Hanna

Stats: 4.8.2011 (release), PG-13, 111 minutes, genres: action, crime, mystery.

IMDb Synopsis by Focus Features: "Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity."

Where to start? As with the majority of films by Focus Features, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In fact, sans a very quick trip to the bathroom, the film held my attention the entire time. The acting was first rate. The character Marissa, played by Cate Blanchett, was feminine yet ruthless and incredibly dangerous...and not only armed with a charming Southern accent.

I was particularly taken by the soundtrack (Chemical Brothers) and how it blended the raw industrial rave feel -- and the polar opposite -- the whimsical sound that reminded me of something I would hear at an amusement park as a child. The two musical themes fit perfectly with the movie's plot: a child with minimal life experience who is really the skilled assassin.

I am lacking the creativity and motivation to write more...
Commander's Intent: Definitely worth seeing.