completely different worlds, yet in simpatico rapport — is on ice for virtually the entire movie. Their stories, while parallel, are separate.

The jump-the-shark moment comes with the introduction of a beefy blond giant (played by Mikael Spreitz, an actor who could easily be imported into the Hollywood adaptations of these things) with an inability to feel physical pain. He wouldn’t be out of place in one of the James Bond movies from the Roger Moore era, and the movie’s grounding in social-political reality takes a hit.

It all ends on a suspended note, which might be truly wild if we didn’t know that Part Three is on its way, poised to resolve at least some of the issues left hanging here.

That would be “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” which, at this pace, will probably be on U.S. screens before the end of the year.

“The Girl Who Played With Fire” ½

Part Two of Stieg Larsson’s bestselling trilogy shifts the emphasis even more to damaged punk heroine Lisbeth, who gets mixed up in a political sex scandal as magazine writer Mikael Blomkvist again gets involved. Less brutally melodramatic than the first movie, but still a potboiler redeemed by some memorable characters. In Swedish, with English subtitles.

Rated: R for violence, nudity, subject matter

Showing: Alderwood Mall, Harvard Exit

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

Rodney Ho / Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Tribune News Service
The Barenaked Ladies play Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville on Friday.
Coming events in Snohomish County

Send calendar submissions for print and online to features@heraldnet.com. To ensure your… Continue reading

Edmonds announces summer concert lineup

The Edmonds Arts Commission is hosting 20 shows from July 8 to Aug. 24, featuring a range of music styles from across the Puget Sound region.

Big Bend Photo Provided By Ford Media
2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend Increases Off-Road Capability

Mountain Loop Highway Was No Match For Bronco

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Mustang Convertible Photo Provided By Ford Media Center
Ford’s 2024 Ford Mustang Convertible Revives The Past

Iconic Sports Car Re-Introduced To Wow Masses

Kim Crane talks about a handful of origami items on display inside her showroom on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Crease is the word: Origami fans flock to online paper store

Kim’s Crane in Snohomish has been supplying paper crafters with paper, books and kits since 1995.

The 2025 Nissan Murano midsize SUV has two rows of seats and a five-passenger capacity. (Photo provided by Nissan)
2025 Nissan Murano is a whole new machine

A total redesign introduces the fourth generation of this elegant midsize SUV.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.