HITMAN: AGENT 47 DVD (2015)

SYNOPSIS: Rupert Friend stars in this exhilarating action adventure based on the award-winning video game series. A genetically engineered assassin with superhuman abilities, 47 and an equally gifted young woman turn the tables on a sinister organization that's out to create an army of unstoppable killers. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

For a movie that was partially shot locally and visual effects handled by ILM Singapore, Hitman 47 is an embarrassingly bad movie.

The unwanted sequel to the 2007 Hitman stars Rupert Friend (Homeland) as a genetically modified assassin who is out to protect a seemingly innocent woman, Katia (Hannah Ware) from the evil clutches of the Syndicate International. Katia after all is the only daughter of a certain Doctor Pitor Litvenko (Ciaran Hinds) who has disappeared years back after creating a super soldier program. When Katia is approach by a mysterious man, John Smith (Zachary Quinto) at the subway, she finds herself in endless deadly situations and wondering whom she should trust.   

No one at Fox seems to realize why the original fail to take off because this reboot effort practically repeat those errors once again liked the same soulless banal plotting, the ridiculous CGI and not to mention, scenes after scenes of over-the-top choreographed action sequences.  

Rupert Friend is convincingly cool as the previous leading star, Timothy Olyphant. However simply put, Agent 47 is not an emoting character that will win any acting awards or even makes you care for his fate. Katia is the token leading lady with exceptional hidden skills. Well she is good but she is practically letdown by the pedestrian script. Zachary Quinto on the other hand plays a dubious character. But if you have watched enough movies during your lifetime, you know John Smith is more than meets the eyes. If you must know, Angelababy appears in a small forgettable role, Hollywood just can’t do without the Mainland market nowadays.

The on-location shooting in Berlin and Singapore adds nothing substantial to the overall story. To the delight of our tourism board, our Gardens By the Bay and Shenton Way receive some massive exposure along the way, too bad Agent 47 and Katia never stop for a meal of chicken rice and carrot cake.  

As much as he tries to revive the lifeless material with a neck breaking pacing and numbing violent fights, Poland-born music video director Aleksander Bach’s directorial debut is a complete bore. It’s best you spend the time playing the IO interactive game than watching this uninvolving flick. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Ultimate Action: Staging the Fights delve into the fight choreography, 4 minutes of Deleted Scenes, a gallery and trailers are also included. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The movie might be uninteresting but the Dolby Digital 5.1 is loud and full of activity to keep you awake. Shot digitally, colours are brimming and imaging detailed, it’s so good looking that you can tell the visual effects are extremely atrocious. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee