Wanted

There are some movies that you really just have to suspend all belief. If you can’t get past the idea that these people can shot other bullets out of the air, or “curve” the bullet around other objects, then you just aren’t going to like this movie. It is full of mindless action, which isn’t a bad thing.

There have been some complaints that they use Bullet Time too much in this movie. Being a movie based around the idea of doing fancy tricks with bullets, you kind of need to use Bullet Time to show this off. How else are you going to realize that Angelina Jolie just shot another bullet out of the air? It never feels played out or used in pointless scenes like often happens in other movies that insist on using Bullet Time to be hip and trendy. Each time it’s used it is showing something interesting or important, bullets colliding midair, a bullet arcing around a corner to hit someone, or a bullet releasing parts in stages like a rocket.

The story is simple. It has a few twists towards the end, but it is nothing spectacular. It is really just an excuse for all the over the top gun fights. The one good part of the story is the whole idea of taking a guy who’s bored with his life and job. Nothing is really going for him, then throwing him into this action packed underworld. Most movies like this are all about the lead coming to terms with this new life and getting used to it. But in this one he actually jumps whole-heartedly into it. He’s done with his old life, ready for a new more exciting one. All of which leads to the best “I quit” scene in a long time.

The whole thing isn’t anything magnificent, but it is an all around enjoyable film. I can’t help feel that the film makers were kind of hoping to make another cult classic. With a cast like this I could see it being one, but only time will tell.