Atomic Blonde user review

  • Joan Wick?

    Atomic Blonde

    East and West do not mistrust each other because we're armed. We're armed because we mistrust each other. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

    Truth and lies. People like us don't know the difference.


    When I first heard about this a while back I thought it was some kind of biopic of Blondie but....no. What we have here is the female version of John Wick - a 15-rated (but pushing an 18) violent spying action film with plenty of shooting, lesbian sex, blood and death. And Charlize Theron to play the lead makes total sense as she can certainly carry off this role. What's not to like?!

    The director was involved with John Wick which makes sense as that look is certainly in evidence here. The film is mainly set in Berlin of the late 80s - just before the Wall came down. Charlize plays a British spy sent to Berlin to investigate the death of an agent and a missing list of double agents (sounds like Mission Impossible right?!). The start of the film worried me a bit as we are straight into the staple flashbacks during an interview. And my worries were confirmed as the film went on. She quickly teams up with James McAvoy the resident British agent for Berlin who seems to be doing his own thing and having a whale of a time - orders be damned. Broughton's (Theron) cover is quickly blown as soon as she gets there but McAvoy doesn't seem bothered. And then we move on to various setpieces…. and its all a bit humdrum. We've seen this kind of thing done before much better in other films (Bonds, Bournes, Mission Impossible) etc. OK the 15 certificate means proper swearing and some very uhhh interesting scenes between Theron and Sofia Boutella true. And the fight scenes are really good - proper nasty believable fight scenes which leave the participants looking really bruised and bloody including Theron herself.

    Its just a shame the script is so dull. The story is barely existent. It plods along and you just end up hoping there will be another fight or something in a minute or two. The retro/1980s soundtrack is certainly good at first but then you realise its here for the whole duration and even that gets tiring and all too predictable - just switch the music off for a bit yeah? Maybe I've been spoilt by the MI films of late but I am sure this film could have been a lot better with a decent director and a much better script. Its a shame because Theron is very good in this. McAvoy was good to a point but a bit ridiculous in all honesty. I can see why some people will love this film but even with my brain switched off it was rather trying at times!

    The PQ on this one is heavily stylised like John Wick and is deliberately washed out of colour in places and heavily tinted in others. Its pretty good but I don't think its stellar for a Blu-ray and I can imagine that the 4K improves on this quite a bit. The DTS-X track was excellent with surrounds getting a lot of use and good sub use. I found some of the sound placement a bit odd at times but its really good don't get me wrong.

    Summary? I really wanted to like this one and Theron is really good in it too - its just a shame the film itself is such a letdown. Its just too predictable and...empty for want of a better word. If you haven't seen it though give it a try as some here might love it - especially the John Wick fans though I think even that had more of a story than this! Not bad but not great. Shame

    Film 6/10
    PQ 7.5/10
    AQ 9.5/10

    Pros

    • No brain action fun like the John Wick films

    Cons

    • No brain action fun like the John Wick films!
    • Bad script and way longer than it needs to be.

    Scores

    6

    Comments

    Got to disagree with you on most points.In 4k its sublime.Your right the music tracks are superb and fit in with the genre of the movie exceptionally well.Its tongue & cheek but made exceptionally well and the story flows relatively seamlessly and doesn't overdo the action scenes or ham them up.
    Its a thoroughly enjoyable,well made action flick that takes me right back to Germany in the early 80's.
     
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Atomic Blonde

Comments
1
Author
Jim Di Griz
Review score
6 / 10
Average score
6.0 / 10
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