MOVIE REVIEW

Movie Review - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Introduction

It's hard to fault the video presentation of Fincher's version of Dragon Tattoo on this Region Free UK Blu-ray release. Presented in stunning 1080p High Definition, in the movie's original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.4:1 widescreen, detail is fantastic throughout, from the clinical close-ups; the frequent study of photographs and journals; skin textures; and clothing weaves, through to the longer panoramic vistas which establish the monochrome palette as being as symbolic of the harsh narrative as much as it is of the bleak setting. There's no obvious digital issues here, a hint of banding arising but no overt edge enhancement and certainly no unruly DNR tinkering to impinge upon your viewing pleasure. The colour scheme is, as I might have guessed, almost monochromatic, although there are plenty of dashes of vibrant colour on offer, thrown in to juxtapose the winter settings which do, in the fullness of time, evolve into warm spring tones. Throughout the piece the colours remain strongly presented, even if it's clear that the director intended this movie to look as bleak as the material feels. Consequently the piece relies heavily on blacks and thankfully shadow detail and black levels are outstanding. The film certainly looks brilliant, a far cry from the original Swedish piece, even if this itself does not make up for the lack of originality.

Discussion

I'll be similarly impressed with the accompanying DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track which is resoundingly good, easily demo quality, and immersively impressive right from the outset. Trent Reznor's credits sequence track will certainly get your attention and set the mood, but it's not all about overpowering I, there's plenty of subtlety to the material's sound design, and the track picks up on ambient nuances as much ...