Salt (2010) - 3/5

This is a stock action movie that is passably clever, with mostly competent action and a more-or-less workable story. Aspects of the plot don’t make a whole lot of sense, but it’s a fun action ride despite its flaws. It feels like it could have been a reskinned Black Widow script, with appropriately stylized yet almost grounded spy shenanigans. Some of the fight scenes and interrogations are kind of brutal, but the overall tone of the film is not.

Closest comparison: It’s like Black Widow by way of Jason Bourne

Setting: Political Thriller
Plot: Espionage
Tone: Action

Sphere - 2/5

This movie is a strange, confusing attempt at multiple genres, below average for Michael Crichton. It’s a film about scientists where the main interpersonal conflict boils down to “he said she said” drama, that all doesn’t end up mattering in the end. A recurring theme is characters getting into a deadly situation and shouting “Help me! Do something!” over and over while everyone else sits around not doing anything. Bizarrely enough, this happens just as often the other way around, and the characters detach the audience from the narrative in a very damaging way. Although it has an interesting sci-fi concept it overstays its welcome and fails to flush out its runtime with an interesting, and by the end even a workable, plot.

Closest comparison: It’s like a worse version of Underwater by way of a much tamer Event Horizon.

Setting: Deep Sea Adventure
Plot: Sci-Fi Thriller
Tone: Disaster