by Manny The Movie Guy

Created on: June 26, 2008

Fate versus destiny is one of the themes explored in the new hypnotic and pulse-pounding thriller, "Wanted." It's a film destined to be one of the crowd-pleasers this summer.

Based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones, "Wanted" tells the tale of Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a nobody who would eventually become a hero of a new generation.

Day in and day out, Wesley toils around his boring job bullied by his demanding boss. He entertains himself by Googling his name. Nothing comes up, of course. At home, Wes' girlfriend is having an affair with his supposed best friend.

Yes folks, Wes is a loser with a capital L. It's no wonder he's on his 10th prescription for panic attack pills, which he downs like candy between cardboard meals of vegan tofu wraps.

During one of his trips to the pharmacy, he encounters Fox (the always alluring Angelina Jolie). She protects him from a mysterious assassin named Cross (Thomas Kretschmann).

The car chase scene between Fox and Cross is one of the most visual, thrill-a-minute rides in cinema. Director Timur Bekmambetov sets up the montage like a great cinematic virtuoso.

Born in Kazakhstan, Bekmambetov is one of the country's treasures, sorry Borat. I enjoyed his "Night Watch" films, and I have always suspected that he will be able to rejuvenate Hollywood's action genre.

McAvoy thrills as this summer's unlikely action hero. He's on screen 95% of the time, and he succeeds in making the audience root for him from beginning to end.

"That's the attraction of the character," McAvoy reveals when I interviewed him for "Wanted." "He's not your typical action hero," McAvoy continues.

The film alludes to McAvoy's dubious stance as a hero. When Morgan Freeman's character, Sloan, meets Wes for the first time, he says, "I thought you'd be taller."

Freeman, as always, is commendable. Even though in "Wanted," he's playing against type. Without revealing too much, wait until the very last scene. Freeman hammers the message home.

Many folks define the comic book genre as the launching pad of super heroes. But look closer, and you will see that graphic novels are the new form of literature.

If written and adapted well, a comic book story is as rich as any literary novel. "Wanted's" screenwriters, Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, are the force behind this engaging, fast-paced, and colorful flick.
The eternal battle between good and evil is waged rather well in the film. Upon learning his destiny, Wes is faced with an incredible conundrum: Should he use his newfound power for vengeance, or for the good of everyone.

The characters' mantra in the film says it all, "kill one, and save thousands." I cannot and do not want to spoil the movie by giving away too much of its intricate plot. But this I can guarantee, "Wanted" is one of the most sophisticated, intelligent, and nail-biting action thrillers you'll ever see this summer. And for that, "Wanted" gets 3 Curve the Bullet kisses

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