Jolie makes ‘Salt’ a tasty flick (4/5)

Salt

Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schrieber, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Directed by: Phillip Noyce
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action.
Running time: 1 hours, 40 minutes

You may think I’m not a big fan of action movies because car chases and explosions are much more likely to put me to sleep than they are to stir me into an adrenaline-crazed frenzy. Also, I have a standing disdain for any casting director absurd enough to cast Vin Diesel or Dwayne Johnson (formerly “The Rock” — because tough nicknames make up for a lack of talent). But truthfully, I demand a certain level of intellectual integrity that most mainstream action flicks seem to sorely lack (“xXx,” anyone?).

Thankfully, there’s no need for “Salt” to be put on anyone’s “guilty pleasures” list.

CIA officer Evelyn Salt (portrayed by an exemplary Angelina Jolie) finds herself accused of being a Russian spy and detained by her coworkers.

Desperate to find her German nationalist husband, Mike Krause (August Diehl), who has gone missing in an apparent link to the accusation, Salt employs her intelligence and fighting know-how to escape from her fellow agents and track her husband down, all the while proclaiming her innocence.

With Salt’s identity in question and a mountain of evidence piling up against her, Salt is tracked by fellow agents Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber), who has also grown to be a friend of Salt’s. But for a CIA agent, loyalty to country exceeds loyalty to friendship and her coworkers are forced to examine the facts.

Just as Peabody has no idea of what Evelyn Salt is capable, the audience, too, has no idea of what Phillip Noyce is capable. “Salt” is a heart-racing jaunt with fantastic action sequences and a plot that will keep you on your toes (or at least the edge of your seat) helped along by the moderately quick running time of an hour and 40 minutes.

Many reviewers have compared “Salt” to a mixture of the Bourne trilogy and the James Bond films.
But Jolie turns the action genre into her own plaything and absolutely owns every moment of her screentime.

I’ll admit that I predicted part of the ending about halfway through, but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment. I also think that most viewers will be left guessing ’til the end — there are plenty of twists to keep even the most seasoned moviegoers scratching their heads.

Angelina Jolie is the epitome of the female action star and she never ceases to amaze me. Her beauty, power and commanding aura have only grown with her.

But what was really excellent about her role as Salt is that her undeniable sex appeal is greatly toned down to a point where it’s hardly noticeable. And that allows you to focus on what’s actually going on rather than be distracted by the smoke-and-mirrors, peek-a-boo nudity that so often peppers action movies.

“Salt” isn’t entirely realistic and will leave you with a few questions when the credits start to roll. But it’s engaging and interesting and has some of the best acting so far this year.

Plus, don’t you just want to know if she’s a Russian spy or not?

4 of 5 stars

Lame ‘Wolverine’ fails to impress (2.5/5)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston.
Directed by: Gavin Hood.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and partial nudity.
Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes.

That’s it. Hollywood has gone too far with the adaptations.

As a young writer, I used to envision my stories being converted to theatrical masterpieces. And now I can only groan as story after story, comic book after comic book gets torn apart and mutilated in the name of “blockbuster.”

Why take a story already known and loved and completely change it in the hopes of making a profit off steadfast fans who only feel beguiled and cheated?

I’ve never been a big comic book reader, but I understand the depths of characterization and nuanced plotline built over the decades of a comic’s life.

If all you had to go on was “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” you’d never even give the series a second chance.

The biggest question I was left with after renting “Wolverine” was an enormous “Why?” The first three X-Men movies were enjoyable enough and easy to follow.

Then you watch this one.

Not only does “Wolverine” cast itself in a horrific light, but it makes you question the other three as well. It has enough plotholes to drive a tractor trailer through and, from my understanding, totally maims characters’ relationships with each other. For example, turning Wolverine and Sabretooth into brothers.

The things that disappointed me most about this movie were:

• The supporting cast. There was a lot of potential here that was just plain flushed away. Although the movie is focused on one character, there are so many brief introductions that could have been expanded to give the film much more depth. Even Victor Creed’s character was lacking, turning him into a mindless villain.

• The cheeseball action sequences.

• Gambit. I was very excited to see what his character would be like (he was one of my favorites to play in the Sega Genesis version of X-Men) and ended up (surprise surprise) heavily disappointed.

• Kayla Silverfox. I had no love for her whatsoever, and I’m generally considered to be a sap.

• The wolverine and the moon story. It’s a trifle compared to the others, sure, but as far as I’m aware wolverines don’t howl at the moon.

• Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. Normally, I like Ryan Reynolds. And he actually does a fine job in his role. But he’s just one of those actors who will always be himself in my eyes and not the character he is portraying. Not really his fault, probably mine for countless viewings of “Waiting...” and “Just Friends.”

• Will.i.am. Yeah, seriously.

The positives of this movie, though few and far between, include Hugh Jackman’s performance (which was good considering what he had to work with) and the inclusion of Dominic Monaghan (“The Lord of the Rings,” “LOST”). Granted, Monaghan’s character was one of those shortchanged, but it was a thrill just to see him.

Unfortunately, there is a “Deadpool” movie planned for 2011 (in which Reynolds will star, as he will in the other 2011 superhero movie “The Green Lantern”...that’s right, kids, Van Wilder is going to be the Green Lantern). I see no swift end in sight for these plummeting superhero movies. As with “Spiderman,” had they just left it at 1 and 2 it could have been a fine duology, but they just had to go for that third one. And don’t even mention “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.”

“Wolverine” could have been awesome. Instead, it’s just another lame offering from Hollywood.

2 1/2 of 5 stars