I read the three books that make up the series before seeing the film...always a risk, it's hard to capture the granularity of long and detailed novel for the big screen. The first time I watched it I was from impressed, but the second time around I've thoroughly enjoyed it...and will reread the books!

The film is a robust, classy, intelligent and well balanced telling of a much more complex story. It's violent, serious, and at times graphic. It all belongs though, with very little waste, some great tension, and a satisfying ending.

After the third book I yearned for a forth...I feel the same at the end of the film.