Tag / Millennium trilogy

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Book 23 (of 52) – The Girl In The Eagle’s Talons

The Girl In The Eagle’s Talon – Karin Smirnoff

This November will be 20 years since Stieg Larsson, the original author of the Millennium trilogy and creator of the Lisbeth Salander character, passed away at the age of 50.  Karin Smirnoff is now the second writer to follow Larsson, hired to start a new trilogy to continue the adventures of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.  The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons is the first effort under that arrangement.

A wedding and a long-lost relative bring both Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander to the north of Sweeden, where they once again find their paths intersecting.  They work together to track down Mikael’s kidnapped grandson and Lisbeth’s niece’s kidnaped mother, both taken as part of a plot to strongarm a local assemblyman.

It’s been over a decade since I read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, Larsson’s last take on the characters, and five years since the last book overall, so the previous authors’ feel for the characters were not exactly at the top of my mind.  That said, Smirnoff’s portrayal of Salander felt particularly off.  Almost like all of the hard edges had been sanded off to make her a more relatable character.  It certainly feels like these books are now being produced simply to cash in on the world Larsson created rather than because there was a story that needed telling.

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Book 24 (of 52) – The Girl Who Lived Twice

The Girl Who Lived Twice – David Lagercrantz

The latest installment in the Millennium Trilogy (can it still be a trilogy when you get to book 6?), The Girl Who Lived Twice, is the third entry from David Lagercrantz.  In this go around, Lisbeth Salander looks to take down her sister, while Mikael Blomkvist investigates a dead Sherpa and his links to a local politician.

As I tried to get into this latest edition of the Lisbeth Salander story, I was having a hard time.  It seems that the tale of a young, socially awkward woman and the older man who loves her, despite her taking him for granted and mostly ignoring him hit a little too close to home.  Eventually, though, I got past  that and worked my way through.  I’m still not exactly sold on Lagercrantz’s takes on Stieg Larsson’s world and characters, but not much to do about that at this point.

So where does the series go from here?  Lagercrantz has now equaled Larsson’s output with the characters and the overarching story of Salander’s family seems to have been wrapped up, so maybe this is the end?  Though, given the financial success of the series, something tells me another adventure will be out in 2 years time.

by jim

2011 Movie Review – Part 2

The 131 movies I saw last year was good (bad?) enough for 4th all time, behind only 2000, 2008, and 2001.

Now, continuing Tuesday’s look at the first batch of 50 movies that I saw last year, here are movies 51-100.

 

The Thirst (2006)
A dying girl becomes a vampire to stay alive.

 

The Good Life (2007)
A kid who doesn’t fit in meets a girl who encourages him to look beyond the town’s borders.

 

Thor (2011)
The Norse thunder god falls from grace and recovers quickly to save Asgard.

 

The American (2010)
George Clooney stars as a former hitman trying to go straight.

 

Due Date (2010)
Robert Downey Jr goes through his own Planes, Trains, and Automobiles moments while trying to get home for the birth of his child.

 

Valentine’s Day (2010)
A group of vignettes celebrating the day that celebrates love.

 

MacGruber (2010)
The latest one-note SNL sketch to get strectched out to feature length. 

Continue reading →

by jim

2011 Review – Movies Part 1

Like last year, I’m going to take a look back at the movies I saw during the previous year.  When not working, watching too much TV, going to baseball games, or reading, I managed to watch 131 new movies last year.

Natalie Portman starred in 4 films I saw for the yearly lead, with Leonardo DiCaprio coming in second with 3.

For fun, here’s a quick review of the first 50 films I saw last year and what recollection, if any, I have of them.  They are listed in the order I saw them.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
2 vacationing American girls fall in love with the same Spanish painter.

 
Night At the Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian (2009)
I never saw the first one, but Amy Adams was enough of a draw to give this one a chance.

 

Splice (2010)
An entertaining look at what happens when scientists worry more about what they can do instead of what they should do.
 
The Kids Are All Right (2010)
The children of two lesbians go searching for their father.  My first exposure to Mia Wasikowska, who I think has a chance to be really good.

 

Bandslam (2009)
A kid obsessed with music lies about his father in order to fit in. 

 

All Good Things (2010)
Ryan Gosling kills Kirsten Dunst, and then dresses up in womens clothing. 

 

Frozen (2010)
A very engaging tale of three friends stuck on a ski lift for a week.

 

Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Tom Hanks goes looking for Leonardo DiCaprio. 

 

Inception (2010)
Leonardo DiCaprio (him again?) looks for secrets in other people’s dreams while avoiding his own.

Continue reading →

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Book 13 (of 52) – The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

When a new country rises up from what was once North America, the leaders keep control of their citizens through the Hunger Games, a yearly “competition” where two children, one male and one female, from each of the twelve districts battle to the death.  This year, Katniss Everdeen has volunteered to take her younger sister’s place in the Games, and must survive against 23 other chosen children, including a childhood acquaintance who once showed her kindness.

Suzanne Collins has crafted a world where one could believe that such a contest could be held.  Katniss may just be the next breakthrough literay character, following Lisabeth Salander from the Millennium Trilogy.  As it is, Collins has completed a trilogy of her own, and Katniss will be right behind Salander in heading to the big screen in the US.  I certainly look forward to the next adventure for these characters, assuming I can borrow the book from my niece. 
 
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Book 10 (of 52) – The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson

In the final chapter of the Millennium trilogy, Larsson picks up the story immediatelty following the events of The Girl Who Plays With Fire, but slows down the action, replacing it with the intrigue of the unraveling plot behind what has become known as the Zalachenko Affair.  As Mikeal Blomkvist works to uncover the true players responsible for Lisbeth’s fate, Salander recovers from her injuries and prepares to fight for the rights, and life, that have been unlawfully taken from her.

Larsson’s final work is much slower than his previous novels, but the story doesn’t suffer from it.  In fact, the slow build that culminates with the cross examination of the prosecution’s main witness against Salander works to its advantage, as you really feel the sledgehammer that comes down on “that bastard” as his testimony is ripped to shreds.  A fitting end to a gripping trilogy that seems to have taken the world by storm.

by jim

Book 4 (of 52) – The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larsson

The second book of the Millennium trilogy focuses on Lisbeth Salander, now estranged from Mikael Blomkvist and wanted for three murders.  The “friends” that she left behind two years ago try to piece together the truth while the police track her down.

While not as good as its predecessor, this was a fine follow up and provided a deeper look into what makes up Lisbeth Salander, one of the best literary characters of the past decade.  The ending also provides a good starting point for the next book, the final of the series.

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Book 7 (of 52) – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson’s debut novel, was a gripping read that easily draws a reader into a world of intrigue and mystery.  While there are many things that could potentially draw the readers focus away from the story (the Sweedish setting, the extreme violence towards women), Larsson’s story is able to easily overcome those obstacles.  There’s been much debate over the casting for the American film version, and with good reason.  The characters, especially Lisbeth Salander, stick with you and the faces given to them on the big screen will have a lot to live up to.  I’m very much looking forward to picking up the next book in the series, as well as the forth coming film.  Hell, I may even try to see the Swedish film, which has become a worldwide hit in its own right.

The story behind this book and its two sequels in the so-called Millennium Trilogy is almost as intriguing as the books themselves.  All three have been published posthumously, after the author wrote them for his own pleasure and made no attempt to sell them to a publisher until shortly before his untimely death.