'Wanted' is coolest action flick of the summer
3 and a half stars (Out of four)
Review by Keith Cohen, "The Movie Guy"

The coolest action flick of the summer arrives with plenty of fireworks to coincide with the 4th of July celebration.

It is easy to identify with 25-year-old protagonist Wesley Gibson (Scottish actor James McAvoy of “Atonement” and “The Last King of Scotland”). He is an insignificant nobody who is regularly chewed out by his boss and continuously ignored by his promiscuous girlfriend. His routine, boring existence is about to change.

While refilling a prescription to relieve the stress from anxiety attacks, Wes encounters a sexy temptress named Fox (Angelina Jolie). After a shootout and exciting car chase, this young man is coerced into joining a secret society of assassins.

He realizes he has superhuman abilities. He is able to get his heart rate up to 400 beats per minute. This adrenaline rush gives him super-quick reflexes and accelerated reaction time. His superior hand-eye coordination allows him to shoot the wings off insects. He is trained how to kill and to feel no pain.

This movie is a fun thrill ride with unbelievable stunts that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It goes over the top with some very violent and bloody scenes.

Russian director Timur Bekmambetov displays a wild imagination and a fantastic visual panache in adapting the explosive series of graphic comic books written by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. Oscar-winning composer Danny Elfman ratchets things up to a boiling point with a terrific soundtrack.

The sound and CGI visual effects are outstanding. The highlights include following bullets in slow motion and hearing a heart pounding faster and faster.

You vicariously identify with this transformed Everyman who takes back control of his life. The movie zips along at a rapid clip.

McAvoy has an American accent down pat. You develop a rooting interest for his character. Jolie has never been more enticing. The strong supporting cast includes Morgan Freeman, Terrence Stamp, rap artist Common and Thomas Kretschman.

The city of Chicago takes center stage with some great shots of The Loop downtown. The foreign locations involved in the production include Prague, Czechoslovakia and Budapest, Hungary.

This origination story with voice-over narration by McAvoy combines father-son dynamics, social satire and revenge fantasy fulfillment. It casts a mesmerizing spell in maintaining the right balance between nerd and hero.

This action-packed thriller pulls the rug out from under you with unpredictable revelations and an explosive climax. Don’t miss the sleeper hit of the summer which will remind you of “The Matrix” trilogy, “Rocky,” “Hellboy” and “Natural Born Killers.”

Wanted - More
One & one half Blood Spatters! (Out of four)
Review by Erwin K. Roberts

Mark Miller and J.G. Jones brought us publisher Top Cow's comic series that inspired the film Wanted. I have never read it. So this review is based only on the film Directed by Timur Bekmambetov. And this is his first film made entirely for an English speaking audience.

Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) has got to be about the biggest combination wimp/jerk in the history of cinema. He has a job, but no prospects of any kind. Suddenly he's in the middle of gunfights involving Fox (Angenlina Jolie) that bend the laws of physics. Then he's told he is heir apparent to be the leading hitman of a cult of assassins over one thousand years old.

He begins learning the trade, mainly by continually having his instructors beat the snot out of him. This dubious method of “instruction” continues until he can do things that your average Arnold or Stallone action hero would find impossible. Then he begins killing people as assigned by the “Loom of Fate.” Then the complications begin. All in just over a month. Are you following me?

There is a school of thought that claims “Quantity equals Quality.” This is most often seen in the size of a rock band's amplifier and speaker system versus their ability to play their instruments. Some films have this, too. “Wanted” piles on the four letter words and dripping blood almost as fast as it expands bullets without benefiting the plot. Just be aware, this is a hard “R” film.

The twenty-something crowd seemed to like this a lot more than I did.

"Wanted"
3 stars (Out of four)
Review below by Jolene Mendez

Most of us have been there… In that dead end job, inside a cubical, prepared to kill our boss. Awaiting most of us is no escape. This is not so in the story of Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) in “Wanted”. Living day in and day out this neurotic, anxiety prone nobody, turns out to be somebody significant. Imagine this meek geek turning into a secret assassin. After his father is assassinated, Wesley is sought out as the chosen one to avenge for his father’s death. With the help of the beautiful and mysterious Fox (Angelina Jolie), Wesley begins his training and soon becomes a member of the “Fraternity”. The transformation is truly a miracle.

In the fraternity there are many members, all lead by Sloan (Morgan Freeman). Upon completing his training you learn more about the Fraternity, and the secrets it holds. Before Wesley can go after his main target he must prove he is ready, proof that must be shown in the assassination of several individuals that are chosen by the fraternity. These victims are chosen as targets by a weaving code process. It is not just fate; those assassinated are chosen for a reason.

A far fetched plot that is acted out very well, this is an action film that had plenty of comedy offered by James McAvoy. Expect McAvoy to be the new action star of our time. Although Angelina Jolie did not have much dialogue; her appearance on screen is appealing enough for any fan. The visual effects were thrilling and you felt as if you were in the car for many of the stunts. “Wanted” was found to be on the outlandish side, but it has a thrilling joy ride for all to enjoy. There is a substantial amount of bloody violence throughout so this is not recommended for the younger crowd. Age aside McAvoy and Jolie can not be missed in this fast paced entertaining film.