Jason watches THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE

The follow up to the Swedish blockbuster and Cinequest hit THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist are back, some time after the events in DRAGON TATTOO. Millennium is back, too, and have hired a new reporter to write a story about sex trafficking. He's already done the research, just needs to follow up with a few things like contacting the alleged perps and offering them a chance to comment. But suddenly the new reporter (and his girlfriend, who also wrote a book on the subject). Not only that, but Lisbeth is framed for the murders (plus one other). Mikael knows she's innocent, but can't contact her. She goes on the run, Mikael starts investigating. Horrible secrets from her past are revealed, about which I won't say more. I will say that it's once again a smart, exciting thriller. It's good to see Mikael and Lisbeth back on screen (although they aren't on screen together until the very ending). And I'll say that the ending was pretty abrupt, leaving a heck of a lot unresolved. Apparently THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST picks up right where this ends, and completes the Millennium Trilogy (Oh yeah, and it's making its U.S. debut at the Mill Valley Film Festival October 13th, although there's little chance I can make it from my job in San Jose up to San Rafael by 6 pm to see it--and besides, it's already gone to rush tickets only. It opens in select theaters October 29th)

Total Running Time: 129 minutes

My Total Minutes: 209,749