Review- Girls Kick Ass! ("Hanna" et al...)

One of the best films of the year so far is getting its DVD release September 6th. I speak of "Hanna," one in a long line of 'kick ass girl' films. Here's a quick review of it, and some others in its vein...

Hanna (2011) Saoirse Ronan stars as a precocious 16 year-old (who looks 12) and is raised alone by her father in the frozen wastelands. When her father is captured, Hannah uses all her father's survival training and kick-ass skills to find out who she really is, who is trying to kill her & her father, and God help anyone getting her way. The movie is stylized, exciting, heartbreaking, and is shot on location in many European countries, which gives the movie a vibrance and depth. Although not shown in many theaters, this is one film that is well worth the rental. It possesses a heart to it that few other action films have. Highly recommended.

Sucker Punch (2011) Zack Snyder of “300” fame gives us Emily Browning as Baby Doll. A psychologically tortured orphan is thrown into a home for wayward young girls and, when she goes into her dream world, she and her band of girl cohorts are transformed into school-girl outfit wearing, samurai sword bearing, gun wielding babes who battle a myriad of fantasy scenarios including: World War II German automatons, dragons & orcs, and a futuristic train loaded with robots. Although the movie was panned for his messy storyline, I found the action sequences alone to be well worth the waiting through the other muck.

Kill Bill (2003/2004) Quentin Tarantino. Nothing says ‘kick ass' more than his movies. Uma Thurman’s unbelievable samurai sword revenge killer, Beatrix Kiddoe, is her signature role. Volume 1 is a stand-alone nonstop blood-soaked killfest with “the Bride” taking her vengeance out on the assassins that tried to kill her. Volume 2 is more of a character study, but no less amazing and action filled. The action sequences and fight choreography is a tour de force and worth several viewings if only to take in all the subtle nuances of Tarantino's masterful direction. I consider this movie to be the Citizen Kane of revenge films.

Kick Ass (2010) Although it’s supposed to be about a high school nerd who wants to be a super hero and then becomes one - sorta - the movie is completely stolen by Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl. This 11 year-old, purple wig wearing, extremely dangerous little girl, takes out full grown adults with foul language, ballistic choreography, and unflinching carnage. Forget the original story line - her story and her equally nutty father (Nicholas Cage as Big Daddy) is the best thing about this movie and well worth a second look just for her performance alone.

House of Flying Daggers (2004) Set in 1900's China, a policeman uses a blind dancer named Mei (Zhang Ziyi) to flush out a notorious group of rebels hiding in the forest. He’s in for a huge surprise! Mei, although blind, is one hell of a warrior chick. Incredibly choreographed, beautifully shot, and wrapped inside a romantic venue, this is a wonderful foreign film that hits on all cylinders, delivering not only a terrific story, but a kick-ass Asian girl who only wants to be with her lover… and lets absolutely nothing stand in her way.

Salt (2010) Although the original story called for a man named Edward Salt, Angelie Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a possible Russian sleeper cell agent who has been awakened to kill the President of United States. Jolie proves that she is not only a looker, but possesses a non-stop strength of will and mind when it comes to getting the job done. Continuous crazy action, impossible escapes, and mayhem & violence catapults this movie into the stratosphere. Although it's preposterous to think that any human being, let alone a woman, could survive the insurmountable odds and ridiculous pain that she endures, it's a terrific popcorn movie and one that shouldn't be missed.

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) OK, don't give me any s**t on this! Say what you will about Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore, and Cameron Diaz, but they do posses some major kick-ass skills. C.A.F.T. is a quirky, wildly imaginative, completely moronic, and insanely outrageous movie that I have seen a few times and enjoy it more each time. Director McG loves these girls and shows off their remarkable timing, fighting skills, and costumes that really show off their…uh…assets. And, dammit, who can resist watching the three dance to “Hammer Time”?! It's a complete brain-numbing asinine movie that is watchable only for the sheer lunacy of it. Think of it as a Warner Brothers cartoon come to life ... except for three exceptionally cute girls who really kick ass!