Today’s Prayer Focus
MOVIE REVIEW

Colombiana

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for violence, disturbing images, intense sequences of action, sexuality and brief strong language.

Reviewed by: Thaisha Geiger
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults Teens
Genre: Action Adventure Crime Thriller Drama
Length: 1 hr. 45 min.
Year of Release: 2011
USA Release: August 26, 2011 (wide—2,500+ theaters)
DVD: December 20, 2011
Featuring Zoe SaldanaCataleya Restrepo
Amandla StenbergYoung Cataleya Restrepo
Michael Vartan … Danny Delanay
Cliff Curtis … Emilio Restrepo
Callum Blue … Richard
Jordi Mollà … Marco
Max Martini … Special Agent Williams
Lennie James … Special Agent Ross
Graham McTavish … Head Marshall Warren
See all »
Director Olivier Megaton—“Transporter 3”
Producer Europa Corp.
TF1 Films Production
Grive Productions
Canal+
See all »
Distributor TriStar Pictures

Revenge is “beautiful”?

Copyrighted, TriStar Pictures

In Colombia 1992, Cataleya is just a young girl when her parents are murdered. Before his death, her father gives her a microchip and the address of a U.S. Embassy. Due to the valuable information within the data, Cataleya is able to obtain passage to the United States. Upon landing in Miami, she finds her way to her uncle. She wastes no time in telling him that she wants him to train her how to become a killer.

Fifteen years later, Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) is a trained assassin who draws her signature flower on all her victims, hoping to draw out her parents’ killer. Despite her uncle’s warnings, Cataleya continues her hunt for vengeance. In between killings, she often visits an up-and-coming artist Danny (Michael Vartan). Though he falls for her, Cataleya keeps her distance and remains focused on tracking down those responsible for murdering her family.

I’m a fan of Zoe Saldana, but she isn’t given much to work with here; this movie’s script is too weak. All the secondary characters are very flat and limited. Catelya herself is a single-minded assassin without much of a personality. And since she survives near preposterous feats, the movie becomes a bit boring while waiting for her to finally track down her parents’ killers.

The film is technically action-packed, moving from murder to murder. However, in doing so, many plot points are either skipped or never answered. We’re never given a reason why Cataleya’s parents are gunned down or even the contents of the microchip. Perhaps the movie would have been stronger if some time was taken to show more character development, e.g., her uncle’s training sessions or even how she met Danny.

Though the violence is heavy and constant, “Colombiana” was able to receive its PG-13 rating due to little blood and the camera shifting away right before impacts. Either way, several people are murdered. Some are gunned down, eaten by sharks, strangled or stabbed. Another is electrocuted while in a bathtub. As a little girl, Cataleya stabs a man in the hand. Two dogs are given the command to eat one of the criminals, but this occurs offscreen, except for a brief blood splatter.

The profanity is around the 20 mark. There’s about 10 sh_t, 1 ‘f” word, 1 GD, 2 SOB, etc. Throughout the movie, Cataleya is often shown in little clothing. On a couple occasions, she’s shown taking off her bra (just her back shown), walking around either braless or in her underwear. During one scene, she kisses her boyfriend while in her bra and panties. She’s also shown in the shower. Before his death, one of her assassination targets is surrounded by women in lingerie, while they smoke some kind of substance.

Cataleya seeks vengeance and ends up losing even more. By the end of the movie, she’s left utterly alone. In this regard, the movie succeeds in showing that seeking revenge will often leave you with nothing. God tells us that vengeance is his (Romans 12:19). I don’t recommend “Colombiana”; my advice is to skip it entirely.

Violence: Heavy / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive

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Neutral
Neutral—…My 19 male cousin and my hubby liked it and thought it was good. It was okay. I agree there were some weak spots—why were her parents killed, were they good or bad, there should have been some training lessons with her uncle. As a fan of “La Femme Nikita,” the television series from years ago with Peta Wilson, I was hoping for this movie to be a bit better as a female hitman. It lacked something.

Honestly, I can’t remember the language, not for lack of it, I’m sure, but for a lack of this movie making an impact on me, either way. Guys will probably like it more than women. Women can find the original French “La Femme Nikita,” the TV series with Peta Wilson (not the new one) or the older movie “The Professional.” There is more of an emotional element in those that women may connect with. “Colombiana” is just okay.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3½
Andrea, age 39 (USA)