by Kevin Powers

Created on: August 05, 2008   Last Updated: September 22, 2008

I've never read the Mark Millar & J.G. Jones series and graphic novel for which the new film WANTED was based but just by looking at the graphic novel and hearing feedback from film goers I knew going into this film that it was a "loose" adaptation of the source material. Upon viewing the final product I can honestly say that I'm not disappointed and the film actually makes me want to go and read the original source material just to know how they differ (this will have to be for a different article).

The film concerns an office worker by the name of Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) whose existence is non-existent. He knows this as his name when searched on the Internet brings up nothing and his girlfriend is sleeping with his best friend and co-worker. His life is about to change when assassin Fox (Angelina Jolie) saves his life and tells him that his father was an assassin and he belongs to an elite group of people with special abilities that have formed a secret organization that keep life on the planet in balance by assassinating certain people. Under the leadership of Sloan (Morgan Freeman) Gibson must learn how to use his ability in order to help the organization bring down the person whom Gibson is told killed his father and who is trying to bring the organization down to its knees.

Even though this is a heavy action film the personal journey of Gibson is never lost and McAvoy does a great job with bringing the character to life. He reminds me a lot of the Leon character in THE PROFESSIONAL in which both Leon and Gibson's lives are turned upside down by one individual which alters their perspectives on life and thus help dictate the choices they make throughout the film. In Leon's case it is Mathilda and in Gibson's case it is the revelation that the father that he never knew was killed by an assassin. These personal journeys are what drives the character and make for such films.

As directed by Timur Bekmambetov (making his Hollywood debut after the excellent Russian films NIGHT WATCH and DAY WATCH), WANTED is a hyper kinetic action frenzy of style in the way of a Wachowski film which actually is in the film's best interest. Bekmambetov brings to the screen some amazing ideas not yet familiar to the American audience making the film seem very fresh and new. If this is a sign of things to come for action films then I'm all ready! Also, the film has many twists in it that keeps the film going at a brisk pace but you'll have to watch the film to discover those.

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