The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.... technically speaking, is not a remake

   Ok, I've heard the gripe over the fact that Hollywood deemed to make a North American version of the Millennium Trilogy within a few scant years of the Swedish version. There appears to have been some anger over this, and many people claiming that, having seen the Swedish films, will not want to see these ones.
   Well then these people will be missing out.
   First you have the fact these films are being helmed by David Fincher, arguably one of the best filmmakers out there. Just take a loot at his work (Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Social Network).
   Next you have great actors taking on the roles. Daniel Craig manages to take an uninteresting character and turn it into something to root for. Stellan Skarsgard and Christopher Plummer round out great performances as well.
   But of course the breakout performance goes to Rooney Mara, a relative unknown previously seen by most in The Nightmare on Elm Street remake and a small role in Social Network. But her performance as expert hacker/investigator Lisbeth Salander kills.
   While I don't like to compare performances between different actors, I really need to give the nod to Mara's version compared to the Swedish version's Noomi Rapace. In the Swedish film, Rapace's character was a hard-as-nails young woman you know you don't want to mess with. While that take on the character wasn't by any means bad, it does kind of discredit the scenes in which she is abused, because when she gets her revenge on her tormentor you completely see it coming. Mara's version is more drawn inward. Her Lisbeth is a strong woman as well, but with a vulnerability that leads to some surprise when she is able to exact her punishment on those who hurt her. Put simply, I felt Rooney Mara's version makes you root for the character more.
  I'll point out now that I have not read the books, so you may take what I'm saying with a grain of salt. Swedish version vs American version, all I know is that apparently the Swedish version cut scenes from the book while the American version didn't  really (which accounts for its 2.5+ hours runtime). But I guess my point is to perhaps persuade folks into not seeing the American version as a hasty remake of the Swedish version, but to see it as a different adaptation of the books. Plus I should mention it having one of the most visceral opening themes I've ever seen...
  All in all a very well made film by an incredible filmmaker and a wonderful cast. I recommend it.