I had a hard time enjoying David Fincher's take on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the movie. In some ways this is Fincher's best work since Se7en and in many aspects it's a far superior, more faithful adaptation of the Stieg Larsson novel than the Swedish film. If you've not read the book or seen that film, you will probably really dig this version. If, like me, you've enjoyed both, you might find few surprises to warrant sitting through the film's two hour and 38 minute running time. I like the performances and love Fincher's command of the material, but was kept at arm's length by the movie as a whole. This has to be a Bad from this Basement Dweller.

And thank you for that, David Fincher! I've never been keen on the U.S. version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, believing the original Swedish film is just fine thank you. Ditto the two sequels. But at least Fincher and company made the movie right in terms of not wussing out on the book's aggressive content. Nor have MGM and Columbia Pictures, the studios producing the project, demanded the material be cut for the dreaded everyone friendly PG-13. Instead, the latest adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestseller has been given an R rating by the MPAA for brutal, violent content including rape and torture, strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language. The feel bad movie of Christmas indeed! Shawn hates the movies with a passion. Despite my misgivings for the upcoming film, I am curious to see it. The trailers have certainly been promising, but we've been jerked around by trailers before. There's one below for your eye holes. Fincher's The Girl with the Dr...

Redundant yes, but response to the bootleg copy of David Fincher's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo remake preview was so positive that it would be heartless for us not to post the crisp, official version for your eye holes. Without further adieu . . . Nifty huh? In other news, look for regular blog updates to begin again in the near future as Shawn and I cruise through summer toward our eventual return to The X on Oct. 7. We're putting together some cool shit for fall, and want to keep our fans interested during the coming months. By all means, stick with us! And thanks to everyone who listened to our May Special. Each and every one of you rock! Until next time, we'll see you in The Basement.

It pains me to say it, but this camcorder bootleg of David Fincher's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo remake trailer has me sold. I'm not saying I'm going to like the movie, but I will now see it. I love the original trilogy. Shawn hates them. Both of us see these U.S. remakes as unnecessary for the same reason: love the originals or not, they got the job done. But man, it looks like Fincher worked his magic here, and how can one not resist watching a film that sells itself as the feel bad movie of Christmas? Watch, and judge for yourself:

Slick production values and a capable new incarnation of Freddy Krueger in the form of Jackie Earle Haley can't save this otherwise flat, boring remake Wes Craven's 1984 classic. A prime example of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. What was once a creepy, campy, low-budget excursion into slasher-horror has become just another Hollywood product void of fun, energy and, sadly, scares. Rooney Mara may look good, but her Nancy lacks any of the charm Heather Langenkamp brought to the role. The other characters are just as lifeless as the corpses Freddy leaves in his wake. A Bad review from this Basement dweller. Click here to check out a review by frequent contributor Mike S.

Sony Pictures announced today that Rooney Mara of the recent Nightmare On Elm Street remake will star alongside Daniel Craig in the Hollywood version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. She will play the film's lead, computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Duh. Reports also suggest Mara is signed on for film versions of all three books in the trilogy, including The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, provided the North American films prove as popular as the Swedish ones of the same name. Mara is no stranger to Fincher, having filmed a role in his upcoming Facebook drama The Social Network. While some have complained Mara's performance in Elm Street was too wooden (don't know, haven't seen it yet) one must have faith that Fincher tends to bring out the best in actors. The film starts shooting next month in Sweden. To hear our review of the Swedish film just click on the handy dandy embedded player to your right.