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3. Lisbeth's Revenge

This is Lisbeth at her most intense and aggressive, and while the events of the two scenes are pretty similar, the emotions behind the actions are rather different for the two actresses. After Lisbeth's most recent meeting with Bjurman involves him chaining her to his bed and raping her, Lisbeth has had enough. After knocking him unconscious, Lisbeth ties Bjurman down, leaving him naked and prostrate on the floor. Lisbeth less than delicately inserts a large dildo into Bjurman's ass before blackmailing him with footage of their previous encounter, which she had clandestinely videotaped. As a topper, Lisbeth uses a tattoo machine to write some choice words about her thoughts of Bjurman on his chest.

Because these are two very different Lisbeths, their motivations during the course of this scene stand in stark contrast. Mara is a softer, gentler Lisbeth; sure, she can take care of herself, but her M.O. is reacting, not acting. She is punishing Bjurman, and while she does it she stays in control of herself, but you can clearly see the fury behind her eyes. She moves and works like a surgeon... okay, maybe like the surgeon from Human Centipede, but still, you get the idea. Her movement is very fluid, as if she had choreographed every action before beginning.

Rapace's Lisbeth actually seems to be enjoying herself. She taunts and teases Bjurman, getting a certain sadistic pleasure from the control she has over him, and she almost cracks a smile. While for Mara this is justice, for Rapace it is revenge. She is more aggressive, improvising a few kicks to the back for good measure. This is the scene where Lisbeth finally takes control, and both women take advantage of that moment in their own way.

4. Lisbeth “seduces” Blomkvist

Okay, so I'm gonna come out and say that the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is vastly superior to the Swedish. The Swedish is good, but with Fincher at the reigns, the American version is superb, one of the most entertaining movies at the year. In particular, the Swedish version tends to meander a bit, while the American version moves so quickly and efficiently that, even at two hours and 40 minutes, it never gets boring.

However, because of its slower, more lyrical pace, there are a few moments that the Swedish version really nails, while the American version rushes through them a bit, not giving them the attention they deserve. The first time that Lisbeth sleeps with Blomkvist is one of those moments, and it wasn't until rewatching the Swedish version after seeing the American version that I realized how good the former scene is.

Which is not to say that the American scene is bad, just not that interesting. For Mara, Lisbeth is taking what she wants. She is sitting in bed with Mikael and she decides it's time for a screw. Off come his clothes, off come her clothes, and away they go. Mara is very aggressive in this scene, which makes sense; Lisbeth is unapologetic about her sexuality and when she decides to sleep with someone she doesn't dilly-dally around.

But for Rapace's Lisbeth, this act is about much more than just attaining pleasure. Lisbeth is inherently untrusting of everybody she meets (which makes sense considering her interactions with the last person she met before Blomkvist), which makes it very difficult for her to get close to anyone. This is the scene where she lets herself be vulnerable with Blomkvist; this scene is as much about intimacy as it is about sexual gratification, and watching Rapace let her guard down is quite touching. This is the scene when we see Lisbeth's relationship with Mikael begin to change, and it is very effective in showing how she will let herself get hurt by him at the end of the film.

So Which is Better?

That's a loaded question, and depends on what you are looking for in your Lisbeth. Mara is much smaller and thinner, which fits the quiet, non-confrontational persona. This makes her attack on Bjurman even more intense, because you can't imagine such a tiny girl doing so much damage. Rapace is bigger, stockier and more muscular, which makes her a more masculine presence than Mara (she is also naked much less frequently).

In the four scenes described above we see the emotional development of the two characters. If we are going by which character is more true to the Lisbeth of the books (Fine, I admit it. I read the damn books) then Mara's physical presence bears a stronger resemblance to Larsson's character, while Rapace's anger and threatening tone hew closer to how Larsson describes Lisbeth. But Mara's Lisbeth is the more likeable character, less aggressively antisocial and at times even bordering on friendly. Mara also lets her feelings show more often, her emotions closer to the surface than Rapace, who wears her leather jacket and boots like armor.

So how do you take your Salander? Light or dark? Your answer to that question will likely determine which actress you find more compelling in the part. What is undeniable is that both actresses make strong choices and deliver memorable performances; a character as complex as Lisbeth is wasted on neither of them, and is definitely part of why it is worth watching both adaptations, even if it means having to read during one of them.

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