Opening Day: 26 June 2008

Synopsis:

Based upon Mark Millar’s explosive graphic novel series and helmed by stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov—creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history, the Night Watch series—Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody’s transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. In 2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a new generation: Wesley Gibson.

25-year-old Wes (James McAvoy) was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut.

Until he met a woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie).

After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly sexy Fox recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad’s death by unlocking his dormant powers. As she teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers this team lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself.

With wickedly brilliant tutors—including the Fraternity’s enigmatic leader, Sloan (Morgan Freeman)—Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

Movie Review:

Putting together two Academy Award winners (one is a hot babe) and a rising Scottish actor alongside a hotshot Russian director making his Hollywood debut sounds like an excellent combination does it not? Makes it feel like you must watch it? But this reviewer left the cinema, having WANTED watching it but not really satisfied by it.

Anyone who has seen Timur Berkambetov’s work on Nightwatch and Daywatch should more or less be prepared for his style on the silver screen. He had done a magnificent job on Nightwatch but all that machismo fizzled a little with Daywatch which fell a bit short compared to its predecessor. And now that he has tackled Hollywood head on, the result is more blah than yeah.

Rising star, James McAvoy stars as Wesley Gibson, a man who is a nobody in most people’s life, someone you are likely to pass by and not take notice of. His life though is overturned in mere minutes when Fox (Angelina Jolie) barges into his life at a pharmacy, telling him that she is there to save him and a shootout occurs. Frightened and confused, he is told that The Fraternity will protect him from those who have killed his father.

His recruitment leads him to experience various types of training from taking hard punches, knife fighting and the famous curving bullet trick you see in the trailers. As he sets out to avenge his father’s death and reclaim control over his own life, Wesley discovers a new found strength inside of him and this soon leads to a revelation about The Fraternity itself which rocks the rest of its members.

WANTED is loosely based on Mark Millar’s graphic novel of the same name. Unlike V for Vendetta, I have not read the graphic novel and am unable to determine whether justice has been done to the book. Still, if you like something that is cool to watch, then WANTED is definitely it. There is blood galore, several bullets meeting bullets head on scenes and you would never guess it, exploding rats! WANTED also has a cool car chase sequence, a cool jumping out of window sequence, a couple of cool things one can do with guns and that is mainly it, everything’s pretty cool.

The leads are almost a stark reminiscent of The Matrix. Wesley is Neo, Fox is Trinity and Sloan (Morgan Freeman) is Morpheus. Matrix comparisons aside, this movie is very much a James McAvoy vehicle. He probably relished playing the role, having fun roughhousing and swearing his ass off as opposed to wearing Victorian frocks or period outfits. No one else comes close to this fellow on screen, everyone else, Jolie and Freeman included are like wallpaper. They are nice to have around but their purpose is well, limited. Mainly because the plot is very paper thin and the supposed twist that happens is more ho-hum than awe inspiring.

If I had to guess what the movie’s box office odds are like, I dare say it would be good despite the general flack it will receive. Afterall, summer blockbusters are not really about the plot or substance as much as it is about the big bang, a whole lot of booms and a whole lot more of style.

Movie Rating:

(WANTED is like an expensive car that’s beautiful on the outside but with a cheap and faulty engine on the inside)

Review by Mohamad Shaifulbahri