Underwhelming movie that delivers some thrills

Rating: 4/10 (16 February 2014)

I finally watched the movie after seeing it being played on TV multiple times. Even seeing the trailers many years ago, it never struck me as a movie I must see. However, after hearing many people mention favourable things about the movie, I thought of giving it a chance. Angelina Jolie gives it a strong effort, but is ultimately limited by the necessary physicality of her role. It sort of takes you out of the moment when Jolie is fighting multiple Swat officers and other thugs. I understand that it is her role in the movie, but she doesn't strike you as someone who could beat up these men. I also thought that the law enforcement agencies were particularly inept in being able to apprehend Salt. Her dressing up as the Russian major was also too much of a stretch as something that wouldn't turn heads. Salt's husband also seemed to play a smaller role than I would have thought. There were many plot holes like how the police and CIA didn't immediately clue in on the fact that Salt used the spider venom dart and not an actual bullet.