Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

Writer Ratings:
Overall:
Cast:
Plot:
Effects:
Cinematography:

Watch this if you liked: “Ultraviolet”, “Mr & Mrs Smith”

A spy movie with Angelina Jolie as the titular character - as sexy as it sounds, well, it isn't.

We have been flooded with too many espionage movies. There's the Bond franchise, the Bourne trilogy and then there's Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt from "Mission Impossible" franchise, and all of them are men. Thus, making one with a female lead would have sounded logical, wouldn't it? It would be, if it promises something more.

However, there are already too many irrelevances. We have too much espionage movies since the Cold War era that they can finance a small country, the actions are over the top bordering to ridiculous (which is bad considering it is not intended to BE ridiculous or funny in the likes of "The A-Team" or "Get Smart"), and the counter-patriotic feel to the movie and the KGB-CIA closet hostility theme between the United States and Russia is not something that is relatable to the Asian region, in any way possible. Adding to that, the movie continuity is also questionable.

Jolie is attractive and... well, attractive. Cashing in on her looks and tough facade, the mother of six is as kick-ass as ever and yet nothing exceeds expectation. The character Salt is no different than her Lara Croft, Jane Smith or even Fox, and that became her Achilles heel rather than her strength.
It is however, a movie that will attract those who love action in any way (as long as there is a jumping-out-of-helicopter sequence) and those who love the double/sleeper agent storyline. The effects are no lesser than grand and the cinematography is great.

Kudos, however, for not trying the ultimate cliche in the book. Salt is not your usual female spy character that uses sexuality to get what she wants, but an agent with a quick mind. And although it is empowering for women, it is no entertainment for the guys out there. Ha-ha.

Cinema Online, 23 July 2010