Don’t see this movie. That said, there are some noteworthy aspects to Haywire. First, the director was Steven Soderbergh, much to my surprise. Second, Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas have key roles albeit with limited screen time. Third, Gina Carano is tough-as-nails in a role Angelina Jolie might play as a Bourne-like unstoppable super-agent. This movie sets up a series based around Agent Mallory, former Marine.

Unfortunately, four or five scenes involve two people beating the shit out of each other, smashing opponents into sharp edges, wrenching limbs out of sockets. These fights would be hard to watch under any circumstances. However, I can hardly bear to see a man beat a woman, even one who more than outmatches him in the end. This isn’t the choreography of kung fu — these people look like they’re trying to kill each other with sheer brutality.

Moreover, long stretches between fights are slow no matter how they advance the story. The editing is fractured, as we see many flashbacks to explain the situation, which still seems oddly contrived in the end. The music is awful at times. Overall, it seems like a junior-year film school project.