Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 06/27/08 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality Running Time 1hour 50 minutes Genre Comedy, Romance, Drama Director Timur Bekmambetov Writer Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan Cast James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Common, Kristen Hager, Konstantin Khabensky, Terence Stamp Studio Universal Pictures |
WANTED (2008)
SYNOPSIS
JAMES McAVOY (Atonement, The Last King of
Scotland), MORGAN FREEMAN (Batman Begins,
Million Dollar Baby) and ANGELINA JOLIE (Mr. &
Mrs. Smith, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) tell the tale of
one overlooked nobody’s transformation into an
unparalleled enforcer of justice in Wanted. In
2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a
new generation: Wesley Gibson.
Visionary director TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV (creator
of Day Watch and Irony of Fate: The Continuation,
the two biggest films in the history of Russian
cinema) powers this twisted and visceral
adventure of 25-year-old Wes (McAvoy), a slacker
who hates his life—with good reason, because it
sucks.
At work, his ballbuster of a boss lives to
torment him in front of his fellow cube-dwelling
drones. Back home, his skeezy girlfriend is a
sexual magnet for everyone except him, including
Wes’ supposed best friend. No wonder this loser
is on his 10th prescription for panic attack pills,
which he downs like candy between cardboard
meals of vegan tofu wraps.
JAMES McAVOY (Atonement, The Last King of
Scotland), MORGAN FREEMAN (Batman Begins,
Million Dollar Baby) and ANGELINA JOLIE (Mr. &
Mrs. Smith, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider) tell the tale of
one overlooked nobody’s transformation into an
unparalleled enforcer of justice in Wanted. In
2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a
new generation: Wesley Gibson.
Visionary director TIMUR BEKMAMBETOV (creator
of Day Watch and Irony of Fate: The Continuation,
the two biggest films in the history of Russian
cinema) powers this twisted and visceral
adventure of 25-year-old Wes (McAvoy), a slacker
who hates his life—with good reason, because it
sucks.
At work, his ballbuster of a boss lives to
torment him in front of his fellow cube-dwelling
drones. Back home, his skeezy girlfriend is a
sexual magnet for everyone except him, including
Wes’ supposed best friend. No wonder this loser
is on his 10th prescription for panic attack pills,
which he downs like candy between cardboard
meals of vegan tofu wraps.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
Wes’ pathetic excuse for an existence might just as well come to an end and save him a lifetime of
prolonged misery.
Fortunately for Wes, his life is over—his old one, anyway…and all because of a girl. Enter hot Fox
(Jolie), who crashes into Wes on the business end of a smoking gun. Seems Wes’ long-lost and mostly
forgotten dad was killed while working for the Fraternity—a centuries-old league of supersensory trained
assassins pledged to carry out the unbreakable orders of fate. Their motto: Kill one, save a thousand.
Now it’s Wes’ turn to follow in his father’s footsteps and release the caged wolf that’s always lurked
inside of him. Killing is in Wes’ blood, and he trains under Fox and a motley-but-lethal crew that includes
the Fraternity’s enigmatic leader, Sloan (Freeman). The neophyte is forcefully pummeled into developing
lightning-quick reflexes and superhuman agility. No one said becoming an assassin would be easy.
The former slacker is reborn as the golden boy of the Fraternity and Wes starts to relish his new life,
even exacting some best-served-cold revenge on tormentors past. But soon, the sweet taste of power
sours when he realizes that the intentions of his deadly associates aren’t as noble as first presented. As
he wavers between newfound heroism and soul-killing vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one—
neither cold-blooded father nor steaming-hot assassin—could ever teach him: He alone controls his
destiny. --©Universal Pictures
prolonged misery.
Fortunately for Wes, his life is over—his old one, anyway…and all because of a girl. Enter hot Fox
(Jolie), who crashes into Wes on the business end of a smoking gun. Seems Wes’ long-lost and mostly
forgotten dad was killed while working for the Fraternity—a centuries-old league of supersensory trained
assassins pledged to carry out the unbreakable orders of fate. Their motto: Kill one, save a thousand.
Now it’s Wes’ turn to follow in his father’s footsteps and release the caged wolf that’s always lurked
inside of him. Killing is in Wes’ blood, and he trains under Fox and a motley-but-lethal crew that includes
the Fraternity’s enigmatic leader, Sloan (Freeman). The neophyte is forcefully pummeled into developing
lightning-quick reflexes and superhuman agility. No one said becoming an assassin would be easy.
The former slacker is reborn as the golden boy of the Fraternity and Wes starts to relish his new life,
even exacting some best-served-cold revenge on tormentors past. But soon, the sweet taste of power
sours when he realizes that the intentions of his deadly associates aren’t as noble as first presented. As
he wavers between newfound heroism and soul-killing vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one—
neither cold-blooded father nor steaming-hot assassin—could ever teach him: He alone controls his
destiny. --©Universal Pictures
The Chronicles of Narina: Prince Caspian is a retread of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and
the Wardrobe. Now the villian is King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), who is has taken over Narnia . When the
four Pevensie children (William Mosely, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgia Henley) return,
they find themselves paired with Miraz' nemesis nephew, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), to help restore
peace in the kingdom, thus bringing the "extinct" Narnians out of hiding to fight Mariz's army and search
for Asian, their lion. The detailed special effect and sweeping landscapes featured are beautiful to
watch and the four young actors once again give top notch performances. Prince Caspian running time
is a L O N G 144 minutes, 30 minutes of fighting could have been eliminated making the sequel easier to
sit through. We will have to wait until 2010 for C. S. Lewis' third novel, "The Voyage of the Dawn
Treader" which has already begun production
the Wardrobe. Now the villian is King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), who is has taken over Narnia . When the
four Pevensie children (William Mosely, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgia Henley) return,
they find themselves paired with Miraz' nemesis nephew, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), to help restore
peace in the kingdom, thus bringing the "extinct" Narnians out of hiding to fight Mariz's army and search
for Asian, their lion. The detailed special effect and sweeping landscapes featured are beautiful to
watch and the four young actors once again give top notch performances. Prince Caspian running time
is a L O N G 144 minutes, 30 minutes of fighting could have been eliminated making the sequel easier to
sit through. We will have to wait until 2010 for C. S. Lewis' third novel, "The Voyage of the Dawn
Treader" which has already begun production
