Wanted (Movie review)

If you’re not a reader of current comics (or more accurately comics that came out about 5 years ago), you may not know that this movie is based on a 6-issue comic book series by British writer Mark Millar. It gets its basic premise and character names from the series, but that’s about it. In the comics, The Fraternity is a conglomerate of super villains, not assassins. Wesley is based on Eminem, and the Fox is based on Haley Berry. The general premise of the comic is that Wesley’s father is a member of the Fraternity and one of the greatest villains of all time. He’s been killed, and it’s Wesley’s turn to step up in his place, although he has no idea about any of this. So change the word villain to assassin, and you’ve got the movie version.

Regardless of how this movie is or isn’t like its source material, I enjoyed it. The action was great, and pretty much all over the movie, but a bit was a bit derivative. There’s a scene in the textile factory straight out of the Matrix (assuming the Matrix didn’t pull it from somewhere else), but I still enjoyed it. It was different enough to be fun, as fun as mass slaughter can be. I was a little disappointed in the end, with Angelina Jolie and the rest.

The cast was excellently chosen, regardless of who the characters were actually based on (I think Eminem was actually attached to the movie early on). Jolie just gets sexier and sexier, Freeman can almost do no wrong, and while I’m not familiar with James McAvoy, he was great as Wesley.

I’m pretty sure I’ve read talk of a sequel, but I don’t see it. It would have to be totally different. We’ll see. Nick Cage is starring in the next big-screen adaptation of a Mark Millar joint, Kick-Ass. This mini isn’t even completed yet and it’s already got a cast put together.

This is a great movie for any action fans. Comic books fans should understand that it’s not by any stretch true to the source material. But that doesn’t make it a bad movie. Far from it.

----------------
Now playing: Eve 6 - Inside Out
via FoxyTunes