Visitors Review

(2012-05-22 22:40)

Not Bad

This review is from: Hanna (DVD) I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The main character did a good job drawing you into the storyline. Even the villains were respectably good. While I would not expect to see Oscar nomination coming out of this movie, I would give it a :- happy face).

Hello_Jill (2012-05-22 04:40)

A diamond in the rough.

This is the "Finnegans Wake" of thriller/action movies. More so, it isa coming of age story. By saying that it will be misunderstood andexpectations upon viewing must be put aside. This movie is a journeyand it's best for you to travel light.Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) is raised in the wilderness by her father, Erik(Eric Bana), and is trained in all things survival in order toeliminate Marissa Weigler (Cate Blanchett), a CIA agent. Aiding Marissais Isaacs (Tom Hollander), who might as well be a fashion icon givenhis unique attire for a henchman. Separated from her father, Hannabecomes a European journeyman who meets a somewhat hip British familyheaded by two parents (Olivia Williams & Jason Flemyng) that seem tohave different outlooks on parenting, yet at the same are perfect forone another. With new friends and a sense of family, Hanna learns whather father did not teach her, and through her interactions andadventures with Sophie (Jessica Barden) Hanna peeks into her potentialthat shows she may have something to offer to the world besides being aferal, socially inept assassin. It is through Hanna that we realizethat life can be both beautiful and heartbreaking; and whether aparent's motive is in the best intentions for their child. Fairy talemotifs substitute for a thin plot in such a way that forces the viewerto focus on Hanna and her world. From the title card to the film'sediting, the viewer is told what vehicle in which the story willunfold. They are plopped right next to Hanna making her journey all themore special. It is not voyeuristic, but welcoming – like the Britishfamily - spectators never feel like they are prying but instead aregiven food, shelter, and a seat in their traveling van, just likeHanna. Many will be turned off by the structure of Hanna. It's not like yourtypical 3 part structure: intro/setup, a structured body that tells youeverything, and a satisfying closer. The intro is silent, almost dead;the body is a tangent of adventures, sharp turns and dream likesequences that pay no attention to concrete form nor does it care to;and the ending can be said to be unsatisfying, but it speaks directlyabout the future of Hanna. Like Hanna herself, this film questions whathuman is and what normal is, and shows how great storytelling doesn'tnecessarily need logic or a deep plot in order for it to beintelligent. The key ingredients are real people and real feelings.Director Joe Wright's direction and editing for this film isn'tconventional. Best known for his period pieces, Wright ventures intounknown territory of action and becomes an experimentalist, in a way.His style, unlike Michael Bay, captures the peripherals of hischaracters letting the audience know just enough about the situation. Ascene that features Eric Bana perfectly explains Wright's innovativegift for film. What I like about Hanna is that it doesn't seem like atypical thriller/action film. Compared to past American movies in thesame genre, Hanna feels like a real movie. It does not have a glossedover look with fight sequences that are confusing to the viewer,instead, pictures look like film grain with vivid color. Wright takesthe audience and lets them actually witness a fight scene unfold as ifthey were an onlooker. Do I call for help? Should I run? Actually, I'llstay and see what happens.Cinematography and the film's soundtrack are amazing. Joe Wright andAlwin Kuchler have created a visual feast which keeps in step with thefilm's titular character. At times, The Chemical Brothers soundtrackcan be intrusive, but I would say it's on par with TRON: Legacy (2010)made by Daft Punk. "container park", "the devil is in the beats", and"Hanna's theme" are standouts.The adult actors deliver. Cate Blanchett once again demonstrates whyshe is such a coveted thespian. Although her Southern drawl is droppeda few times, she manages to be the wicked step-mother that no onewishes to have. Eric Bana is given a small role but he, like Blanchett,shows that the not so famous actors are usually the best in theircraft. Tom Hollander is one of the most underrated character actorsI've seen. His characterization in Hanna is memorable. Whoever was incharge of casting should be given a fat bonus at the end of the year,seriously. Out of all the dubbed up-and-comers, the next Natalie Portman or JodieFosters, heralded child stars with predictions of "she'll win multipleAcademy Awards, just you wait!" or "she's the best of her generation!"to "she's going to be working with - insert famous/legendary director -!" Saoirse Ronan has quietly made a reputation for her acting, unlikesome of her Hollywood cousins, and has positioned herself in a leaguethat is a party of one. Her characterization of Hanna is so subtle, sodevastating that it almost seems impossible to picture anyone else inthe role. What Hanna feels, we feel. Any other young actress would havenot succeeded like Ronan since there would be no need for anotherinterpretation besides hers. In one of the most difficult roles for ajuvenile to date, Ronan makes Hanna iconic. If Ronan was Secretariatthen the rest of her peers are Shams. Let them race, and more thanlikely Ronan will win – on merit alone. It's that staggering once allthe hype and fan affection are put aside.Besides being an art house film, at its very core Hanna is about ayoung girl who has more heart and courage than most she encounters.Aren't those the qualities we want our children to have? I hope so.

Snaggletooth . (2012-05-22 11:07)

In some ways.... beautiful

Im sure I haven't much more to add to the reviews here already, but Ithought I would totally know what this movie would be like and in a lotof ways I was wrong. Yes, its a trained killer who's on the run, with abig corporation in pursuit, blah blah blah, and we've all seen thesekind of movies before, but there was a strange subtlety about Hannathat made it rise above the pack in my eyes (and very much in my ears).In some scenes as Hanna travels across Europe you get a real sense offeeling for where she is. A very intimate feeling of how it would be tobe there. The vastness of the desert, the warm night and sights inMorocco, as she walks through the underground in Berlin unflinching inthe danger that might be there, and the melancholy of the abandonedamusement park. Quite beautiful I thought. And there's a little splashof a puddle as shes being chased through the container yard at thedocks that I literally smiled at, I don't know why, but it just stoodout as something wonderful. It was so subtle and brilliant in anotherwise cranked up chase scene that it shone in its addition. Addedto the scene where she and the English girl are in the tent togetherwith a quite tender moment in soft lighting, I constantly thought thatHanna (the movie) worked hard to not be just another cold, trainedkiller, flick with a random throwaway love scene for good measure. No,its not flawless by any means, as some have (quite rightly) pointedout. But as these kinds of tales go, it was a good one. And as for theChemical Brothers soundtrack.... wow! Are we entering an era now ofgreat dance bands doing great soundtracks? (the other being Daft Punksexcellent Tron OST). Me? I loved Hanna. And I so looked forward to thedemise of that little, short, twisted guy with the blonde hair in it(always a good sign of a good baddie if you catch my drift). Anyway,recommended. And I will definitely watch it again.

fredman5555 (2012-05-21 16:19)

Hanna the Hunter is really just a drone in another person's game.

Action: 6 / 10 on action. There are three distinct action segments ofmaybe 10 minutes each, and one of them is particularly fun in the, "ohyeah? Well suck on this bi-otch," kind of way, but overall, this movieis more drama than damage.Plot: 5/10. We've seen it before. You've got your "still-in-power, evilgovernment operative" who ran a questionable program, and you've gotyour "product of the program now out to get revenge" after havingdisappeared from the grid for a long time. The only thing left to bediscovered in this one is who the players are and how they are dealtwith. It doesn't seem like much effort was put into this plot to trymaking it unique in any sense.Surprises / Originality: 1 / 10 here. There are no surprises (exceptmaybe your surprise at the lack of realism in some areas). This isn'tan original idea either. Think "Salt" mixed with "Kick-Ass" and maybe atouch from "Brotherhood of the Rose" or "Bourne Identity." You couldwrite it yourself using just the above movies as a base.Duration: 6 / 10. This is about standard length for today's movies --around 100 minutes or so. Surprisingly, even though I was enjoying it,it felt a bit long as I got to what was the last ten minutes.Character development: 5/10. We don't learn much from characterinteractions. There is an attempt to show the main character, Hanna(Saoirse Ronan), as someone who knows very little about growing up anormal child, but the attempt is clunky and abrupt at best. She makes afew faux pas in some areas (which adds an element of humor andembarrassment), but then turns in other areas into someone who seems tohave a "text-book" knowledge of what youth is supposed to be. Andlater, she seems to want to become a different person altogether. Givenher situation, these may be plausible elements; however, I thought theywere just sort of thrown in and didn't flow at all. As for the othercharacters, what little we discover about their pasts and personalitiesis really just patchwork -- a couple of seconds here and there.Actors: Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana, and Tom Hollander are the mainnames. Perhaps Tom Hollander gives the best performance (other thanSaoirse Ronan), but he's still not nearly as convincing as he was in"Pirates...".Synopsis: Though I've been kind of tough on it overall, I did enjoywatching it. As I said earlier, one of the action scenes was a fun"in-your-face" type which I replayed three times (yes, I rented it).What I did not get was a feeling of "wow" once I'd reached the end. Ididn't feel I'd seen a truly dynamic, life-changing movie. I merelyfelt like I'd passed a couple of hours of alright entertainment. Inaddition, I felt the wrap up was abrupt like I still needed moreclosing information. All things considered, I give it an 6/10! See whatyou think.

sheoaf (2012-05-21 02:19)

A Misfire and Wasted Opportunity

I have to say that despite wanting to like the film and indeed likingthe cast this is a genuinely unpleasant movie that's pure meat andpotatoes but poorly seasoned meat and potatoes at that. A chase filmthat makes you wonder why the heck is everybody chasing each other whenthe people usually running have the advantage. At times, even thepacing was poor and, for a film such as this, that's usually a deathknell. The whole coming of age storyline and reality that she was agirl out of touch with everything was really never touched upon andthat's a huge wasted opportunity. Given the fact that the action neverreally materialized, that's a real problem. A pure misfire in my book.

(2012-05-20 13:50)

This is not your typical over the top action driven thriller.

I've seen several Saoirse Ronan movies (Atonement, Death Defying Acts, The Lovely Bones) but this one is by far my favorite. All of these movies are completely different from one another, requiring a different set of acting skills, yet Ronan is mesmerizing in them all. She has an acting range that is breathtaking to watch. The best way to enjoy this movie is to sit back, accept everything that you see without question, and enjoy the performances, especially that of Ronan. The script does suffer from some glaring credibility issues, but don't let that interfere with your enjoyment of the movie. Cinematography is superb under the masterful eye of Joe Wright's direction. He gets more mileage out of subtle facial expressions than any other director I've seen in a long long time. The soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers is also superb and complements the action beautifully. Overall, one of the best 111 minutes you'll ever spend.

MYeah_Gorlomi (2012-05-19 20:57)

Sleek, thrilling, and superbly acted.

My verdict is Hanna is a sleek, solid action thriller.Saoirse Ronan plays the title character, a young girl put under yearsof extensive training by her assassin father (Played by Eric Bana).Having been given an immense encyclopedic knowledge, a wide array ofweaponry training, and a deadly range of various combat styles, shetakes on a mission for her father: To make her presence known to a CIAagent (Played by Cate Blanchett) with ties to her father's past, andexact revenge. "Adapt or die" as Hanna puts it.First off, this is a major departure for Joe Wright's usual directorialstyle. Wright is best known for his period pieces such as Atonement andPride and Prejudice, both my favorite movies of their years. So I'mkind of alarmed by this route he's taken, but also quite amazed. Heconcocts an even pace for the film, brings what he can out of thescreenplay (Except for that which even he can't make the utmost senseof), and crafts it very well.The way he lets the cinematography flow and the editing sparkle isincredibly clever. On the rare occasion, the style seems to be a bitovercooked, and I hate to admit that I find the score by The ChemicalBrothers to be a forgettable, bludgeoning mess, but that still doesn'tseriously deplete the movie's thrilling edge. The action sequences areespecially expertly choreographed and staged, especially a cool -sometimes trippy - sequence where Hanna escapes from a prisoner holdingcell in full badass style.Now, if you'd have given the lead role to anyone else, they could haveoverdone the whole thing, or not given it enough depth. Somehow,Saoirse Ronan just finds this sincerity, and sympathetic humanitywithin a very vicious character. She and the screenwriters put so mucheffort into Hanna. She's intimidating, she's funny, she's sweet, she'sextraordinarily written. She basically checks off each and every box.Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett also shine in their supporting roles, evenif their characters are a bit under written.So that's all I've got at the moment, so I'll close by giving Hanna ***out of ****

(2012-05-19 13:00)

Dumb Story, Awesome Everything Else

(Three and a half)The last movie I saw by the same director was Atonement, and it left a similar feeling with me that Hanna did where the story is pretty bland, but the visuals/sounds are fantastic. Well this bourne knockoff is more of the same, although it definately has more entertainment value than Atonement. The premise is very basic that would normally make for your typical bland PG-13 'thriller' that gets pinched out every couple of weeks but not in this case, Hanna is very European flavored which makes it more of an oddity.The story is Hanna's living with her dad in the middle of nowhere (I think they were in Greenland) and he's teaching her very extreme survival methods, and tells her that whenever she's ready (not sure for what exactly) to push a comical red button. When she does she get's captured by the CIA(I think?) and escapes, with an agency on her tail, and all sorts of life lessons for Hanna are learned between each ass kicking. I've seen this movie about three times now and the story has vague parts that have me still scratching my head.I went into this movie knowing nothing more than the cover so it was kind of a cool suprise that this wasn't Joan of Arc or something, that it took place in modern times, but when the story starts going along there's a lot of dumb action cliches you see (for example when she grabs onto the bottom of a truck going like 60mph in the middle of the rugged desert). A couple of things in the movie were just pretty bizarre as well, like the German bounty hunter who's played out to be some sadistic badass gets his ass whooped in like 2 seconds, the out-of-leftfield lesbian moment, and the British family that Hanna tags along with meet a suprisingly gruesome fate for a PG-13 movie. The ending is kind of abrupt too but I liked how it went full circle.So that's all the bad things about Hanna out of the way, lets talk about the good things, the shots are great, the cinematography was excellent as the film took you all over the place. The acting was alright, nothing really incredible but the kids weren't lousy actors this time which was nice. The visuals get pretty surreal at parts too, especially at the old hippie guy's house which was interesting. Some of the shots are simply brilliant as well, the strongest anti-piracy message I've ever seen was simply the subway fight scene, the build up, the music, the subtle visual cues, and of course the lightning fast choreography, all of it was fantastic.I'm also a big Chemical Brother's fan, but strangely enough didn't know they did the soundtrack until after I saw the movie, and I'd say they did a great job with the soundtrack. They didn't overdo their role by just adding more dance songs but actually did atmosphere which worked out great for them, to this day I still can't get 'The Devil's in the Details' out of my head.So Hanna's a rather strange Euro-action film, it wants so bad to be your typical American action film and yet it's just so weird that it can't be, and I suspect that it has a strong cult following since it wasn't a huge hit with normal audiences. That being said if you have an appreciation for styalized film, than you will enjoy Hanna, just don't put too much thought into the story. Another interesting thing is when I saw Hanna for the second time enebriated and the experience was much more rewarding with the brain turned off. Let's hope next time Joe Wright hires a better screen writer though.

zacharykirk94 (2012-05-17 04:04)

A girl is raised to have fighting abilities from her father for reasons unclear, it turns out to be more than she can handle when she finds out why.

The film takes you into the point of view of a young girl, Hanna(playedby academy award nominee, Saoirse Ronan), who is living with herfather(Eric Bana) in the wilds of Finland with no connections to theoutside world. He raises her with all of the skills necessary to kill along time rival of his, Marissa Weigler(played by academy award winningactress, Cate Blanchette). Hanna flips the switch to a homing devicethat throws her into a world she doesn't understand or know. She mustbattle it out against, I would say, the most vicious people in theworld. Brilliantly made and well acted. Saoirse Ronan brings a wholenew vision of the world into light with her brilliant performance asHanna. There is no flaw in her acting, not even once. She is believableas this character and leaves you stunned from start to finish. The filmbrings to mind a new way of looking at the world, through the eyes of agirl who never experienced the cruelty or love of it yet was trainedher whole life to be ready for it. A wonderful new kind of fairy talethat leaves you stunned right to the finish. A+

(2012-05-16 12:39)

a confused mess of a movie

With the actors it had, this movie should have been better than it was. I'm not even asking for great, just better. But it was a confused hash of a movie. What's with the different accents Cate Blanchett used? She starts off sort of European, then ends up with someone's Hollywood idea of what a Southern woman sounds like. It's a testimony to how stupid the entire movie was that all that stands out in my mind are the honeyed, phony-Magnolia accents on two of the female stars. What a waste of my two hours.

Corrina Dawne (2012-05-11 20:17)

Was okay but the ending was 'meh'

The movie wasn't too bad. I found it to be interesting through-out mostof the movie but the ending left something to be desired. :-/ I likedthat there was plenty of action and it had quite theout-of-the-ordinary story-line and yet not that much gore (I'm not bigon the blood & gut part of many action movies). I feel they could havedone a lot more with the ending and because they seemed to slack off inthat area it kind of made the movie not as good as it was before theending happened. There were a few parts that seemed more likespace-fillers than important to the movie but it is just how Iperceived it whereas others may feel it helps with the feel of themovie. And, last but not least, the actress that played the maincharacter did a great job through-out the movie and it was a goodmatch. :)

(2012-05-11 09:45)

Best show I seen in years!

This review is from: Hanna (Amazon Instant Video) I really enjoyed this film. Lots of action, found myself involved and pulling for Hanna. Number one show this year!

briggsgarland (2012-05-10 23:37)

Strong cast, nice photography but ultimately brainless

Aside from a strong performance from Saoirse Ronan and some gorgeousimages, Hanna requires about as much intelligence as any Michael Bayexplosion fest. The plot is painfully predictable and the lengths thefilmmakers go to insure the audience knows the good guys from the badguys is almost comical. Cate Blanchette and her gang of sexuallydepraved, Neo-Nazi skinheads might as well be wearing t-shirts that say"Evil". The underlying issue of Hanna's mysterious origins is entirelyunfulfilling and could probably be written off as little more than aMaguffin. Somewhat enjoyable if you're willing to check your brain atthe door for 111 minutes but there are much better action films outthere so I'd probably recommend skipping it.

(2012-05-10 05:51)

Not a total waste of time.

This review is from: Hanna (Amazon Instant Video) I was expecting more from this movie. Some of the back story was overexplained and some was barely touched on at all. Not a total waste of time but when the movie ended I was left feeling it needed more.

sachinkainth (2012-05-10 08:47)

Overrated

I have no idea how this film has been given a 7 rating, it's wayoverrated. This is my first ever review. I just had to register toreview this overrated film. Saoirse's acting was great to be fair butCate Blanchett and John MacMillan were awful. The character of Marissaas an all-powerful policewoman who is above the law was clichéd andboring. The 3 goons chasing after Hanna throughout the film werepredictable as well. Above all the film just didn't make sense. WhenHanna's 'father' left his little home in the forest why not take Hannawith him? Why all the drama of leaving her there for her to then killMarissa. Surely, they could have escaped together to later find her andkill her. It made no sense to let Marissa know where they were bypressing that button on that device.All in all a pretty average film, not really worth spending the 2 hourswatching it.

(2012-05-09 21:22)

Should have been Good

Before I watched this movie, I thought it would be an exciting one. Hanna is a girl raised by her father in the woods. She learns everything there is to know about survival and protecting herself from any threats (human or not) from her father. Her father is an ex-CIA agent.The first part of the movie was good. However, the rest (or most) the movie was very predictable. The plot was basically a one big chase, and the final showdown. Another problem with this movie was over the top sound effects and the music, both of which was very distracting. This movie was made in such a way that the viewer would have to fill in lots and lots of blanks without questioning any of it. At some point you think it is just not worth it.There is some action in it, but nothing like the Bourne series.

(2012-05-09 11:36)

GREAT LOOKING ACTION-FILLED ADVENTURE NEVER LETS UP

Saoirse Ronan is Hanna, a teenager raised in an isolated, frozen wilderness by her ex-CIA operative father (Eric Bana) who has trained her to be a superbly skilled assassin. When he sends Hanna on a dangerous mission across Europe, she is for the first time exposed to normal life -- and discovers a longing for human connections. But first she must unravel the puzzle of her past -- and that of her father's. Joe Wright directs this great looking, action-filled adventure that never lets up. Cate Blanchett co-stars as a ruthlessly persistent CIA exec.

John DeSando (2012-05-09 05:25)

Run Hanna Run

If you mix Run Lola Run, The Bourne Identity, Kill Bill, and Salt, youwill get the idea of Hanna, starring the impressive Saoirse Ronan (TheLovely Bones) in the title role. She's been trained by her dad, Erik(Eric Bana), in the frozen wilds of Finland to survive and become aneffective killing machine. After the beautifully photographed shots ofher training, and a memorable sequence where she kills and guts a stag,she spends the rest of this enjoyably kinetic movie in motion away fromthose operatives who want to find her and her former CIA agent fatherand eliminate them.A dangerous operative, Marissa (Cate Blanchette), is Hanna's primaryhunter with secrets that relate to Hanna's birth and Marissa'sprofessional connection to Erik. Blanchette is believably tough andbriefly vulnerable but overall the embodiment of the kind of bloodlessassassin Hanna could become. Couple that deadly possibility withMarissa's unusual interest in Hanna, and you have a story more complexthan running can parse. I needed it all to slow down to enjoy.The music has a Lola ring to it, fast and percussive, an aptaccompaniment to a teen on the run. Her adaptation to civilization is abit unbelievable at times (a fascination with electricity too naïve forsomeone schooled in several languages and bringing a skinned rabbit todinner with a new-found family), yet not too unbelievable given herisolation for most of her life.Watching a female kicking the same kind of butt Jason Bourne does issatisfying from the same perspective as watching Angelina Jolie kick inSalt. Women are now empowered and seem more lethal because of theenduring attitude that they can't do a man's work—it's just plain funto see them do a man's work efficiently.I am impatient with the fantastic fighting, which she mostly wins, andset pieces found in any spy thriller (How can a fighting machine allowsomeone to sneak up behind after all that training). Yet, I'm also abeliever in disbelief suspension, so here's lookin' at you, exceptionalKid!

Gwyn-Hannay (2012-05-06 06:43)

If you liked Tron: Legacy...

I watched this as part of a regular Wednesday movie night with friends.The comment from one was that the person who made this movie reallyjust wanted to make a big music video, with another mentioning that oneof the escape scenes was really over the top. Their views are bothquite correct, but I LOVE big music and action scenes (see Tron: Legacyand The Fifth Element).The way the plot unfolds is interesting. The back story to thesituation gets revealed bit by bit, keeping you hooked to see not onlythe end, but the beginning as well.My reason for giving it a 9 is mostly that the very last line of themovie is very predictable and lame. I also wouldn't consider this movieto be an absolute favourite of mine. It was great, but not awesome.Most of the plot and the individual scenes were top notch, but therewere some areas that didn't seem to flow so well. There was also atleast one scene where the entire room laughed. I can't for the life ofme remember what it was.Bottom Line: The summary for this movie is misleading. I expectedsomething quite lame, and found something excellent instead.

Alexander Griffith (2012-05-05 19:21)

More than just an action movie

Hanna is just as flawed as it is beguiling, but it's both andentertaining and challenging experience to watch Joe Wright mess withconvention, Fairy Tales, and Freudian psychoanalysis over the course oftwo very kinetic hours.Here is my full take:http://postprojection.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/hanna/Unlike Kick-Ass, the film does something genuinely interesting with alethal teenage girl. Ronan performance is brilliantly focused, at turnscold and naive. Blanchett appears to be a soulless killer, though Idisagree with Ebert's claim that her humanity is sapped by herperformance and the slick script. Marissa's weakness is her lonelinessand motherlessness - why else do we see her impeccable apartment,devoid of family memories and any sentimental warmth?