| Review Date: Director: Timur Bekmambetov Writer: Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan Producers: Jim Lemley, Jason Netter, Marc Platt, Iain Smith Actors: James McAvoy as Wesley Angelina Jolie as Fox Morgan Freeman as Sloan |
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The film actually starts off a little FIGHT CLUB-ish with James McAvoy doing his best Ed Norton impression from that movie. Things don’t take too long to get jazzed after that though, and once Angelina Jolie’s skinny ass enters the picture (you need to put on some pounds, girl…you still look hot, but the “boney look” ain’t ideal) and bullets start flying through people’s brains at an alarming rate, I was hunkered down in my seat with a shit-eatin’ grin on my pasty fat face until the film’s blazing finale. I also really enjoyed the film’s storyline, which despite being a little outlandish, sold me hook, line and sinker, and even tossed a couple of interesting twists into its outline. The film’s greatest assets were its pace and action though, both of which were switched to a very high gear all the way through. I can’t say that the thing with the “rats” was impressive, but other than that, the final sequence in which McAvoy sprints through a warehouse blasting ass, was a joy to behold. Heck, I’m signing myself up for any pre- or se-quel action that this franchise has to offer in the future today! Kudos to graphic novelists Mark Millar and J.G. Jones for coming up with this fun and electric idea in the first place and here’s hoping that they can create an ongoing cool environment in which these groovy characters can excel.
The film reminded me a little of JUMPER as well, although this one was tighter, featured more balls-out action and had an overall “funner” vibe to it. I also loved its rough soundtrack, as well as its ultra-violence, which is sprinkled throughout the movie, but if blood and killings ain’t part of your cinematic recipe for entertainment, you’re probably better off skipping this kinetic mofo and checking into something a little more “realistic” instead. But if you had fun watching films like CRANK and SHOOT ‘EM UP over the past couple of years, I see no reason why WANTED wouldn’t be added to your list of favorite cranked up shoot ‘em up movies. Yeah, that’s a corny final line for a review…but I like it.