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Salt Movie TIGERM.NET — Description
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Salt (2010) [Stupendous Covert 9. ] -

WARNING!!
THIS PORTION OF THE REVIEW CONTAINS A SUMMARY OF THE FILM!!

The Bourne Identity meets The Good Sheppard and The Fugitive merges with The Constant Gardener in this fast-action-post-negotiator flick. Although the brutal beginning during a merciless Interrogation that takes place in a Korean Concentration Camp is the only hint of action for the first 20 minutes or so -- the film picks up FAST. After a warmer transition two years later, we further explore the life of the woman we come to know as Evelyn Salt. Now married to a German archeologist within the U.S. -- for the first time a new clue is revealed: Evelyn works for the CIA.

After a sneaky 'shift of gears' and some in-the-know-covert Russian-Government-Meets-United-States-Historical-Secrets--viewers are transported and treated to very possibly one of the most extended chase scenes in an action movie since Ronin in 1995! The chase begins on foot, escalates to a truck-top hopin'-edge-of-your-seat--attention-grabber -- and finally after great anticipation... becomes a classic vehicle versus vehicle high speed chase! What truly morphs this chase scene to be so very intriguing is that it just 'blasts-out-of-the-blue!' [with lack of a better description for it ].

To be completely honest, there was a point when I was thinking in the back of my mind while viewing the movie [during the interrogation scene] "I REALLY didn't come here this evening to view a slow government conspiracy film." Instantly, "The Good Sheppard" and "The Constant Gardener" came to mind -- and having left my lights on just 20 minutes prior and missing the 9-o-clock-PM show as planned -- I envisioned myself walking away from the 10 PM show -- which to this day I had not ever done. I decided to stay sitting. And 3 minutes later -- without any kind of warning -- the intriguing chase scene began. And it most certainly does not displease!

During the chase, Salt climbs windows several stories up, backpacks she and her hubby's 'baby' [pet dog =3], and leaves the 'baby' with the neighbors to watch before the chase scene continues -- all while she is weighed down by a backpack of unknown content. The answers to what's inside the backpack may surprise most audiences.

Raised American, much of what was revealed during the interrogation turns out to be true. What initially comes across as a possible lie and 'frame case' turns out to be what honestly is true. Salt had actually been hired as a very young child to assassinate the president of Russia -- although she herself was also born Russian!

The way this sneaky spy-versus-spy-versus-double-spy-versus-spy film is setup though -- much of the information is not revealed until various 'flashbacks' take place -- usually just before -- or right AFTER a scene that would prove it to be true or untrue is revealed! Nice one Hollywood!

In a hotel room with enough firepower to mow-down several tanks [has you wonder just what's going on next to you while resting in your suite in your travels ]; various clues are given to the audience of just what to expect the following day. But keeping up a 'shroud of mystery' as does the amazing Evelyn Salt does herself throughout this fine flick -- we are not ever completely and honestly sure just what is to happen -- especially when we see along with machine guns and explosive devices Salt suddenly sticks a needle into one of her husband's spiders she nabbed during the chase scene and extracts some juices.

Huh? O.o

The following day we are taken to yet more surprise as RIGHT AFTER one of Evelyn Salt's ex-CIA-co-workers says aloud, 'She'd have to REALLY be something to try anything here' -- the electric organs blare a loud cacophony of noise which scares and startles the group of government officials -- including the Russian President who we are informed is to be assassinated by 'someone.'

During a scenario of panic and uncertainty, Salt -- of which whom's location we are STILL not just yet certain -- throws a beeping device onto a chandelier above her... and what is above her [over the horrible blaring of the cacophony of organ "music"] is revealed: The Russian President on an 'assassination list.'

During his stand behind the podium, the floor opens up beneath him and down goes the Russian President into the floor -- where Evelyn Salt is waiting for him with a firearm. With a single shot, the President's eyes shut close and Salt is apprehended by CIA officials. A clue for future action however is revealed when although Salt -- as 'super soldier-levels-from-G.I.-Jane' as she has proven herself to be--decides NOT to shoot her ex-co-worker from the CIA and drops her gun. Carted off and arrested, a CIA agent says aloud, "There's no pulse" when checking the Russian President for vitals.

An unforgettable car chase scene takes place, as Evelyn uses a cop's own taser to
'shock' him into involentarily shove the pedal to the floor -- all while she's still handcuffed.
[in the backseat nonetheless. I often get to wondering WHY some police cars have no 'car fence.' =3]

She escapes and yet ANOTHER twist in the film takes place.

It is confirmed that Evelyn Salt truly does work alongside Russian spies who were raised as Americans awaiting what is only referred to "Day X." However... all heckle-and-hide breaks loose when Evelyn is assured that her husband Mike is safe and walks into a dreary and mostly empty room. Surrounded by gunmen with his hands, legs and mouth bound [in the past a scene one only used to associate with the 'Damsel In Distress' or 'The Lady Tied To The Train Tracks' by the villain] he is presented to her.

To my surprise... [and I'm certain to the surprise of the audience as well]...
He looks up to her... she smiles back at him. He is shot once in the chest and promptly dies.
What follows is yet another intriguing twist in this ever-absorbing film.

Salt: "Satisfied?" She calmly asks her mentor in Russian.
She asks in a tone that is questionable. As if only but an annoying fly had been crushed.

Her Childhood Mentor: "Satisfied." He says proudly with a nod.

The Russian-American Extremist group of double-spies re-initiate their 'sister' back into the 'Spy Cult' and cheer her with toasts and drinks. Evelyn proceeds to her very own 'victory drink' with her childhood mentor and what follows is a sudden burst of violent action. After drinking from the bottle, she slams it over his head spilling wine all over his wounded skull and promptly stabs him to death in the throat so he gags unscreaming.

Isolated from the rest of the 'Spy Cult' no one is the wiser as she grabs guns and grenades.

What follows is a one-armed-woman-taking-covert-killers-by-surprise blowing them all to bits with unpinned grenades [sneakily hidden behind her back. Clever.] Others she shoots as they are looking at monitors and drinking their alcohol. Evelyn takes a moment to take in the fact that her husband lays slain among the bodies and continues with her meet.

Another Russian-American spy who is part of the 'Spy Cult' acting upon the so-said 'Day X' that as of this movie -- is taking place this year [according to the script I mean ] -- whom she knows from her days in 'The Classroom'
[*coughs* 5-1-1-Kinderheim ] rides with her and informs her that it is time to now assassinate the North American President.

Dressed as a man and disguised to fit the profile of one of the Presidents escorts, Evelyn and her childhood classmate approach the president. However, the mission of her classmate is to act as a decoy and inspiration to get the U.S. to fire nuclear missiles.

Pretending as if he wants the president dead, the man runs towards him with his guns blazing and blows himself to smithereens using a bomb hidden away sending gunmen who hit him several times in the chest flying about in all directions.

The heated ending plot is revealed when after the President of The U.S.A. decides that it is now war with Russia confirms that a nuclear strike on Russia should be readied -- as Russia has already armed missiles to launch since in the view of the Russian Government -- an American [Salt] assassinated the Russian President. During the confirmation sequence, Salt's friend who had seemingly supported her throughout over half the film [calling her innocent even when it was doubtful whether she was guilty of being an undercover assassin in the CIA or not...] turns out ALSO... to be part of the 'Spy Regime.'

The office is shot up and only the president is left remaining alive. Pistol-whipped and knocked unconscious [after confirming launch of the nuclear missiles], it is revealed that the plan was for the 'Spy Regime' to nuke Mecca in Saudi Arabia and enrage over one billion Muslims who would then act out to destroy the United States of America.

Ironically...
a Muslim Couple was among the crowd and audience this evening at 10 PM and I could feel the cold quiet in the room. O.O

Salt's friend reveals to her he once had feelings for her and was upset when she married Mike. He also reveals to her that he was part of the reason her husband [Mike] was killed and that it was his idea to reveal to the U.S. Government that Salt had been hired to kill the Russian President during the interrogation near the end. It is also revealed that "Salt" is to be presented to the public as "The Bad Seed."

This is all revealed during a scene that is . . .unexpected.

The Russian President is actually alive, and Salt took it upon herself to use one of her husband's spiders with Neuro-poison in order to make her assassination seem official. As this scene is going on, it is televised on National Television that the "Russian President" is actually not dead and that a 'miraculous occurrence' has taken place.

Given you've taken the time to read all of this, it's a given this review contains spoilers. Let's just say that as for the end... if you don't want to see it yet there's no reason to fret. The end is great and let's just say that I have not ever seen a 'Triangle Jump' from a wall to a banister performed so amazingly deadly to get the 'True Badguy' even in an anime or manga. =3

The very-well-done-open-ended-ending leaves room for a Salt 2+3 -- but we shall see.

Note.
This Part of The Review Is Post Summary and "The Film 'Salt' To Me" ^_^

Sitting in the fairly empty theatre [about 1/3rd full scattered about for the 10 PM show -- I was glad to be there though -- wished a talkative young woman whom I had not yet met before happy birthday ] I began to feel that so many were missing out on a great experience. Film relation-wise -- although an original story -- other trend-setting films began to creep into my mind. Not only other film -- but intriguing anime as well.

To be completely honest, the concept of the film known as "Salt" feels almost as if to feed from the same energies that created such fine films as "The Bourne Identity" and "The Good Sheppard" rendering an action film with much promise. Seeing Evelyn Salt with a short-cut haircut and disguised as a Russian Man [an AMAZING transformation done with a face mask, false ears, and a bullet proof vest to push her breasts in -- very well done ^_^] oddly reminded me of "Legs" from "Foxfire" and "ZeroCool" from "Hackers" [both astounding films as well with actress Angelina Jolie rockin' the spot ^_^]

Beyond that though... I could not help but to think that the writer and possibly even the director of this excellent film "Salt" had or has seen the superb anime from Urasawa Naoki called "Monster." The "orphanage" was casted as a "secret learning grounds" for training spies who would one day "flip-the-script" in Russia's favor and Salt [as well as the others] were trained to "go with the flow" until instructed to "break the stream" -- were revealed to be completely unaware of their past lessons and each time the kids kissed the ring of this 'amazing Russian Spy' I could not help but to think "Franz Bonaparta" and "511 Kinderheim."

Influences from "The Bourne Identity" and "Perfect Dark" seemed prominent as well.

However, I would like to say that many writers and directors in Hollywood very often although up to date with modern film and video games -- very often do not themselves play or experience them -- so I actually got to thinking that perhaps there is a 'simiar unseen energy' that all film of this type -- despite the median or format [anime, live action motion picture, video game or even book] very likely feed from. Indeed we are connected by [and to] unseen forces which we may not ever completely understand in one lifetime. [one reason I personally believe in the theory of reincarnation in general. But this is a subject for another day and time. *Smile* ]

To be completely honest, Salt is one of those films that I truly do believe that shall be spoken about for quite some time. Although I was rushing to get to the 9 PM showing and hoping to view this film with a full house to clue in and cue in on all the "WHOAs!" and "OOHs!" and "NO SHE DIDN'Ts!" ...the quieter 10 PM crowd was just as satisfactory to me. ^_^ I truly am looking forward to Monday when box office receipts for the first releasing weekend for "Salt" are revealed.

To be honest... I was expecting a large crowd even for the 10 PM showing. When I viewed the 2010 version of "Karate Kid" starring Jaden Smith -- it was also a 10 PM show and I was honestly expecting a small crowd much like the one experienced for Salt just last night. However... this was NOT the case. "The Karate Kid" was packed full and did very well at the box office considering so many were convinced the film was just a "rehash" of the original Karate Kid. It wasn't. The script and film was completely redone.

Salt however, is a fresh film that I does not even have a book or pre-existing work to base itself upon. The concept is original and completely new however with Jolie starring as Evelyn Salt and over $110 MILLION USD spent on filming, marketing, distribution and lobbying this astounding original story from the minds of Kurt Wimmer and Brian Helgeland as directed by Phillip Noyce with music from the famed James Newton Howard [Oscar Nominated and well known for Orchestral and dramatic soundtracks from films such as "The Sixth Sense," "Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight," AND "The Last Airbender"] ...I surely hope to see this film shared with a return of profits for the good old "Hollywood Box Office" within the
Entertainment Industry as a whole.

After seeing the poor showing for yesterday night's show -- I am beginning to wonder if positive critics [this film had excellent reviews] are to blame. There is a rumor that a positive review for a film or work of entertainment often is the "Death Blow" for an otherwise fine release. ^_^; Could Salt truly be infected with "The Curse of The Kindly Critics?" O.O

Tomorrow we shall see ^_^

As for now, my sources have informed me that thus far although an estimated $110 MILLION USD has been spent in order to render the vision of "Salt" to the big-screen in all its-spectacular-awesomeness... thus far only $36 Million has been collected back...

Of course, this film has not yet been released theatrically in Europe and the U.K.
[Set date is "July 28th," 2010 and "August 20th," 2010. Don't ask me why such a large gap in dates. ]

We shall see what happens in the next two weeks. ^_^
For now, I truly do advise the viewing of this film anyone in favor of anything "James Bond" or "Noir" for tastes as well as those who enjoy fast-paced-seat-edging-action! ^_^ Fore countless surprises, an amazing story and an unforgettable experience awaits all those who dare to venture into the world of double-undercover in the fast-paced-no-holds-bared-action-packed-ocean-deep-story-backed-fabulous-film: SALT!

Forever In Love With All That Which Exists

(That Which Is Seen & Unseen, Known & Unknown),

-DJ, TIGER M [Friday]

-8:03 PM (8/6/2010)

Who Is TIGER M? O.O
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