Wanted
Wesley Gibbon (James McAvoy) is just an ordinary guy, unaware that his long-lost father is one of the world's most notorious assassins. But when his father is killed, a mysterious associate named Sloan (Morgan Freeman) arrives, offering Wesley the chance to fill dad's shoes. Mentored by Sloan's deputy, Fox (Angelina Jolie), Wesley carries out the will of the mythological Fates, who see Wesley's targets in a magical loom.
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As a huge fan of the comic book, the important thing when watching this movie was to try and separate it from the source material. They replaced the original excellent plot with a silly back-story and a formulaic execution. However, on its own, its still a decent action movie, with some really good action sequences and some funny lines from Morgan Freeman. A fun, violent popcorn flick, even if it has nothing to do with the book.- evil fremen
Whether or not you will like this movie depends entirely upon how you react to the following three words: loom of fate. If you can swallow that a secret society of assassin-weavers has been taking orders in binary code from a mystical loom for nearly a thousand years (even though Binary Code wasn't conceived of as having an alphabetical analogue until the 17th Century) then you'll probably love the movie. If not, then you're with me and will think that the movie is generally kind of vapid. I'd give it three stars solely based upon a shot of Angelina Jolie's rear end, but I firmly believe a body double was used.
- Sirkickyass
Angelina Jolie's soapy butt cheeks aside, Wanted is gleefully absurd the first half of the film and lost in the second half. It might have to do with the fact that the film (based off, absurdist-auteur, Mark Millar's comic series) takes ice cream-sized scoops from the first 2 issues of its source material. The sarcasm and the disdain for compromising are all there, but when it's left to its own faculties the movie can't keep up with the books snarky resourcefulness. This probably has to do with the studios decision to green light a comic book property only one issue in. I wont get into the whole A ssassins vs. Superheroes-thing, but I will point out that what first starts off as Fight Club-styled revenge fantasy turns into Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle halfway through. Through an irritating voice narration, Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy, not Eminem), paints a mural of his pathetic life. His girlfriend cheats on him, his boss verbally abuses him, he has no money in his checking account and he's a hypochondriac. But when Wesley's estranged/hitman, Pops gets popped, his dying wish is to have his son take up the reigns and seek revenge on his behalf. This is all quite amusing, even when cars start flipping over buses like Hot Wheels, but when the film starts initiating its own twist and turns it grows tiresome real quick. I had the same problem with, director, Bekmambetov's other films, Daywatch and Nightwatch. Those two films ran on wasted energy, as well. Even if his imagery is quite impressive (I liked the bit with the keyboard and the bits with the long-distance bullet), Bakmambetov starts to rely on over-the-top visuals too much. It makes the film hard to watch when it tries to squeeze in melodrama between Wesley and his Father. It also makes it impossible to care about the twist which seem like wasteful exposition.
- TroyJ15
Picking up where the Wachowskis left off, Bekmambetov is rewriting the visual language of action films. In a genre so filled with shaky, confusing handheld shots, he manages to keep a frenetic pace without disturbing our view, allowing us to sit back and fully enjoy the carnage. The stunts are crazy, the kills are everything you'd expect from a film about superhero assassins. A lot of plot details are ridiculous and the story has almost nothing in common with the comic, but you really won't care because it's a fun, breezy ride. Go enjoy yourself, this seems like the summer to beat for excellent comic book films.
- Rorschach
Movie goers who like fast car chases, lots of blood, torture scenes, profanity, an occasional uninhibited sex scene without much detail and an enigmatic story line will think that "Wanted" is a great movie. For those that prefer a logical, coherent story with good acting and directing, Wanted will be a disappointment. "The Matrix" is very similar to this movie and, if you liked that series of movies, this will be one of your favorite movies of the year. I found the exaggerated car chases, unbelievable escapes from danger and shoot-outs, and the occasional enigmatic references to fate or the description of a semi-religious cult as a way to provide interest or a basis for the audience to accept the storyline to be too far over the top to be of much interest. My guess: This movie will be a hit with the the high testerone levels more associated with the average 18 22 year old male who is debating whether to join the Marines. Angelina Jolie is considered a sex symbol but falls short in this movie in both the sex appeal and acting ability. James McAvoy dies an acceptable job of evolving from an accountant into a serial killer with a conscience and Morgan Freeman plays a father/god figure with his usual dramatic flair. In short, watching a baseball game or an old movie or going swimming at the lake may be a better way to spend a summer afternoonunless you fall in the demographic group described above.
- AtTheBeach
I haven't had an experience this fun, exciting and creative since the Matrix. Check your critical mind at the door and strap in for a visually stunning and heart-pounding ride.
- simplygreg
Okay, movie friends, I DO NOT give 5 stars to a movie lightly, but this film is rip roarin', fast movin', heartbeatin', plot twistin', rootin'-tootin' FUN!! James McAvoy is superb and carries the entire story. I do not like Angelina Jolie, but was able to minimize her role in my mind. It was all about Wesley Gibson, the guy who is stepped on in real life (aren't we all?) and who has an opportunity, so it seems, to change all that. If you don't like profanity, then get over it. If you don't like violence and gore, get over that, too, because in order to really enjoy this film, you must not let those distractions get in the way. The music is great, the story is great, the action is great, and McAvoy is great! Can you ask for anything more?
- Southern Belle 1
Sometimes you just want to see a fun movie. That is exactly what this is. This movie is full of over the top violence and ridiculous action sequences. Wanted strives to be a combination of Fight Club and The Matrix. It never approaches the depth of those films, but it does deliver on the creative fight sequences and mindless action. The final battle is very reminiscent of the lobby sequence from The Matrix. Aside from the action, the best thing in the film is actually James McAvoy. I never would have pictured McAvoy as an action star, but he really delivers and adds an aspect of vulnerability to the character. Most of the supporting cast is wasted though. Angelina Jolie is important early, but does very little in the later parts of the movie, and Common is barely in the movie at all. If the film accomplishes nothing else, it at least confirms that Timur Bekmambetov can make a good looking film. The action is all expertly shot and most of the effects are excellent. Overall, this is a very fun film and it really delivered everything that I was hoping for.
- Brody
Great action flick with some ridiculous elements, I have to admit Jolie and Freeman are exceptional in this full throttle action flick about a secret fraternity of super assassins. It also have the humor build in and that is always great, I say I want to own this one when it comes on DVD, it was great and for once a movie worth the $6.50 matinee price.
- Digitalbrian
Joining the trend of over the top action adventure sci-fi fantasy thrillers, (think Jumper and Shootem Up) Wanted takes the lead. I thought the supporting cast might overpower a James McAvoy lead but his performance is beyond expectation. For the film to work McAvoy had to sell the disgruntled, whimp of a loser image. Not only did he carry it off well, we believed as he grew into something else. Not an easy task with the overwhelming screen presence of Angelina Jolie. This time her character is more Trinity than Croft. In addition, and call it confidence or arrogance, the bar was set at a stellar height before anyone walked into a theater. Trailers show Jolie scooping up a running McAvoy in a Dodge Viper during a 180 degree spin. As if that wasnt enough, they put out a trailer with Wesley, the McAvoy character, shooting the wings off flies! Once the tension level of a thriller has been set there is only one way for it to go and believe me it goes there! I attended Wanted with a friend whose preferred genre is Chick-Flix that dont require Kleenex! Something in the trailers piqued her interest but, halfway through, the film had worn her down. Two-thirds of the way she was ready to leave. Way too over the top was the complaint yet even she volunteered a three star rating. Yes. It was that much and, yes it was that good. I was already a fan of director, Timur Bekmambetov (Nightwatch, Daywatch), but I didnt expect him to infuse so much of the extreme energy from Mark Millar's comic. If youre going for the action and youre willing to strap in for one heck of a ride, then youre going to love Wanted! The comic book has come alive! I hope my thoughts are helpful 06/28/08 ~~~Wingz
- Wingz
Judging from the previews and reviews of this I knew I would have to cut it some slack in order to enjoy it. I love action movies and over the top action. I liked Hitman a lot, I loved Shoot 'Em Up, and Jumper was good. They were pretty ridiculous but I was able to suspend my disbelief in order to get the most out of them. That's what I did for Wanted and I went in with an open mind and a forgiving mood. Unfortunately that wasn't enough. I guess I still require some semblance of reason, or at least an illusion of logic. Bullets that curve and inherited abilities of mind over matter I can take, but assassins that take there orders from a loom? Okay I don't want to spoil it so I will stop there with the details. That was just one of many things that bugged me. I wanted so much to like this movie that I gave it the benefit of the doubt until I couldn't give anymore. It went from ridiculous to just plain stupid, but not stupid funny (that I can take). It was bad but not "so bad it's good" (I like that). All the rave reviews are a mystery to me. But go ahead and see it for yourself. I didn't hate it. I almost gave it 3*, but I rounded down from 2.5* because I would be lying if I said I liked it.
- couchdog53
Lots of action - it's cool watching bullets curve to hit their targets, but I feel this story had the potential of being much better if it had made a little more sense. It wouldn't have hurt to show a couple more bathtub scenes with Jolie, either. (Is it Brad or motherhood making her tone down the nudity?) James McAvoy plays a wimp, only to learn that his panic attacks are really his super human abilities struggling to surface. Angelina takes him under her wing and trains him to become a member of a secret society of killers who get their targets by reading the weaves in carpets. (no joke.) This is basically the matrix in Chicago. Though I have to give props to the office nebbish who learns to stand up for himself and tell off all the jerks around him. So overall it was an entertaining 100 minutes, but not everything I'd hoped for.
- GS Chicago
Wanted is every bit as full of action packed, bullet bending, mind numbing adrenaline as the trailers would lead you to believe. Wes, an accounts manager at an anonymous office, where he was a nobody. In fact, that seems to be the only major theme running throughout the film: he was a nobody, now he is not. He is recruited by a secret league of assassins who has maintained some sort of balance in the world for many centuries. The film begins as his estranged father is assassinated by a rogue element of this secret society, he is recruited to avenge the death of his father. What is never really made clear is what makes these assassins different from the rest of us normies who surf the internet, listen to music, watch movies, and collect pay checks. The film never really develops beyond that into something more meaningful. There is a misguided study of allegiances to state, friends, family, and the greater good, that really leads nowhere that a talk with your grandfather couldn't accomplish. Jolie puts in one of the most impressive performances we've seen from her in years. It could be largely because she doesn't have more than a handful of lines, and delivers in all of her rather muted action sequences. With a storage space full of one-liners, and a pointed effort to keep the audience nailed to their seats so they aren't asking questions, performances like Jolie's are the hallmark of this film. Simple, rather quiet, and a willingness to give into the green screen. Nonetheless, it's good fun. Despite the lack of substance the film is consistently entertaining and filled with fantastic visuals. The film is rather reminiscent of Bekmambetov's most recent work with the Day Watch trilogy, exciting visuals, but a supreme lack of substance behind its purported deeper workings. If Bekmambetov could escape his slight case of Shymalan syndrome his films show the potential to make some supremely interesting and entertaining films, and Wanted might be his best to date.
- Dlukenelson
Wanted to a see a good film in 2008. This one may make the top ten worst movies of the year. What a waste. Yes I will agree with most reviewers that some of the effects were different. But they are just effects. One slow motion shot after another. We have seen this style in many, many pictures lately and it has lost it's thrill. A real lame script and Angelina Jolie is not even pretty in this picture. She is playing a haggard looking killer who never strings two sentences together in this movie. Without her name in the credits this movie would have gotten about ten reviews instead of the 300 or so that are currently posted. She is used to sell this picture and she is selling junk. I better be careful. My name may appear on the list and they come after me with their bullets that curve around tall building or whatever.
- Rascal
I was alternately thrilled, amazed, impressed, awed and amused. Never underestimate the need for a sense of fun in these types of films. As a middle aged movie fan who often feels he's seen it all before, this one packed more than a few flashes of originality and visual audacity that I hadn't seen before. The cast is particularly strong, the writing fits the genre and and visuals are great to look at which is exactly the point. Sit back (strap in)and enjoy the diversion from reality.
- Rogertick