Hanna (2011) Film 53/50

This movie makes a compelling argument for why homeschooling should be avoided at all costs. Even if your teacher is Eric Bana.

To sum up Hanna: this movie is two parts The Bourne Supremacy and one part Firestarter with just a dash of Run Lola Run. And of the four films mentioned there, I recommend Run Lola Run above the others.

So here's the run down. Meet Hanna. Just your average 16 year old girl who has been homeschooled by Eric Bana for the past fourteen years. Her rote memorization skills are only surpassed by her abilities to kill things with arrows, knives, and guns. And if push comes to shove, her bare hands.

Although Bana has done an outstanding job of teaching to the test, Hanna (played ever-so-creepily by Saoirse Ronan) is really not equipped to work well with others in today's technology driven society. Of course, had CIA agent Marissa Wiegler (played by Cate Blanchett) raised her instead, Hanna would have been dead by age three. So let's agree that she probably got the best possible childhood an ex-CIA operative could provide.

In addition to teaching her how to kill deer and speak in foreign tongues, Bana has raised Hanna for one purpose: to avenge her mother's death. Three guesses who killed her mum and the first two don't count.

So after a decade of intense training, Hanna decides she's ready to take on Wiegler (this happens about fifteen minutes into the film). Hanna and Bana split up as Hanna awaits being "captured" by the CIA. Surprising absolutely no one, she quickly proves herself to be a bit of a discipline problem for them.

I'm not going to give the full scene-by-scene breakdown from this point but not because I don't want to...more because I just don't have the time and/or energy to right now. Watch this movie. Don't watch this movie. Makes no difference to me. I found it both diverting and predictable. And it successfully managed to hold 75% of my attention while I was "trying" to get some work done. So there's that. And speaking of work, I should probably get back to that now.

But before we part, say "Hanna and Bana" out loud to yourself right now.