Movie Review: Salt

CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) just wants to get home and hang out with her husband, when a Russian defector shows up at CIA headquarters. He accuses Salt of not only being a spy but also informs the agents that Salt has plans to assassinate the Russian president. His story is believable enough that Agent Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is immediately suspicious of Salt and wants to question her, while Salt’s colleague, Ted Winter (Liev Schreiber) defends Salt’s innocence.  Salt, realizing things don’t look good for her, seizes an opportunity to escape and goes on the run, determined to prove her innocence.

Thus begins 90 minutes of action: cars chases, gun battles, hand-to-hand skirmishes, and lots of jumping off of things onto to other things. Salt is very creative in finding ways to stay ahead of the other agents while she struggles to clear her name. There are more than one MacGyver moments. But… who is Salt?  Is she really a Russian spy?  Is she dedicated to the U.S.?  There are enough plot twists to keep you guessing until the very end.

One aspect I found amusing was how Salt would pick up items along the way that she needed, clothing or whatever, without drawing any attention to herself and without breaking stride.

Now, in order to buy Salt, you have to believe that a woman as small as Angelina Jolie could beat every man she comes across in hand-to-hand combat. Yes, she is well trained, but so are the male agents.  But, at least they didn’t make it look easy; she has to grit her teeth and jump off of walls for leverage.  You also have to believe that all these well-trained agents are really bad shots when they’re trying to take down someone on the run. However, I guess you can say that about any of these type movies – because if the main character is shot, it’s pretty much over.

Once things get going, Salt is action until the end, but the storyline is not quite as strong as the action (rent one of the Bourne movies if you want that); however, it certainly was entertaining and held my attention throughout.  I give Salt three out of five Slurpees.

* Salt * Director: Phillip Noyce * Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor * Writer: Kurt Wimmer * Time: 100 minutes * Rated PG-13 * Action/Thriller * Trailers *

Day X Exists ~ Salt begins July 23, 2010

Thanks for coming to Slurpee Chronicles for Day X Exists game hints.

Intro video was made using the Talking Tom Cat app on my iPhone.  I added transitions in the trailer using iMovie on my Mac.  Just because.

Salt Online Movie Game

The movie Salt, starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, and Chiwetel Ejifor, doesn’t start July 23 but there is an online game available now: Day X Exists.  I’ve only played it a couple of times, but it looks good so far.  It puts you in the role of an agent.  Evelyn Salt is secretly contacting you.  You have several missions to complete and you receive clues as you complete the missions.

Like any other game, you have to build up coordination using the interface, various keys on your keyboard, and mouse clicks.  It’s the kind of game I like because there is some strategy involved, not just point and shoot.  The graphics are good and the game includes clips from the movie.  You can register to track your scores on the leaderboard and to score points from the weekly clue codes.

Salt also has a Facebook page and and Twitter account.  Overall, great use of social media to drum up interest in the movie several weeks before it is released.