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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Contact Us	Wanted Stars: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common and Dato Bakhadze Director: Timur Bekmambetov Scriptwriters: Michael Brand, Derek Haas and Chris Morgan from the comic books by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones Composer: Danny Elfman Universal Pictures Rated R for bloody violence, language and brief nudity Running Length: 110 minutes Wanted is a bit tongue in cheek and a lot of violence. In fact, there is so much blood that you begin to differentiate between shades of red---this is fresh and this isn’t. Come the next vampire flick, I’ll be ready. This film is an adaptation from the Mark Millar and J. G. Jones comic books. As soon as you read “comic books,” expect a fanciful story, plenty of stunts, virtual non-stop action and characters straight out of, well, a comic book. There is an assassination attempt at the beginning of the film which involves the curving of a bullet in flight, and other things such as literally flying from building to building. Shades of “The Matrix,” but this happens all through the movie. I heard murmurs from the crowd about “Where can I buy a gun like that?” Sorry, folks, but that was comic book land, and such a weapon isn’t available. Now to sad James McAvoy as Wesley, working in an entry level job for a lady boss who is constantly yelling and eating at the same time. Wes takes anxiety medication to prevent panic attacks. Soon, he meets the beautiful and mysterious Fox (Angelina Jolie) who tells him he has a destiny as an assassin. “A what?” he asks and tries to run away from her and her boss, Morgan Freeman. In the meantime, someone is trying to kill Wes and Jolie keeps saving him. Guess he should join the assassins after all. Training is gruesome and you thought the Marine were tough? Here you must concentrate, slow down your adrenaline rush and think positive. Something like that first date. Wes is trained in knives, guns, and explosives. The Fraternity, as this group is called, gets their assignments from a loom (that’s loom and not loon) via a secret code. All is not as it seems, though, and Wes is beginning to get an uneasy feeling. Must be one too many rides atop an elevated train. Wanted has a storyline that begs description. This film is one stunt and escape after another. There are dangling trains, exploding buildings, car chases and always those curving bullets to avoid. James McAvoy does make it as an action leading man. He goes from wimp to wicked in six weeks. The camera centers on his facial expressions and that makes him look like Everyman. Angelina Jolie appears slight for her action sequences, but remember, this is really Lara Croft and she can handily toss guys around the room. Just ask Brad. Morgan Freeman has the scholarly role of explaining everything, which gets cumbersome at times, but Thomas Kretschmann does a believable job as the assassin, Cross. Also, look for rapper Common as the Gunsmith who helps to train Wes. Danny Elfman’s soundtrack blasts forth, but I didn’t mind. It covered up Wes’s groans as he went through another training session. In fact, for lack of a coherent story, focus on the music. This film is another stuntman delight with such moments as riding atop the train, chasing a train in a car, hanging from a dangling train and running down a police car. I was not familiar with Mark Millar’s comic books, but it appears that several stories went into the making of this movie. Actually, despite special effects and credible acting by all concerned, the film is wanting, but not for Jolie, as you get to see a lot of tattoos. Copyright 2008 Marie Asner Submitted 6/21/08 for 6/27/08