Review: Hanna

The trailer for this movie is one of those trailers that is so good it made me want to see this movie immediately. I was afraid it was going to be a flop and I would not get around to it but thankfully good word of mouth has helped it significantly and I got around to seeing it. Thank goodness I did because it is one of my favorite movies of the year so far, and that is saying a lot with all the great action movies that have come out.

The movie is about a teenage girl who was raised in a cabin in the middle of nowhere by her father, played by Eric Bana. She has been raised to be a killer and assassin because a woman in the CIA, played by Cate Blanchett, wants her and her father dead. The story unfolds with some small plot twists but with great direction.

 I was scared at first when I saw who the director was. Joe Wright, while a good director, has done more artsy movies like Atonement and Pride and Prejudice. Going into an action movie could be dangerous ground. Thankfully he kept his best skills at his side and made it into an artsy action film, and it really works. There are scenes in this movie that are beautiful to look at. The fight and action scenes are seamless and jaw dropping. These are some of the most badass fight scenes I have seen in a while, especially due to the fact most involve a teenage girl. The visuals are creepy at times but it helps with the movie.

Saoirse Ronan, who plays Hanna, does a fantastic job. She is ruthless in the fight scenes, yet emotional and vulnerable when she needs to be. Her look in this movie matches the visuals perfectly as well. Where the hell did Eric Bana come from? He is fantastic in the movie and I have always thought he was a great actor. Maybe this movie can help him comeback to the forefront. Cate Blanchett is the ruthless CIA agent who is just a downright bitch. By the end of the movie you truly despise her and hope Hanna knocks her out. At a point in the movie Cate Blanchett's character hires some german hit men. Their leader is played by Tom Hollander and is my favorite character in the movie. He is a very feminine german who has quirks that cause him to be downright creepy. The Chemical Brothers did the soundtrack and it blows any soundtrack I have heard the past few years out of the water. Unlike the Daft Punk soundtrack for Tron, This soundtrack flows with the movie so well that even at its highlights you barely notice it because it pulls you more into the movie. My only complaint is the end seems a tad rushed. There was plenty of room to flesh out the characters a bit more and explain things more but it is still great and the ending is ultimately satisfying.

Rating- 5/5 "It's the Bee's Knees"

I loved this movie. This takes the great action from the Bourne movies, the visuals of a Tim Burton movie, and the great soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers. I recommend this to anyone and everyone if only to watch Saoirse Ronan.

Oh and Record Store Day is tomorrow, April 16th. Go check out your local Record Store!