PLOT - Set in 1989, just days before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Atomic Blonde follows MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) as she heads to Germany to recover a stolen list of double agents. In Berlin she must work with fellow agent David Percival (James McAvoy), whose shifty nature and rouge tactics are alarming. 

LIKE- Charlize Theron is fierce. The fight scenes are intense; among the best I've seen in any film. In particular there is a scene where Lorraine is fighting several men in an apartment building. The fight is done in a single camera shot and it continues until the point of utter exhaustion. It's brutal.  

The story is good and has a few unexpected plot twists. I did not anticipate the ending.

Atomic Blonde has a ton of style. It's filled with music from the 80's and often feels like a music video. Atomic Blonde utilizes music in a similar way to Trainspotting: meaning that it will make you want to rush out and purchase the soundtrack. Lorraine's entire wardrobe is sexy and fabulous. Atomic Blonde is fashion-porn. I wanted every single item that Theron wears on the screen. Of course, I'd also need to look like Theron, who is stunning. The boots, coats, boxy sweaters, slinky dresses...I want it all!

DISLIKE- Atomic Blonde's style is also a hinderance. Dan summed it up with stating that he felt like it was a student film. I didn't think it was that obvious, however, I did think that director David Leitch utilized too many gimmicky camera angles and extreme close-ups. It was distracting and didn't always service the story. Less would have been more. If you can believe it, Dan thought there were too many shots of Theron naked. I don't think that he meant it as a slight to her, but I agree that it was unnecessary, and slowed down the pacing. It was trying too hard to be artsy.

My biggest problem with Atomic Blonde is the lack of character development. We don't know much about Lorraine, other than she is tough as nails and has a steely exterior. This lack of information made it difficult for me to care about her journey. I couldn't invest in her. Although Atomic Blonde is a solid action/ suspense film, it would have been so much better with character development.

RECOMMEND- Maybe. Atomic Blonde was good, but not great. Surprisingly, my mother-in-law enjoyed it, but my husband did not. I thought it was a flawed, yet fun ride.