Review of Colombiana (2011) by Tibor B — 29 Jun 2012

Zoe Saldana is the best thing in this otherwise average action film, made even more disappointing by the presence of Luc Besson in the execs chair. Badly scripted and using a tired revenge plot, it includes some laughably contrived scenes notably when the young Cataleya is given a "school or anarchy" choice by her uncle which seems to consist of mowing down an innocent passing car and then striding away from police as if nothing happened.

Although it's pretty clear that the adult Cataleya doesn't find any closure through killing her parent's murderers, the hits themselves are presented all glossy and glamourised in mostly skintight and skimpy outfits.

As mentioned, Saldana (and stunt doubles) acquits herself well as an action heroine and a couple of the action scenes are well paced and choreographed, if a tad over-edited, it's just a shame she chose this very average outing as her lead debut.