Wanted
posted June 26, 2008 10:18 AM
Wanted owes way too much to over-used narrative constructs
For a summer movie season that has already seen more comics adaptations in a month than typically receive release in any given year, it might seem vaguely academic to invoke the name of Joseph Campbell. A closer look at the season’s narrative constructs, however, reveals a persistent Campbellian substructure so pervasive that, if the renowned professor and mythologist was still alive, might cause him to consider suing for royalties.
While most such films make at least a token attempt to camouflage the derivation, Wanted, the English-language debut of Russian action director Timur Bekmambetov, practically flaunts it. Not that Bekmambetov has ever had any use for subtlety, but when stylistic overkill is folded together with bald-faced narrative plagiarism as it is in Wanted, it’s hard to not feel a certain amount of contempt for the effort. Not that the average fanboy will much care or even notice, but inevitable and unfavorable comparisons to The Matrix and Star Wars will quite likely kill any long-term prospects just as prejudicially as the film’s onscreen assassins kill off their victims.
Based on the Mark Millar/J.G. Jones comic series, Wanted follows the routine beats of a traditional “chosen one” narrative, focusing on a lowly office drone named Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) whose life takes the most dramatic of turns when he’s recruited into an ancient secret society of assassins to avenge the death of the father he never knew. It’s a colorful bunch, headed by the patrician Sloan (Morgan Freeman) and appropriately sexed up by token female Fox (Angelina Jolie). This is no ordinary gang of gunslingers, however—these people can curve bullets, defy gravity and violate the laws of physics with impunity. Such skills, Wesley is told, can be his as well—they’re in his genes—all he needs to do is unlock them.
The brutality of Wesley’s “training” is the one thing that sets this film apart from its forebears—had either Luke Skywalker or Neo undergone anything this sadistic in Star Wars or The Matrix, it’s unlikely that audiences would have embraced them. There’s also the question of moral equivalency—it’s all fine and well when Fox suggests that killing one can save thousands, but when a climactic encounter puts a trainload of innocents at risk for no reason other than to punch up yet another elaborate set piece, the audience is made uncomfortably complicit in a callous and hypocritical game in which any and all human life becomes secondary to a momentary movie thrill.
Anyone familiar with Bekmambetov’s massively successful Russian films—the graphic novel-based Night Watch trilogy (also including Day Watch and the forthcoming Dusk Watch) will know what to expect here—it’s essentially the same thing all over again, a mythical battle of good and evil with unsuspecting mortals and their fragile city as the battleground. Most of the action flies by in a flurry … unless it’s so cool that Bekmambetov feels the need to shift into slow-motion to make sure no one misses how cool it is.
None of this would be quite so offensive if Wanted were the first and only film this year to tread well-worn ground, but coming mere weeks on the heels of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and the more family-friendly Kung Fu Panda, both of which tell almost exactly the same story, it feels glaringly familiar, juiced-up John Woo superimposed with a Homeric template. At its best, Wanted is fast food, disposable cinema at its worst—and most mercifully forgettable.
Distributor: Universal
Cast: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann and Common
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Screenwriter: Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Chris Morgan
Producers: Jim Lemley, Jason Netter, Marc E. Platt and Iain Smith
Genre: Action
Rating: R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality
Running time: 110 min.
Release date: June 27
18 Comments
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Anonymous said:
your an idiot
June 20, 2008 2:29 PM
Ditto said:
you got wack taste you wack critic
June 21, 2008 9:23 AM
oh geez said:
Dude, you should only be allowed to review more dramatic serious movies, because it's obvious you have a narrow taste and can't appreciate anything that deviates into any type of fun. Your review of Hulk was very dismissive and bordering on ignorant.
As for this review... give me any movie you might think is great and I'll show you how "it's been done before."
There has been the same stories being told for centuries. What makes each original is HOW they're told.
June 24, 2008 1:49 AM
Reaper said:
RETARD!
June 25, 2008 8:16 AM
C>E said:
Well despite your thoughts onthis film I am very excited to go and see it...You obviously are an OLD MAN who has seen it all!!!
June 26, 2008 8:18 AM
Bill said:
I honestly cannot believe that people like this guy are allowed to be critics of movies such as Wanted. Does anyone that has even got a general idea of what wanted is, go to see it for its originality and classy look / feel? No, we go to watch things go boom and to go ooooo and aaaaaahhh. Any kind of plot / plot twist is a bonus and character development / depth is unexpected and mind-numbingly boring if your expecting a high paced action movie. So how bout you rate a movie based on what it flaunts. Its flaunting action scenes that will blow your mind, amusing one liners that you laugh inside at because you know they will be followed by something blowing up and a semi interesting story of good versus evil. I say this movie gave me all that and more. Now, if i was told "hey we have this amazing movie that is extrmely deep, with great character development, originality like you have never seen etc etc etc"....and then i saw this movie....id probably agree with this guy...but cmon one look at a trailer and you know thats not the case. That is my two cents anyway
June 26, 2008 2:39 PM
Scot said:
Not everyone goes to see every movie released. I have no intention of seeing Kung Fo Panda or Narnia. But I did see Wanted, and despite more blood than I can usual stomach, it delivered a visual treat. Yes, the story was a bit familiar, but an original story is rare these days. At the least, it was mindless entertainment, but most of it was quite haunting, really.
June 27, 2008 9:41 PM
Mitchell said:
I hate to say it again. Your critique in this movie is way off! I am one of many who enjoyed this particular film. It had guts, determination, egos, action, and honestly I love the story. Of course again your entitled to your own opinion but.... YOUR WAY WRONG again! Are your kidding me your actual taste for movies and style of critiqueing is making me vomit. I think it's time you found a new job being a judge in a county fair for best squash. That's how boring your taste in films are. You didn't even bother to look at the star (James Macavoy) for his hard work portraying this character. He had to have bulked up because he is no way looking like that Mr. Tumness in the Narnia movie. You honestly need to look at the big picture. And so far your not. I could put more positive attributes to this movie, but I choose not to because other people need to speak their peace too.
June 28, 2008 2:44 AM
Karyn said:
This was a great movie. I was very impressed with the whole movie. Sorry you feel the way you do. I'll say it again, it was a great movie.
June 28, 2008 11:25 AM
me_andTroy said:
well sax movie....kazakhstan borat made this movie.everywhere parallels with matrix and etc
June 28, 2008 6:46 PM
Anonymous said:
Really? everybody who thinks this movie is well made are obviously the same people who are amused by bouncing a ball on their nose. The Loom of Fate, that was the most retarded plot ever done in a comic book movie not to mention the ending with his rat led assault...I mean seriously, nobody has anything else to do.
July 1, 2008 12:42 AM
Anonymous said:
I have to agree with the previous comment, despite my love for the movie. After having time to contemplate on the movie for a few days I realized if it hadn't been for Angelina Jolie being as smooth and cool as she is the movie would've been ridiculous...The rat thing at the end was kinda gay, and a big yarn thing telling a cult who to kill? Was the Loom of Fate plugged in to the Heavens? I LOVED the action that included Angie, but the rest was a bit off...
July 1, 2008 5:55 PM
Tdigga said:
Wanted was silly, and trite... those of you who liked it, look up "trite," then grow up.
July 1, 2008 8:18 PM
RAFAEL said:
I'AM SICK AND TIRED OF ANGELINA JOLIE. IS THE SAME TYPE OF MOVIES OVER AND OVER.
IS SHE A REAL ACTRESS???? CAN SHE MAKE SOMETHING ELSE WITH OUT A GUN OR SEX ON HER MOVIES. I THINK NOT.......................... SHE IS SEXY AND I WOULD LOVE TO BANG HER BUT THATS IT......
July 14, 2008 2:01 PM
man1212 said:
movie is realy good
and if you don`t like her or her movies
then why the hell you watch her movies
just don`t watch her movies again
and don`t bother ppl tht like her movies
August 8, 2008 12:05 AM
masry said:
good
November 17, 2008 11:23 AM
JeZzY said:
nice movie
February 2, 2009 11:37 PM
Spectator said:
This movie is one of the best action movies I've ever seen. When the credits started to roll it felt like I had just gone through a crazy adrenaline rush. I've only had this feeling after very few movies...another one was Transformers. I feel that critics often forget that movies are first and foremost for entertainment...and Wanted sure did deliver!
May 12, 2009 9:41 AM