MOVIE REVIEW - Salt

Angelina Jolie is back at the box office as a rogue CIA agent in Salt.

Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt. A highly decorated CIA agent that in a flash is accused of being a Russian spy, sent here to infiltrate the American Government. Her actions in theory could be so devastating that the entire existence of the United States could hang in the balance. She could commit crimes so heinous that she could become the patsy for creating nuclear war, and murdering heads of states, that would infuriate the entire world and isolate the USA. That in nutshell is Salt.

The entire idea of this story is actually a good one. The story in its rawest form is interesting and imaginative. But in a movie making sense, it ends up being a good idea, thrown away in a sell-out, video game action flick.

This seems like a role Jolie would be born to play, and maybe it is. But the sad part is that there isn't really any acting here. This is one action sequence after another, time and time again. Jolie running here, and there, her jumping off of this and that. Her shooting this person and this person, and never getting it wrong. The idea of the character of Salt is a good one, but any good character developed has to have some fallibility, and she doesn't.

Salt never makes a mistake, she wins every fight, and somehow kills, or severely injures dozens of male agents from various US agencies like they are school kids. Her plans are always executed to absolute perfection, and no one in the country seems to be able to even run as fast as she does. Salt is a mismatch for every highly trained agent she comes in contact with, and never gets a scratch. Killing her enemies in about 2 seconds, many times with her bare hands

No one minds a little Hollywood embellishment, but this movie is so ridiculous, that after a while it can't be taken seriously. Jolie as Lora Croft was one thing, that's fantasy, and a video game. This is supposed to be somewhat believable, but it turns out to be cartoonish and silly.

To be fair, there is some really nice stunt work done here, especially in a very compelling escape scene where Salt jumps from truck to truck to truck top in her effort to elude authorities. And if it's total action you want there is no lack if it here. James Newton Howard's musical soundtrack is strong and determined and is a real asset. But overall this is a good idea wasted.

Salt's biggest problem is that it thinks it smarter than it really is. It is predictable and you more than likely will be ahead of the plot line. That takes away a ton of the drama. Most will be able to figure this out with no real problem long before it plays out. Add that up with the previous problems and you've got problems. But...it is summer and maybe a mindless action flick may be in your plans. And hang on, the door is open for more Salt pics to be made.

Salt. She's too perfect and the movie making is not. Pass the Salt.