The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo : Rooney Mara a better Lisbeth

As a Scandinavian I probably shouldn't even admit this. But I thought Rooney Mara was far better than Noomi in the role. Rooney actually BECAME the character, her body language, her eyes, her slim figure and even all those piercings and tattoos seemed to suit her, as if she actually belonged to that subculture. Noomi, while very good, is obviously just playing a role. She doesn't even suit the role physically, Lisbeth is supposed to look like an emaciated 14 year old, Noomi was a 30 year old woman when the movies were made, and it shows. It was very obvious that Noomi and Lisbeth are two completely different people. Anyway. Just my 2 cents.

Also, from reading the book and watching the movies, Rooney definitely looked more like Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth wasn't meant to be so conventionally attractive like she was as portrayed by Noomi Rapace.

I feel like Rooney was more physically true to the character, and actually a little more 'human'. Noomi seems angrier and more tomboyish. I like both for those different portrayals. Can't pick between them, i'd say they played her equally well.

I disagree. I much prefer Noomi's version although I have not read the books.

Regardless of whether or not Rooney is physically more like the book, Noomi felt far more -real- to me she's nervous, unsure of herself at points, shaky she really looks -damaged-.

By contrast, Rooney seems more like a comic book heroine (or villain). Her hair and outfits and so on are always -too- good to be true.

Same with Blomkvist Daniel Craig looks like a Hollywood actor playing a part. The guy in this version seems so much more vulnerable, soft and frightened like a real guy would be in his position.

This version is far less polished than the Fincher verison a lot of the dialog is inferior (more like a TV movie) and I think that hurts it a bit, but the lead performances are outstanding and that's why I prefer it.

I liked the American Lisbeth (Rooney Mara) better than the Swedish Lisbeth (Noomi Rapace). The reason is very simple - American Lisbeth is more attractive as a female. Having a very beautiful woman play Lisbeth is a good choice. If you take a very attractive woman and turn her into this painted-pierced punk-goth freak, then that will create a strange effect on me, a male viewer. On the one hand I'm kind of scared (even repulsed) of her but on the other hand I'm also attracted to her. With Swedish Lisbeth there was no such repulsion-attraction dilemma, because she was just not that attractive. So, I don't really care about which Lisbeth acted better or which is closer to the book. What I care about is her physical effect on me.

I personally loved Noomi Rapace in the part of Elizabeth. The swedish version is just so much better then the American version on all levels.

My preference is Noomi Rapace's Lisbeth. I found her to be more real, her pain and past bagage is more palpable and it's such a great performance overall. I never Thought Rooney Mara could come close or even reach Noomi's level. I think she did a great job! I was far from disappointed, those were big shoes to fill. Overall the Swedish version has a more authetic feel to it with real people instead of 'The Hollywood Glow in the Bottle'. I feel that Fincher did a great job.

Noomi Rapace was far, far better in my opinion. She was more human and more real. So we're the other characters.. I prefer the Swedish version.