No problem. It’s a well made film, but uncomfortable to watch.

My mistake. Haven’t seen it yet but thought it looked to have some similarities.

Well, Red Sparrow was not an action film and there was only one fight scene which wasn’t about showing fighting ability.

A mini Paul Bramhall Review™! Agree with everything said. And though I agree Stahleski is the better of the two directors (John Wick Chapter 2 is one of 2017’s best films, yeah I just said that) I am happy to have both fellas on the scene. In the age of CGI-can-make-everyone-an-action-star, it’s cool to have some directors who put their actors through the paces of a tough fight scene, mixing old school bruises with new school filming technique. I look forward to what both of ’em do next, starting with Leitch’s Deadpool 2.

Also agree that The Berlin File is the better double-bill with Atomic Blonde. Good call. I don’t like The Berlin File much but it does feel like a Cold War-themed Bourne movie, which is more along the lines of Atomic Blonde. Maybe Villainess can share a double-bill with Red Sparrow instead.

Kyle’s review pretty much nails it. I feel like out of the directing duo of Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, it’s Stahelski who has the better grasp of pacing a feature length movie, as we saw (in my opinion) when he went solo on ‘John Wick 2’, which remedied the pacing issues of the first one which Leitch co-directed.

‘Atomic Blonde’ would definitely benefit from better pacing, as when Theron isn’t kicking ass, the scenes are rather pedestrian, despite the nice looking neon and Cold War aesthetic. When the action does come though, it delivers the intended ‘wow!’, with Theron giving as good as she gets, and boy does she get it in some scenes. The one-on-one against Daniel Bernhardt (yes, the same guy from the ‘Bloodsport’ sequels) at the end of the stairway in particular is brutal.

I’ve seen many sites say what a great double-bill ‘Atomic Blonde’ and ‘The Villainess’ (which, by the way, I consider the better of the 2) would be, but I have to disagree. Actually, I think the perfect accompaniment to Theron’s ass-kicking would be Ryoo Seung-wan’s ‘The Berlin File’, which is very similar in its tone and action scenes (and it’s still Korean! :-P).

Thans Kyle, just googled Judd, and they did look very much alike, could have been sisters in a movie.

I did love the movie. I would have preferred that the story wasn’t a giant “flashback” though.

“Sounds like this is yet another movie that only comes to life once the characters stop talking and start fighting.”

That’s a pretty accurate way to describe the film, yep. At least Charlize Theron’s heroine remains interesting throughout the film, even the less than exciting dramatic scenes. But if it had plot and dialogue to match the action, it might’ve been something truly special.

Ah, Aeon Flux… The horrible movie that almost paralyzed Theron after a horrific injury. I mainly remember it for the odd costume design, like Pete Postlethwaite who looks like, I dunno, a giant tapeworm? Anyway, yeah; Atomic Blonde is the better movie.

Totally forgot about Aeon Flux. Come to think of it, she’s been in the action game for a long time. And don’t forget about Mr. and Mrs. John Wick! http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-devils-advocate-1997-warner-film-with-keanu-reeves-and-charlize-19450665.html

Nah, that was Ashley Judd. But they did look very much alike back then.

Every time I think of her, I think Reindeer Games (which I didn’t think was a bad action flick… not sure how it holds up today…)

That jumped out at me too! I wonder if he meant 2 Days in the Valley? I remember that being Charlize’s break-out movie.

Is it possible that you saw the Godfrey Ho edited version of ‘Heat’ (aka ‘Ninja in Heat’)? Because I’m 99% sure Charlize Theron isn’t in that one.

When I first Charlize Theron in Heat(1995), I would never have guessed she would go on to Fury Road and this. Not to mention her appearance in the last Fast & Furious movie.