Hanna struck audiences with excitement and awe.

Hanna
4/5

Full of mystery and teaming with suspense, action and adventure. This is the movie Hanna.

Hanna (Saoise Ronan) is a mysterious little girl with a questionable past. She was trained by her father Erik (Eric Bana) to carry out an intricate mission which takes her across Europe. Trained to kill if necessary, Hanna is more than capable of putting any opposition to rest. Especially when they are distracted by her child like innocence. Hanna's past, which is shrouded in mystery, is slowly revealed to her as she is hunted by Marissa (Cate Blanchett) a CIA agent with strange ties to the girl.

One of the first things you'll notice in this movie is its cinematography. It was unique and creative, almost avant-garde. But most importantly it aided in telling the story. Director Joe Wright also did a great job of balancing action with the story element. The action was shocking, riveting and full of emotion and there was just enough of it to keep you watching yet not distract from the suspenseful plot twists.

The story was wonderfully written, giving the audience just enough information to surprise them later. Although a few minor elements of the story were a little predictable, the important parts weren't, and that's what made this movie a great mystery.

Now although the story was good it still seemed to drag on just a tad bit too long. It was somewhere between the point where all is revealed to the audience and the tragic ending where the plot begins to hang. But the remaining 90 minutes was entertaining enough to dismiss it, which is why I give it:

4/5 Stars

Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 was a pleasant surprise sure to shrug off bad reviews.

Atlass Shrugged: Part 1
3.5/5

Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical mystery, true to Ayn Rand's literary version published in 1957.

Dagny Taggart (Taylor Schilling) struggles to keep her brother James Taggart (Matthew Marsden) from destroying Taggart Transcontinental, a massive railroad company founded by their grandfather. Seeking desperately needed repairs on Taggart Transcontinental's one hundred year-old rail lines, Dagny turns to industrialist Henry Rearden (Grant Bowler), who's company has developed a new metal alloy. All the while many of Dagney's employees begin to turn up missing, each leaving her with a mysterious question, "Who is John Galt?" As Dagny and Rearden's ambitions meld they discover an unnerving revelation that explains the sudden disappearances linked with the mysterious "John Galt".

Apparently this was a low budget film, but it was hardly noticeable other than the fact that there were no big names acting in it. But there didn't need to be. This is a story about philosophical views. It is very character driven and it's clear that Paul Johansson did an excellent job of directing his actors into those roles.

Admittedly, the dialog was a bit extensive, but given that this is a film adaptation birthed from a monolithic novel, I'd cut Johansson some slack. Each character personifies a specific school of philosophy related to consequentialism and what better way to personify philosophical ideas than through conversation. Lots and lots of long bits of conversation...

I read that many critics were dissatisfied by the "mild" political undertones present in the movie. But I would argue that the film is more philosophical than political, as was the book. You can't talk extensively about egoism or utilitarian views without mentioning capitalism. No way around it.

It's merely Ayn Rand's own philosophy, objectivism, explained eloquently in a creative fictional story. If her views offend you, that doesn't make it a bad movie. Whether you subscribe to Ayn Rand's outlook or not it should at least be acknowledged that this movie was done damn well. It's not easy to adapt any book into film (especially a huge novel like Atlas Shrugged), and Johansson was at least brave enough to attempt it.

Hopefully the next two films will be just as good.

3.5/5 Stars