Angelina Jolie is back — and with a bang.

After taking time off to add to her brood, Angelina takes up the role of CIA agent in this explosive action-thriller. During a seemingly routine interrogation, Evelyn Salt is accused of being a Russian spy. She goes on the run, using all of her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture — although Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only cast more doubt on her motives. And the question throughout is — Who is "Salt"?

She is superb in a role that was initially intended for fellow action superstar Tom Cruise — and shows that women can kick ass just as well as Jason Bourne and Ethan Hunt. Helmed by Bone Collector director Phillip Noyce, Salt is a wild action ride accompanied with so many twists and turns that you're virtually holding your breath. Is Salt a double agent? A triple agent?! Never mind Salt, who am I?

The film's storyline is intriguing and original. Sure, some of it might not seem believable, there are gaping holes in the plot and yes, they do muck around a little with history (and the laws of physics) — but that's hardly the point. The point is to produce 100 minutes of great action and massive amounts of fun — and Salt has succeeded. With interest.

It's great to see a female lead in an action/spy film — and who else for the role but Angelina? She's proved repeatedly that she is a great female action hero — and in Salt she gets a chance to showcase her versatility. In among all the explosions, chase sequences and shoot-outs Angelina brings her dramatic flair to just add a little bit of depth to a film which sometimes loses itself in its own excitement. The gender reversal also provides a great breath of fresh air – instead of the male hero tearing around, trying to save the damsel in distress it's the other way around.

Liev Schreiber — who plays Salt's friend and colleague, Ted Winter — provides a great balance to Jolie's wicked performance and along with Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity fans will recognise him as "The Operative") keeps up the pace when the film strays away from Salt-oriented scenes.

The special effects are great, and for the most part steer clear of over-produced CGI-shots. Angelina is famed for insisting doing her own stunts (on Salt she was sent off to the emergency room after sustaining a head wound), and this lends to a more traditional-feeling action flick.

Salt is pure escapism in the mould of other great spy franchises — Bond, Mission: Impossible and The Bourne Trilogy — but it is a sleek package led by an Angelina Jolie who is having enormous amounts of fun on screen.

It's well worth a watch and is popcorn-munching, Coke-guzzling fun.

What did the On Screen team think of Salt? Watch their review below!