I'm currently finished book two, The Girl Who Played with Fire. 

I've watched
The American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
The Swedish version of TGWTDT and The Girl Who Played with Fire.

I actually really liked the American version of the movie as well as the subtitled version of the first (I gave up on the dubbed version after several minutes).  The American version changes several things in the plot but it still felt like a nice dramatic Hollywood-type movie, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Both kind of capture the eerie feeling of being stuck on Hedeby island, with a potential murderer around the corner. I think remakes get a bad rap sometimes - not like it's exactly a "remake" - I mean it's really another movie based on the same book.

What I loved about the Swedish version is not even in the book or the American movie - the part where Blomkvist is in the slammer, Lisbeth actually visits and Lisbeth kisses him, and runs out shortly after, being perhaps afraid of falling in love after what happened to her mother. In the whole movie, Mikael looks at Lisbeth with tenderness and curiosity. There's a scene in bed where he says he just wants to stay with her - not like they didn't have sex (Lisbeth already made her advances earlier on in the movie lol), but he literally just looks at her body while she sleeps and when she wakes up. In another scene, he says that he doesn't know what happened to Lisbeth in her past experiences, but he's just happy they are there together.  In the Swedish take, I sense more chemistry between the two; there's a strong desire between them although they aren't sure how to deal with it sometimes (maybe this is more Lisbeth than Blomkist, though). 

On kind of a side note, it's interesting how people in the Swedish version look so...ordinary. I mean Blomkvist presumably in his late 30s or early 40s and it does look like he needs to hit the gym. He's not Daniel Craig (a la James Bond fame and machoness). He's a normal journalist guy. Berger doesn't try to hide her age. In short, these characters seem real. Lisbeth though, looks about the same in either movie haha. I could go on forever about the rest of the characters.

Then, I moved onto watching The Girl Who Played with Fire, Swedish version after finishing the book. The story was just so action packed that I couldn't wait to watch the film. (I actually watched this Swedish movie first, THEN the Swedish version of "Tattoo"). But then, it turned out kind of...jumpy. It feels Lisbeth discovers she's being wanted for murder, then, bang bang bang. She finds all the people she needs to find and somehow we're already at the farm house where the confrontation with her father happens. It just kind of flew by. The book seemed to make the whole thing seem like a much more complicated mess - I mean if no one could uncover who Zala was for all these years, they sure seemed to do it in a flash in the movie. There was a lot of story on what happens in the investigation, what happens with Blomkist which seems to have been barely touched on, the different angles of "whodunnit" and the conflicts in the investigation, the various people from Lisbeth's past that had a thing or two to say about her.  Obviously, those things are not as integral to the story, but it still felt like something was missing.  Maybe it was also because I likely watched the non-extended edition of this movie, whereas the Swedish Tattoo movie was definitely around 2.5 hours, making me think I watched the extended version for that.

That said, I'm super happy there's two film movies out there for one of my now-favourite books. Despite any flaws with the "Hollywoodized" versions or the Swedish versions, I thoroughly enjoyed both. I love details, so I'm obviously drawn to the book, but I love seeing everything on screen. Lisbeth has easily turned into a favourite character for me. I know because I now almost think of her as a real person, the way I wished that things like Hogwarts and wizardry existed. She's strong, edgy, determined but at the same time... vulnerable, fragile, cautious...complex.. She's a character I learned bits about as I read through the first two book and liked discovering more and more about but above all, I hope whatever the ending is, it is good for her. (I kind of wonder Blomkvist will have that kind of character development, but then the book title already gave away that it's not All About Him!)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest... you're next!

Now that you've finished school and are working...maybe rediscovering things you didn't have time for before, finding new hobbies, and moving on from other things.  Yesterday was the first time that I had talked to you where there was more than the obligatory "how are you". It seems like when we used to talk - the way you'd come through your honesty. 

I really hope one day soon we will just really catch up and hang out like we used to. I guess it becomes harder when school ends, but I am so tired of that excuse. I really miss you. Whether it's playing games online together and maybe getting a drink, let's do it! You're such a wonderful person. Even if "we" don't happen in that sense, I hope you'll still be my friend. I think, for a while it hurt too much when I had to face that maybe that's all you wanted to be, but I realize not having you as a friend would be even a greater loss. When I think of the most kindest, wonderful person I've met in the recent years (or friend that I've gotten to know better), you're definitely amongst the top of that list. :)  I hope you achieve all your life goals you've told me about before...travelling, playing your favourite sports around the world, exploring all the things nature has to offer.

That's what blogging is to me sometimes...and I realize I haven't blogged here (or on my LJ) in a while, save for an important update about the UFE. Work life really is different and it changes everything much dramatically than co-op term ever did. I barely even go on MSN anymore. If I have free time, I want to spend it hanging out with friends or family, cleaning house (which I put off for ages) and maybe try to make my room look inhabited by someone my age and not a school child haha... or getting an early night's sleep (by that I mean 11pm) is great.

Finances suddenly hold a much bigger priority as I'm wondering what car I should get and what the best way to finance it is. The future dcisions of when I should move out also creep into the picture. Realistically, I'm going to stay at home until at least I get my CA designation or I move out with someone.  The last monthly payment would be gym memberships, of which I finally looked into and I'm 99.99% set on joining Goodlife - just yesterday when I went to finally sign up (free trial ended) the sales managers were absent. Wow...I can't say that's a good way to run a business. 8pm on a weekday evening should be an ideal time to sign up, honestly...

Lastly, on the fitness side, I think I'm addicted to hot yoga (at Moksha Yoga) now. The last time I tried something and felt a total urge to go back was when I played Squash... I'm surprised I even liked hot yoga because I don't like when it's super hot. Except this was a "nice" sort of hot and the poses weren't too bad, although my flow is horrible. :) The first time I did yoga was just normal yoga and I remember I got a cramp or something. -_- The heat supposedly relaxes your muscles, so I didn't feel any pain this time! Just sweat... I REALLY liked it! The only downside compared to my first yoga class was that the cool down period in that was a lot funner and longer - I actually fell asleep for a few seconds.... The hot yoga close was a lot shorter and I definitely didn't fall asleep. That said though, it's not that expensive that I can't return on a bi-weekly basis at least. : D Hopefully, they'll have some good deals soon!