If It's Not What You Wanted...Maybe It's What You Expected
Written: Jul 01 '08
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Great action and special effects.
Cons: Flat characters, mediocre dialogue.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend Wanted for a fun-filled action-packed mindless trip into the world of Hollywood special effects.
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| coldsteel7's Full Review: Wanted |
When I saw the very first trailer for Wanted I was hooked. First of all, Angelina Jolie plays the female lead. That's enough to pique my interest right off the top. Throw in Morgan Freeman and you shouldn't go wrong. Well, maybe. I had high expectations for this movie, but deep down, I knew that an action movie with the lack of realism that was evident even in the trailers couldn't deliver everything it promised. So I compromise. I enjoyed the movie in spite of the various short-comings.
First of all, make no mistake about this movie. It is an adrenaline filled action movie that is intended to deliver great special effects and constant motion. If you go in with higher expectations than that you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
The lead for this movie, Wesley Gibson was given to James McAvoy. I was a little bit irritated because I knew I recognized him but couldn't place it. A trip to IMDB's website refreshed my recollection...he was in one movie I saw recently...The Last King of Scotland which is one of the best I have seen in the past year. He was also the faun in the first installment of the Chronicles of Narnia. He is an unremarkable actor in my book and was merely decent in this film. However, I really didn't have high hopes for him going in. As mentioned, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie were the marquee names that drew me into this film. Freeman was impeccable as always. I have always enjoyed watching Jolie...which involved a bit of voyeuristic watching in this film. There is a brief shot of her buttocks as she exits the bath in this film. Nothing to go gaga over. She actually looked a bit too thin. The rest of the cast were marginal. They neither added or subtracted from the overall feel of the film.
The writing in this film was actually decent. Some of the dialogue was a bit weak and predictable. The overall plot was also somewhat predictable with major plot developments becoming visible well in advance. The characters were very flat with very little connection to the audience. The whole lot of them could have been killed off without a care. Which is about par for the course in this film. There is a decent but very predictable twist at the very end of the film that tidies up the loose ends. Overall, the writing created a vehicle for some spectacular action scenes and special effects.
Wanted is a guy movie. It is about adrenaline rushes and special effects. For viewers who like mindless entertainment this movie fits the bill. I actually enjoy a bit of mindless entertainment mixed in with my indie films and classics. There was no shortage of testosterone in this movie. In fact, I needed this movie to correct my testosterone levels after getting dragged to Sex in the City last weekend (I started lactating halfway through that movie). A lot of vehicles and infra-structure get destroyed in this film. The Chicago Loop (the El Train) gets a heavy dose of exposure in this film and place host to some decent action scenes as well. There are car chases, shoot outs, stop action, slow motion and host of other effects that combine to create a good rush. The slow motion bullets got a bit played out, but it was fun to watch anyway.
This movie obtained a well deserved R Rating from the Motion Picture Association of America. There is a sex scene very early in the film that did not really add anything to the storyline. There was the brief Angelina Jolie backside shot that added a whole lot to the movie (at least personally). Primarily the R Rating was based on the graphic violence and pervasive strong language. The violence involved a good deal of knife play to include a punctured hand, gun violence at it's finest and a healthy dose of blood and guts. Being an adrenaline film, the violence is nearly non-stop. I would not bring my nine-year-old to see this film.
A quick note about realism. This film is based on a comic book. Not a general source for realism. The entire concept of a group of weavers coming together to form an ancient fraternity of assassins is enough of a stretch. But the idea of bending bullets and flipping cars over with geometric precision take disbelief to a whole new level. If you try to accept the premises put forth in this movie you will hate it. As a gun-guy I was amused at some of the gun tricks in this film, but put aside my own experience for the sake of enjoying something a little different. If you don't suspend your own common sense this movie will be tedious. Just sit back and enjoy it and let the little things (like reality) go.
A lot can be said about a movie like Wanted. If you are looking for something that will challenge your intellect, you will not find it here. The plot has some twists and turns but they are widely forecast. The characters are very one-dimensional (which I guess you can expect from a comic book background). The dialogue has some decent lines but doesn't really stand out. The soundtrack adds to the heightened drama that is firmly planted in the non-stop1action. I liked this movie for the very reason many people will not like it. It was a mindless romp filled with action, destruction and violence...tied loosely around an unbelievable plot. What's not to like? I would give Wanted four stars out of a possible five.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Script
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