Colombiana (2011)

Wow! Such a good movie.

Touches You

That was an excellent one.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

If you are staging an attack against the typical well known untouchable crime figure in a mansion, you know that there will be retribution coming your way. It is because we are only halfway through the allotted two hours. Why haven't you put as much planning into protecting your family members/love interest while you are in operation and afterward? As much as you do your military weaponry and entrance to the mansion plan? It is because we need more convincing of how evil the evil is..and give the hero even more emotional investment. The fantasy scenario sets up villain, who is a horrible gluttonous, cruel SOB. Then there is some kind of poetry in his/her death something ironic and the hero leaves with some ironic remark, in Saldana's case, a flower. This films has the equivalent impact in our lives as squashing a big black bug that has entered our living space. Killed for now but wait till we get to kill again.

The summary pretty much sums it up. The movie watches like a 12 year old boy took some notes from a few recent action movies, then proceeded to create a female Jason Bourne, only without any explanation as to how she gained the ability to fight that way. Literally the only nod to any sort of fighting cred from her uncle, guardian, and stated trainer, was his ability to beat the crap out of someone tied to a chair, and to shoot random cars in front of a school in broad daylight and walk calmly away after the cops had already arrived, for some reason. Then it's like, fast forward, she's a ninja/special ops/Batgirl I guess, but she only goes after Colombian crime lords. No segue. No explanation. Uh. You can literally watch the trailer for this movie and see all of the actual story that is in the movie. All that said, the cinematography is pretty good, the soundtrack is good, and the fight scenes are decently done, although they are basically carbon copies of various Jason Bourne scenes.

After long hesitation finally I gave it a chance and ordered the DVD on Amazon. I have to admit that first I studied profoundly the reviews and then I was convinced to buy it. I was not wrong and I spent a quiet entertaining evening. Well, in the movie you see coming some plots by far but there are a few clues that are well executed. I mean sometimes I expected some faster pace but then I know already what came next. But this point said should not stop you to see it. The action scenes came professionally here. The picture is well adapted for the very attractive and original chosen filming locations. Zoe Soldana delivered a respectable performance. In this form she could even replace Sylvester Stallone in Rambo and I have no doubts to imagine her in this role. If you want see other good vengeance thrillers don't miss Salt or all Rambo series. For all these reasons it merits a solid 6 / 10.

Of Angelina Jolie was in the title role Columbiana would get a 9 rating.A 'Strong Woman' - action - crime - drug cartel - bad cop CIA - good cop FBI, film in which the men play bit-parts. A good role reversal and pleasing to see.Its a good film. The plot may have some less than credible leaps and the ending is a bit 'sloppy' but you don't see that in the pace of action, good cinematography and actor's good performances.Do I really need ten lines?And anotherand another