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Hitman (2007)

Director: Xavier Gen

Time Out rating

Average user rating

24 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Vin Diesel was originally slated to play the emotionless hitman in Xavier Gen’s pyrotechnic videogame adaptation but, for reasons unknown, was replaced by Timothy ‘Die Hard 4.0’ Olyphant. Not that it makes much difference; both are as bald as coots, sport thick necks and say little, although it must be said that Olyphant has a better pair of lips. But I digress…

‘Hitman’ is based on Eidos’ popular third-person shooter series. It’s a fast, bloody, violent foray into the same lunkhead territory as previously occupied by Diesel’s ‘xXx’ duo and, more recently, ‘Shoot ’Em Up’. Olyphant is Agent 47, a genetically manufactured assassin who gets embroiled in some far-fetched conspiracy involving a dodgy Russian politician. There’s a cool opening credits sequence, but beyond that ‘Hitman’ doesn’t make much sense, is encumbered by clunky dialogue, some amateurish performances and clichéd set-pieces we’ve seen umpteen times before (including the old fail-safe six-gun stand-off). The lack of character development isn’t surprising either, since most of the cast is dispatched in a mire of bullets and blood. That’s the gist. Do you still want to see it?

Author: Derek Adams 2007-11-27 11:09:34

Time Out London Issue 1945: November 27-December 4 2007

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User reviews of this film

viewer said...

Posted on Apr 04 2008 22:43 very good

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la de da said...

Posted on Jan 08 2008 09:41 WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
what AAAAAA greAAAAt MOVIeeeeee I am soooooo high

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Izharn said...

Posted on Dec 23 2007 22:33 dis movie is over rated
to good
will watch again and again
the story line just makes da best out of it

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Cabbage said...

Posted on Dec 20 2007 21:21 Eat my festive cheezy bits, along with a bit of salt n MAYOOO, how much is the fish, salmon for a fiver trout a tenner. SWEEPING BRUSHES!! chew me off

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william said...

Posted on Dec 17 2007 22:39 pile a pish if u ask me

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jay said...

Posted on Dec 11 2007 17:18 alot of people are slagging this film off, some points i agree with, others are totaly wrong, i think jason statham from lock, stock and transporter would have been better, but tim just pulled it off, the plot wasa bit weird, as well as 47's background, in the game he was a clone, on the film hes an orphan??? it would have been nice to see some more 'accidents' like in the game as well, but other than that a really good film, ill go and see it again.

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Shaquille said...

Posted on Dec 08 2007 20:47 Hollywood will make a film out of ANYTHING lately and 9 out of 10 of the time it is a load of crappy junk slurred together and smacked onto a screen. Like milk but not quite a milkshake if you know what I mean. More or less it needn't be said that this horrible excuse for a motion picture was a complete waste of human life and a total flop. Anyone disagree? Prove me wrong. I would like that. This film makes as much sense as a Smurf sexing Brittany Spears while wearing a tutu and listening to the Simpsons theme song

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Mr Bean said...

Posted on Dec 06 2007 13:54 Shut up Grant u weirdo. Good film worth watching.

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skippy said...

Posted on Dec 05 2007 18:01 i agreee with will the film is goodbut greg get a life you sad sad little man

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Big Al said...

Posted on Dec 05 2007 17:51 This film in my opinion was brilliant start to finish low in dialogue but made up in action and suspence and edge of your seat stuff with a hot actress too whoever she was. Well worth checkin out you love it

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Rich said...

Posted on Dec 05 2007 17:25 Had no expectations for this film. Enjoyed it. Would recommend it as a bit of fun. As far as computer game film tie ins go it worked well.

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Mr X said...

Posted on Dec 05 2007 12:39 Seen better crap at old trafford

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dooby do wat said...

Posted on Dec 03 2007 15:10 i thort it was average, janey thort it was insanley good

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Grant said...

Posted on Dec 02 2007 23:00 And film producers and scriptwriters seem to be actually wanting everything to collectively sigh at how primitive games are. They took a decent character and world, and tore it apart, presumably to fit in with the narrative that was planned. And that, to me, misses the point of bringing games to the silver screen somewhat.
It was a decent two hours of action, and while some of it was ludicrous and totally unlike what you see in the actual game (there were parts where they were embarrassingly desperately trying to rival The Matrix in terms of two gun slaughter), overall the shooting was well done, and got the blood pumping.
The dialogue was pretty naff, and like I said isn't going to forward any non-gamers' perspectives of the medium. There was one character whose entire personality consisted solely of making blunt sexual remarks and talking about vineyards, and the villains were the same po-faced, deeply uninteresting stereotypes you'd hope not to see. If you want depth, then this film should be avoided. It starts with a moral question about why should people kill, and finishes with a blank answer that is about as philosophical about a wet fart.
And you might argue that if I was going to see the movie for philosophy then I'd be stupid, and you'd probably be right. But the film didn't do anything to say "look, these game things can be deep!" It was a misrepresentation of the games (47's character has apparently grown morals in the film, and actually hesitates to shoot people on emotional grounds) and a misrepresentation of gaming as a whole.
The target audience for this movie was pretty much sex-starved teenagers, and while I fit into that category, I felt insulted by how stupid they seem to think gamers are. To stick a plot with copious usage of the phrase "this doesn't feel right" to make an excuse for lots of blood and guts is not an effective way of making your targeted audience happy.
I would have much preferred a emotionless two hours of 47 carefully planning a hit before unleashing in genius fashion, just like the games encourage you to do, rather than the brain-dead flick that's going to make a lot of dosh either way.

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Dancing Shadow said...

Posted on Dec 02 2007 13:26 Violent, Bloody, almost no character develpment and a confusing plot....
Well that sounds like they got the game down pretty accuratly then, although I haven't seen it yet

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