Niels Arden Oplev's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," based on Stieg Larsson's book, blended a nail-biting mystery with brutal sexuality and unforgettable characters to make the Swedish film one of the best releases of 2009.

So why was it necessary to make a new version?

That's a complicated question having to do with subtitles, money and the eagerness to Americanize any foreign film that shows even a glimmer of cinematic strength. A better question is: Can an American version of the film be as powerful?

Director David Fincher answers with a resounding "yes" as his film starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara is equally as compelling, uncomfortable, powerful and beautifully portrayed as the original. From the erotic opening credits to the superfluous final act, Fincher has made a version equally as good.

The main reason Fincher's film works is Mara, who brings the same fire, insanity and emotional combustibility to the role as when Noomi Rapace originally played Lisbeth Salander on screen. The complexities of this character -- an emotionally battered ward of the state who is a computer whiz -- isn't for the faint of acting heart. It requires a complete transformation into a character dark enough to torture her rapist but vulnerable enough to justify her actions. Maybe Mara will be able to do what Rapace didn't -- earn a much-deserved Oscar nomination.

Craig takes over the role of Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist discredited by a powerful foe. He agrees to take on an investigation of a 40-year-old murder that has haunted the head of a family. Craig's role, just as that played by Michael Nyqvist in the first film, comes across rather bland when in contrast to Lisbeth. But it's hard to shine when there is such a powerful force in the room.

Larsson's story is a complicated mystery that makes everyone a suspect and everyone a victim. It's this duality that makes the mystery so hard to unravel and so appealing when it comes to light.

It was equally smart of Fincher to keep the film based in Sweden. Shifting the story to an American setting would have taken away from the history that is so important to the story. It also gave him some beautiful landscapes to use as a backdrop.

Was it necessary to remake the movie so soon? No. It's just great that once the decision was made to move forward that the result is so good. This version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" is one of the best films of 2011.