Writer: Lester Gan Wai Lun

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Watch this if you liked: “Hanna” and "Aeon Flux"

"Colombiana" directed by Olivier Megaton is interestingly enough one of the better films this month, compared to other films like "Cowboy and Aliens" which had 4 times as much of a budget to work with, this film stands alongside them in terms of action, likability and even quality.

Amandla Stenberg stars as little Cataleya, who witnessed her parent's assassination when she was a 9-year-old schoolgirl living in Bogota. She flees to the U.S Embassy where she gave them a microchip her father entrusted with her and that got her a one way ticket to the States. Fast-forwarded to 15 years later and trained by her Uncle Emilio (Cliff Curtis), Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) is now a cold-blooded assassin. Besides working for her uncle as a hitman, she has her own agenda where she hunts down criminals and after killing them, she tags them with a drawing of the orchid she's named for to serve as a message for the people that killed her parents.

Everything in this film seems to play out quite well, from the countless times Zoe Saldana had to take off and put her clothes back on (as if that could go wrong) to the flawless assassinations expected of a professional killer. The title "Vengeance is beautiful" doesn't really apply to this film though, in no way did seeking for vengeance end beautifully.

Zoe Saldana performance was great; overflowing with sexiness but also managed to gain sympathy from the audience even though she kills mercilessly. Her entirely physical relationship with her boyfriend (Michael Vartan) forces her character to bring out the human in her, further increasing her likability factor.

The story may be a little foolish, but it was completely enjoyable. Whenever it tries to get silly, it will just be about time for Zoe Saldana to take off her clothes again, and all is forgiven. The jokes aside, there are no reasons to hate this film; the average moviegoer will no doubt feel as though their money is well spent.

Cinema Online, 25 August 2011