Movie Review: Wanted - Starrring James McAvoy & Angelina Jolie
Released: June 27th, 2008
Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min.
Ticket Price: $5.00 Early Matinee
Refreshments: None
Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann & Common
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Rating: Worth a Matinee
Synopsis: A young man coasting through life in obscurity comes to find that he is one of a few with special abilities. He is told that his father, who left just after he was born, was one of the greatest assassins to ever live. A group calling themselves The Fraternity wants to recruit him to take revenge on the man that killed his father. He begins training to learn how to use his dormant abilities. The group lives by an unbreakable code that has been handed down for a thousand years. The young man starts to enjoy his new power, but comes to learn that the group he is working for might not be all that it is cracked up to be. He comes to the realization that only he can truly control his destiny.
Review: Wanted has all the action you can ask for from a big budget summer movie, it just could of used a better story. The movie is based on the Wanted graphic novel
While there’s not much story involved here, and what little there is, is actually kind of lame, the theme of the movie is a good one. You can and should choose your destiny. Don’t just muddle through life, get off you ass and do something. Stop wasting your talents and pursue something that you want to do. It just tells you that while bullets fly and things blowup.
James McAvoy (Atonement) plays Wesley Gibson, a nobody whose name doesn’t even register any results in Google. He works in a dead end job that he hates and has a best friend and girlfriend that are seeing each other behind his back. He knows all of this is happening, but just continues to coast through life in obscurity doing nothing about it. His transformation from office drone to badass assassin is quite a trip. The best scene is when he tells off his annoyingly bitchy boss and then cracks his best friend upside the head with his ergonomic keyboard and the keys spell “F**K YOU” as they go flying through the air.
Angelina Jolie (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is the perfect person to play Fox, the female assassin that recruits Wesley into the Fraternity. You can’t imagine anyone else lying across the hood of a car and steering with her feet, while shooting at a guy following behind. She does really well with her one small scene of character development, as well. Other than that, Fox is all about exuding a wicked coolness, which Jolie pulls off very well.
Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch) directs and gives the movie a frantic pace. From the opening car chase to the closing gun battle, the movie barely stops to breathe. Yet, this and the special f/x is why you are going to see Wanted. It is something to behold on the big screen.
Unfortunately, Wanted falls into the ranks of 300, an almost great movie that spends the vast majority of its time creating cool special f/x fight scenes and battles and spending little on everything else. It’s worth a matinee, mainly because this type of movie should be seen at a theater, whether it has a story or not.
What New Movies Start Friday, June 27th?
On Friday we get three new movies arriving in a theater near you. Two are opening everywhere and one is in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, June 27th:
Movie: WALL-E (G)
Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard & Macintalk
Genre: Animated Family Comedy
Synopsis: WALL-E, which is short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class, has been left alone on Earth for hundreds of years collecting things. One day he meets a robot named EVE that is searching and comes to find that WALL-E may have accidentally found the key to the future of the planet. EVE heads back to report what she has found to humans who want to know if it is safe to return. But, WALL-E tags along and puts in motion a comic rollercoaster ride of an adventure.
First Thoughts: If you’ve got little ones, then this is the movie for you this week.
Movie: Wanted (R) (Read Review)
Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann & Common
Genre: Action Adventure Fantasy
Synopsis: A young man that is a nobody, just another cube filling office drone. One day he meets a woman that changes things for him. He finds that his father was one of the greatest assassins to ever walk the planet and now they want him to join up and take his father’s place in the Fraternity. He trains to avenge his father’s death after learning how to use his powers that have laid dormant his whole life. As he begins to learn, he develops quick reflexes and unbelievable agility. He also finds that the group lives by an unbreakable code. He really starts to enjoy his newfound power, but comes to learn that there is more under the surface of the organization. He must come to the realization the only he can truly control his destiny.
First Thoughts: This looks like a whole lot of big screen fun. Hopefully, the story matches the special f/x. This is the one I will be seeing tomorrow.
Movie in Limited Release:
- The Last Mistress - Erotic period drama about a notorious libertine that continues on with his longtime mistress even after taking a virtuous aristocrat as his bride.
For New Movie Friday there are two new movies to choose from this week. They are WALL-E and Wanted. What new movie looks good to you this week?
Movie Review: Get Smart - Starring Steve Carell & Anne Hathaway
Released: June 20th, 2008
Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min.
Ticket Price: $5.00 Early Matinee
Refreshments: None
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin & Terence Stamp
Director: Peter Segal
Rating: Worth a Matinee
Synopsis: The super secret Control spy agency has been attacked and its agents identities compromised. So, the chief promotes a new agent, Maxwell Smart. He has wanted to get out in the field for years and recently passed his tests. He is paired with Agent 99, since she has recently had surgery to change her identity. It is up to the earnest Smart, Agent 86, and field-tested 99 to find who is behind the attack and put a stop to their dastardly plans.
Review: Get Smart is just a whole lot of fun. There are plenty of laughs from start to finish. Is it a cinematic masterpiece? No, but it is an entertaining action-packed funny movie. I laughed more at this than pretty every other comedy seen this year.
Steve Carell (The 40 Year Old Virgin, TV’s The Office) plays Maxwell Smart, Agent 86, and is great in the role. He isn’t doing a Don Adams impression from the original series, but has captured the essence of the character.
Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, The Princess Diaries) plays Agent 99 and is excellent. She looks absolutely beautiful, but can kick some serious ass. She and Carell have great chemistry together. I usually don’t like the pairing of an older man and a younger woman, which is a Hollywood tradition, but really liked how they explained it away in the movie, by making Agent 99 older than she now looks after her surgery.
If you are a fan of the original series from the 1960s
Whether jumping out of planes, sneaking through sewer drains or almost getting hit by trains, there is plenty of action to go along with all the comedy. It is all done in a funny way, but really enjoyed the blending of the two.
Overall, Get Smart is worth taking in a matinee. You won’t be disappointed, at least the rest of the audience I saw it with all seemed to be enjoying themselves. There was even a smattering of applause when the credits started to roll.
What New Movies Start Friday, June 20th?
On Friday we get three new movies arriving in a theater near you. Two are opening everywhere and one is in limited release.
Opening Nationwide on Friday, June 20th:
Movie: Get Smart (PG-13) (Read Review)
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin & Terence Stamp
Genre: Action Comedy
Synopsis: The identities of Control agents have been compromised, so they need someone who wasn’t on the list. The Chief decides to promote his always eager-analyst that has always wanted to work in the field with superstar Agent 23. But, instead he has to work with the only other agent that hasn’t been compromised, Agent 99. As they get closer to figuring out what has happened, it is up to Maxwell Smart to save the day and stop KAOS.
First Thoughts: This just looks really good and Steve Carell looks like the perfect choice to play Maxwell Smart. This is the movie I will be seeing on Friday.
Movie: The Love Guru (PG-13)
Starring: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, Romany Malco, Verne Troyer & Ben Kingsley
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: A man born in America and raised in India has returned to find his fortune as a self-help guru. He gets hired to put a brokenhearted hockey players marriage together again, so that he will be able to help his team in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.
First Thoughts: I like Mike Myers, but this looks incredibly stupid. I came across this story and video over at FirstShowing.net earlier today, which clearly and cleverly points out why it looks that way.
Movie in Limited Release:
- Brick Lane - Drama about a Bangladeshi teenager forced into an arranged marriage to an older man in London.
For New Movie Friday there are two new movies to choose from this week. They are Get Smart and The Love Guru. What new movie looks good to you this week?
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