Review of Colombiana (2011) by Connor F — 25 Feb 2012

Zoe Saldana is on fire in Colombiana. This feels like a "what if the kid grew up" kinda movie for Natalie Portman's character in Luc Besson's The Professional film. I dug alot of the camerawork and stuntwork.

..some of it did look cheap and masked with quick cuts in editing, but most of it was pretty solid I'd say. Its a great action/spy movie I think. The storyline is fine and it works for the movie...

You don't expect award winning dialogue and writing in action movies...but this one feels like it could've had a little more polishing. I also didn't care for but didn't ruin the movie, was Michael Vartan as her lover.

..ok I get it that she has a lover...but this guy? I just thought it was too much to suspend for belief, for a girl like her. Maybe it was cliche, too far from the water for this fish. I liked the villain and semi villain was the most entertaining(channeling a bit of Gary Oldman from the Professional, hm?) Some of the editing was too fast and seemed to hide some acting or missed action.

..plus I hate to say it...but from seeing her in Avatar two years ago...she had the same facial expressions, even as a cartoon cat. Her upset expressions are so monotone and there's just no range. She would go from 0 to 60 in a second.

.and it was not believable in the slighest.( one example when she's talking to her uncle/mentor in the library) It had its problems, sure, but they never detracted from the enjoyment of the movie. Action nuts and zoe lovers will appreciate this movie no matter what.