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Bookmark this pageWanted (2008)
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Russian fabulist Timur Bekmambetov (‘Nightwatch’, ‘Daywatch’) must have spent a lot of time watching the ‘Matrix’ films before embarking on this action caper. James McAvoy is a nervy, stifled office lackey who is one day asked to join a secret fraternity of assassins by a heavily tattooed Angelina Jolie. Why? Because he possesses the innate ability to curve bullets with his mind, of course.Based in the back room of a textile factory, the team receive orders to kill via the coded weavings of a magical loom. So far-fetched is all this (the threat of an army of exploding rats has already been made) that when overseer Morgan Freeman delivers the line ‘We call this… the Loom of Fate’, you won’t bat an eyelid. It’s already the lingua franca.
This is cinema for people who slow down at car wrecks: Bekmambetov takes pleasure in showing us a bullet slowly boring in or out of the cranium while taking great care in sculpting the resultant swirl of CG blood. McAvoy is reasonable in his first action lead, but offers a tin-eared approximation of the US accent that comes across less like the middle-class salaryman he is and more Jewish New York cab driver (think Bob Hoskins).
There’s an eccentric otherness to the film which just manages to sustain the interest, but whether Bekmambetov’s talents lie in filmmaking rather than gaming or comics is debatable.
Author: David Jenkins
User reviews of this film
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- CLOUDY9 said...
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Posted on Jul 09 2008 19:00
Listen. I just want peace!
I don't want a fight with anybody. I love film. I would probably like you, but these CGI films are really pushing a bug up my cosboodee. No offence to you ... and have a lovely evening. - Report as inappropriate
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- Rara said...
- Posted on Jul 09 2008 13:12 If you had read what i wrote i said LOOSELY based, not completely and FYI, i get that you think it's average, leave off and let people have their opinions!
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- CLOUDY9 said...
- Posted on Jul 09 2008 13:05 No more greek mythology clap trap. It's an average film. get over it.
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- Rara said...
- Posted on Jul 09 2008 13:03 Egomaniac attention seeking maniac? Just makes me laugh that someone would go to such lengths to pretentiously put someone down like that. It's an opinion, deal with it! You "don't want to hear no more about greek/roman mythologies"... Stop listening then. Wanted was great =)
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- Keren said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2008 23:37 Enjoyable hokum... very easy to watch. So preposterous, it is laugh out load funny. A must see on a rainy summers evening....!
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- matt brappp said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2008 17:43 ohh my days man im going to c wanted 2nite with my gf but dnt kno weather to bcus u bloody divs sayin it is crap so thanx peeps
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- cella said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2008 14:58 Go and watch Hancock..... probelm to all
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- CLOUDY9 said...
- Posted on Jul 08 2008 13:36 I dont want to hear no more about greek mythology. This nonsense was spread by an egomaniac attention seeking simpleton. The film is 6/10.
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- Rara said...
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Posted on Jul 08 2008 13:06
lol, Everyone slates this film because of it's "ridiculous story plot", matye... its lifted from a comic book! What the hell do you expect? I thought it was bloody brilliant, linking in all those (loose albeit) ancient greek/roman mythologies about the threads of fate, and awesome action scenes and faith into one great film. James McEvoy is brilliant as an underachiever and Angelina Jolie, is alright as that skinnyass hardnut!
A defininate dvd buy for me! An enthusiastic two thumbs up! - Report as inappropriate
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- ccsupergirl said...
- Posted on Jul 07 2008 00:42 WANTED IS AWSOME!!!!!!!!! I couldn't wait to see it as soon as i seen the trailer!! And i dont even like action films!!! Loved the effects, fit actor/actress, and the storyline (not including the loom/fate part). Wanna go see it again!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW!
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- Graham said...
- Posted on Jul 06 2008 17:49 It's a no brainer. Excellent entertainment...if you like guns!
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- Paul said...
- Posted on Jul 05 2008 13:38 Dear god, easily one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I love a good action movie but this was mindless, directionless tripe. I wasn't sure whither to laugh or cry at the ridiclious plot; a weaving machine that decides who lives and who dies???? I mean come on... Acting performances are terrible, I could go on and on and on.... Is there any negative rating scale?
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- octowussy said...
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Posted on Jul 05 2008 04:13
It wasn't bad for what it is, another Hollywood Big Budget Action Product. The Action was brilliant, the Plot was thin, the Cheese was the loom bit.
Sad that MacAvoy's character is clearly a man who seeks his identity through guns. But however truthful this idea is, the filmmakers still pander to power fantasies.
Just another Big Budget Hollywood Action Product. - Report as inappropriate
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- Amina said...
- Posted on Jul 04 2008 01:31 Excellebt movie! Enjoyed it! Must see!
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- robin banks said...
- Posted on Jul 04 2008 00:16 i disagree with everyone who says this film is rubbish... it is absolutely awsome, the best i've seen this year by miles and one of the best i've seen ever!!! go and see it.
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Cast & crew
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Cast: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp full cast
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Rated: 18
Duration: 110 mins
UK Release: Jun 27 2008
US Release: Jun 27 2008
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