Enjoyable summer action blockbuster with more than enough salt for the taste buds

Rating: 8/10 (24 August 2010)

Angelina Jolie in the trailer speaking the line "You think everyone is who they say they are" sets the premise surrounding the mystery of "Who is Salt?"
The basic story is that Jolie plays a CIA agent Evelyn Salt who is happily married to her husband a German arachnologist. During work she ends up talking to a Russian who accuses her of being a spy and her colleague Ted Winter (a part played superbly by the reliable Liev Schreiber) and Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) have to track her down. Meanwhile her husband goes missing as she tries to find him.
Salt is a terrific film in a lot of ways. Jolie carries the part well. Just like most of her other movies when they are action like Tombraider etc, she does all her own stunts which are terrific and add an air of authenticity to the film without the use of CGI. Her acting is good as she also looks great visually and in a few flashbacks of her character being with her husband, you feel the emotional connection of caring about them as I felt the love between them. The action sequences themselves were choreographed well and was exciting.
One other aspect I will say is the choice of director Phillip Noyce of keeping the allegiance of Salt in the dark was refreshing and made me think what side she was on. This kept you guessing. I figured it out about halfway through, but it is challenging as there are an initial few twists and turns that happen fast so you might be thrown off balance in trying to figure out who she is. With the film keeping you guessing keeps up the suspense and tension of what Salt will or will not do next. Some reviewers have complained that it is impossible to root for any characters like Salt in the movie making you not care about them, but as I said I think it makes it challenging for you to figure and actually engages the viewer.
As to far as the story a lot of people have poked plot holes in it. This may be true but to be honest with you I wasn't paying much attention. It seems to make sense to me, but maybe I'm not as smart as some people, but I really enjoyed it anyway for what it was.
A lot of people have also said the ending is a cop out but I think it sets it up nicely for a sequel, like a continuation of her journey. I look forward to the sequel if there is one and hope there will be more depth to Salt as a character as I thought the film could have been extended by another five to ten minutes with maybe some more flashbacks of her character. However my taste buds are already tingling for a Salty, hopefully Saltier sequel.