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Capone calls WANTED an "aggressive, defiant whirlwind of a film"!!

Damn You MCMLXXVI by TheyCallMeMisterBay	Jun 28th, 2008 07:11:00 PM
Damn You MCMLXXVI
Wanted: kick ass action by Ace Hunter	Jun 28th, 2008 07:12:44 PM
Thanks for the review, Capone. Every now and then it's good to have a fun action flick and I hope this is the one. There's some indefinable difference between a Shoot 'Em Up and a Crank. I'm hoping this one is more Crank.
Wanted by anyrandomhero	Jun 28th, 2008 07:19:52 PM
As a fan of the comic i'll watch this and probably bitch about it later like everyone else on here...i can understand the rights and whatnot to the DC supervillains so that they cant be used in this film however a fucking loom of death?? sounds ridiculous! why couldnt they just have used a supervillain theme without the obvious parody..
Liked it too... by Judge Briggs	Jun 28th, 2008 07:24:58 PM
Love the cameo with Anton (Russian actor) from the Night and Daywatch movies... great under watched movies... anyway, great flick... perhaps a sequel?!
Capone calls WANTED an "aggressive, defiant whirlwind of a film" by Prossor	Jun 28th, 2008 07:31:47 PM
Rest of the world calls WANTED a "pussy-ish, mouth-breathing, lingering fart of a film"!!
it's bad by Tenenbaum	Jun 28th, 2008 07:39:56 PM
"Fight Club" and "The Matrix" fell in love, got married, and made a stupid, ugly child named "Wanted". Angelina occasionally utters some vacuous dialogue when she's not too busy being eye candy and Morgan Freeman is stuck giving long expositions about something called the Loom of Fate. Worst of all though is McAvoy who gives one of the most insufferably obnoxious performances of the year.
Pretty cool flick by I Dunno	Jun 28th, 2008 07:40:38 PM
Sort of a 1999 flick with the sad sack office drone voiceovers and the Matrix style action.
Well, I'll be... by Speed Fricassee	Jun 28th, 2008 07:45:03 PM
How come every single post I've EVER made on this site has been suddenly purged? I know which post it likely was, too (less than a week ago), and it was literally two sentences long. It contained absolutely NO insults and NO cussing. Oh, well, better than being banned, I guess, this is the longest ID I've ever had on this site (been years, now). Ah, nothing like starting with a clean slate, these pre-assigned passwords are hard to memorize! It's interesting what this site will and won't allow. Oh, and I catch Wanted tomorrow, can't wait!
Ahoy, snobs by Kurgan	Jun 28th, 2008 07:45:27 PM
If you cannot enjoy this innovative piece of filmmaking, don't even bother to leave your mother's basement. Yeah, I went there. Seriously, what the hell is wrong in having some goddamn fun every once in a while? Huh?
After seeing the film, I went out and grabbed the book... by Zeke25:17	Jun 28th, 2008 07:48:52 PM
You may have heard that this is based loosely on a short comic series by Mark Millar; many have questioned why Timur B. and his writers didn't opt to film the story exactly as originally created. After reading through most of it, I've determined that doing so would have been pretty much impossible--my guess is that most (if not all) studios wouldn't have touched it. Even though superhero films tend to do very well at the box office, the mass moviegoing public may not be ready for a film in which superVILLAINS are the victors--the overall effect, nihlistic in the extreme, would most likely come off onscreen as crushingly depressing. (Not to mention that the budget would no doubt have been at least three times more.) The comic itself does have some very funny stuff in it, along with some great lines ("If I was chocolate, I swear I'd eat myself right now" is a personal favorite). But as is almost always the case with more "mature" comics, there's a ton of profanity, explicit death shots, and an overall tone of nastiness--not to mention villains with names like "Fuckwit" and "Shit-Head". Yes, it's satirical...in very much the same way Fight Club was...but I would describe it as Fight Club on really fucked up drugs. In fact, the whole WANTED story is really a giant upraised middle finger to the entire superhero genre--and, to some degree, its fan base--in both comics and movies. Noooo, no big studio would allow that. Hell, Fight Club made a lot a reviewers nervous...and what ugliness did make it through to the Wanted screenplay has upset many folks already. I think TB and his crew actually did an admirable job in keeping the basic idea and tone of the original story intact, even while jettisoning about 75% of Millar's plot. There's still enough of the source therein to recognize it as a slightly more realistic (and perhaps more likeable) take on the story. And, for the most part, it works. The whole "Loom of Fate" concept, silly as it comes off, never appeared in the comic; if anyone could sell it to an audience, it's Morgan Freeman (which is probably one reason he was cast). Other minor changes include the main character's evil boss (a fat black chick in the comic, fat white chick in the movie); the character of Fox (a dead ringer for Halle Berry in the book, Angelina Jolie in the, ahem, flesh); and the main character Wesley Gibson himself--in the book he looks very much like Eminem, while in the film he's portrayed by James McAvoy, doing quite well in a role that Ewan MacGregor probably would have owned ten years ago. And while I certainly won't give anything away, I'll tell you that the ending of the film is very similar in tone to that of the comic: but nowhere near as harsh. Overall: highly recommended, if for no other reason than to hear Morgan Freeman say "Shoot this motherfucker" and "Ohhh, FUCK." Sam Jackson would be proud. Oh, and Angelina has a lovely ass...assuming, of course, she didn't use a double. If she didn't, then it appears all of her body weight is concentrated in her ass and upper thighs. And--the action scenes are very CRANK-ish...as opposed to similar to Shoot 'Em Up (both of which I admit to loving without reservation).
holy shit, 75% on RT! would have watched anyway.. by couP	Jun 28th, 2008 07:51:46 PM
but now i REALLY want to
How come skeletical equals hot these days..? by Aethyrr	Jun 28th, 2008 07:53:50 PM
It's.. scary
Angie's ass is NOT skeletal... by Zeke25:17	Jun 28th, 2008 07:57:31 PM
Too bad it's only onscreen for about two seconds.
I"LL BE..... by TiNSeLToWN TeRRoR	Jun 28th, 2008 08:14:47 PM
...The Judge of this so called "aggressive, defiant whirlwind of a film"!! The Nightwatch shit sucked! But then again what do you expect from the U.S.S.R.? Will see if Angelina Blomie's skinny ass can save this?! And Capone take off the "Chicago Shades" Then review it.
Dumbest movie I've ever seen. by Kid Idioteque	Jun 28th, 2008 09:02:59 PM
Kind of fun but absolutely retarded. That was probably the point though.
Dumbest movie I've ever seen. by Kid Idioteque	Jun 28th, 2008 09:03:00 PM
Kind of fun but absolutely retarded. That was probably the point though.
And now for more Angelina posterior news: by Zeke25:17	Jun 28th, 2008 09:15:33 PM
Imdb does not have a listing for a body double for her (Kate Clarke, who was Wonder Woman in the fan film "Grayson", did in fact double Jolie in Mr. and Mrs. Smith)...BUT...there is a listing for "Stand-in for Angelina Jolie" credited to one Maritza Cabrera. Given the fact that the ass shot in question is actually in the background of that particular scene, plus the evidence that Maritza looks a tad curvier...I'd say I've been dreaming of eating dessert off the wrong behind.
by Harry Weinstein	Jun 28th, 2008 09:24:40 PM
"master Russian director Timur Bekmambetov" - if by that you meant "commercially successful, Soviet-born, ethnically Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov", then spot on. Otherwise... well, that is the man's name, I'll give you that.
ya...my life sux...so why would i choose to by bacci40	Jun 28th, 2008 09:56:46 PM
go into the exciting world of international assasin...what a crock...of course the kid would jump...and this is why the film sux, and why everyone should go see wall-e....and fuck millar...fuck that lucky ahole
Lower Wacker by hyperboycomics	Jun 28th, 2008 10:00:25 PM
Uh huh huh... uh huh huh heh heh...mmm heh heh wacker.
for a second there I thought you were reviewing Speed Racer by dtpena	Jun 28th, 2008 10:03:50 PM
"If we lived in a world where adrenaline was pumped into the water instead of fluoride, you might begin to understand the plane of existence this film lives on" Now that IS Speed Racer, my man
So why even use the title of WANTED? by WoodyStiffer	Jun 28th, 2008 10:12:08 PM
This may have been the LEAST faithful comic book adaptation I've ever seen. Now, the comic book was way out there - but the film had almost NOTHING in common with the base material. I still dug the movie, but why even option the WANTED material if you're going to post something so completely different?
Agreed Zeke by WoodyStiffer	Jun 28th, 2008 10:15:48 PM
Not to mention the fact that the "HERO" of the comic basically kills and rapes whoever he wants. Not the sort of protagonist a studio is going to back.
Wanted was shot in PRAGUE by blakes7	Jun 28th, 2008 10:17:31 PM
Wanted was shot in Prague, not Chicago. "Although the film takes place in Chicago, Prague was chosen as the site of "Wanted" principal photography, for multiple reasons. Because of the amount of filming taking place in Chicago at the time production was slated, space was tight. To make up for that shortfall, an inordinate amount of construction would have been necessary to build interiors, and this simply did not make financial sense."
Last Thing by WoodyStiffer	Jun 28th, 2008 10:18:22 PM
The shots with the young kid were badly played. He was reckless enough that it doesn't appear that he would have been too tough to kill at all. I was MOST disappointed with that. Him running into a room and screaming someone's name doesn't scream "expert assassin" to me.
This movie is ridiculous by batzilla	Jun 28th, 2008 10:19:20 PM
Angelina Jolie is an ugly fucking bitch and her action flicks suck donkey balls. The whole "curving" the bullet thing is so 14 year old high school bullshit. Fuck this shit. Bring on THE DARK KNIGHT!
I started to fall asleep by Series7	Jun 28th, 2008 10:43:21 PM
During the big train scene. I went into the movie thinking that it was going to be action packed/violent. Turned out it was the opposite of the comic and some of it felt once step away from DTV. But then again I saw Wall-E the night before which was a darker movie overall and it was perfect, kind of making any movie I saw after it destined to suck.
Also by Series7	Jun 28th, 2008 10:44:18 PM
Was I the only one that thought this looked like it cost less then Night/Day Watch? I guess all the money went into Jolies and Freemans pockets.
Just got back from it by Charlie Murphy	Jun 28th, 2008 10:52:56 PM
I wasn't floored by the action or anything, but I had a fairly good time with it... it's retarded, but the good kind. Some people actually clapped at the end.
I think I liked it after I read bad reviews by #1 Zero	Jun 28th, 2008 10:53:42 PM
Every bad review of Wanted I've read says it doesn't make sense and you have to suspend your disbelief too much. Every good review I've read said it's just popcorn entertainment. I saw it and found there was more story to it than the bad reviews let on. Basically I thought the deeper theme was that no matter what you do life sucks. Wesley's used at his boring real life job and he's just as much a pawn in his dream life. There's a little hope at the end that he's in control now but even that is uncertain. I thought the visuals were great and I didn't think the middle was one long montage. A little thin, sure, but there was some set up and some internal conflict going on. Overall this was a two and a half to three star film. I can't think of an action movie in the last five years that had as good as some of the visuals in this and I also think the budget was low compared to the quality of visuals and action sequences. And everybody talks about the looms, and how difficult that is to buy. Well I guess you can get over the guy leaping across buildings in the beginning and a sniper shooting from thirty miles away. I guess some critics would prefer the "weavers" to be the knights templar or something. I don't know. The loom is acceptable but you can sense some reverse engineering/writing going on with the loom. I think the writers needed a cause and effect going on for the film to reach its conclusion. As in, how can we explain the double crosses and the code that explains certain character's behavior at the end.
Morgan Freeman-enough already by KurtLockwood	Jun 28th, 2008 11:01:40 PM
How many of these types of roles is he gonna play? The spiritual mammy to the white hero. If I hear one more fucking Morgan Freeman voice over, I think my brain is gonna melt. He is becoming as ubiquitous a cliche in this role as Mr.Voice of movie trailers' fame. Freeman's a great actor but fuck mix it up.
No Joke by Crow3711	Jun 28th, 2008 11:29:03 PM
I just saw this, and I would have given it a 7 for excellent action pieces and doing some things I've never seen done before, but it ends with a 6 for blatantly, not even ripping off, just blatantly BEING Fight Club. It was like they didn't even try to find an identity for the office scenes, the writers just decided they loved Fight Club, and they were going to tell that part of the story as if I was watching Ed Norton tell me how pathetic he is. I don't mind being inspired by a great film, or even borrowing some themes/ideas, but this was too much. It just seemed wrong to me. Inspiration is one thing, impersonation is another.
Heaping pile of shit by lost.rules.	Jun 28th, 2008 11:30:03 PM
This movie is what Shoot Em Up would have been if it had taken itself seriously. It was like a dumbed-down Smokin' Aces...and that's saying something. I'm really, really shocked that this is getting any form of positive press. I saw a screening a week ago and it was the first time I've heard a crowd boo a free film.
Awesome ride this movie! and the logic worked! by Dogmatic	Jun 28th, 2008 11:54:30 PM
which is something you dont get to see much in a movie where the high-art effects are the star. Everything made sense....EXCEPT the cars...enhanced adrenal glands let humans do crazy stuff fine but it doesnt change what cars can do. Coulda done without that...but otherwise everything made sense and the ending resolution was quite tidy...which was nice too. I just hope some stupid idiots dont start shooting themselves or each other trying to curve bullets in their back yards so that we can see what the director has in mind for a sequel. B/c it's off to an almost Matrix like start...maybe they wont totally screw this franchise if it gets to continue.
Don't see if you by Series7	Jun 29th, 2008 12:10:50 AM
Read the comic, really. I don't care about the lack of superhero/super villain stuff but to make the main characters good guys instead of bad guys ruined the whole reason why Wanted was such a popular comic. Its like making a Batman, and then giving him super powers.
The DEATH RACE trailer looked liked ass by NapoleonDynamite	Jun 29th, 2008 12:39:28 AM
The DEAT RACE trailer totally pissed me off. What happened to running down pedestrians for points? It's just convicys trying to win their freedom now? Who gives a flying fuck about THAT. They ditched the entire hook of the original movie and just turned into THE CONDEMNED with race cars. Not only did they ditch the premise, it looks like they've completely abandoned all of the satire and the transgressive black humor of the original and tried to turn it into a straight actioner. Talk about missing the fucking point. This is like the ROLLERBALL rape all over again. They've completely cuntified the whole movie. Why was W.S. Anderson ever allowed anywhere near this property? Somebidy like Tarantino or Rodriguez should have done it. Hell, I would have even accepted Eli Roth. At least he's not afraid to cross a few boundaries. As it is, another studio has turned another 70's counter culture classic into faggified, castrated, mainstream babyfood. What are they going to rape next? Are we going to see VANISHING POINT remade with Keanu Reeves as a returning war hero rushing home to see his wife have his baby? How about A CLOCKWORK ORANGE with Will Smith? Will it never stop? Boycott DEATH RACE. It's shit. You can tell from the trailer that it's shit. It's fucking SPEED RACER with machine gun turrets. By the way, WANTED was pretty good. Jolie is fucking goddess and she's really cool in this movie.
just popped in here to say... by samsquanch	Jun 29th, 2008 12:42:25 AM
this movie looks really, really, especially bad. "Curve the bullet"? Ugh.
i can tell I would hate this by Rupee88	Jun 29th, 2008 12:47:19 AM
when all the positive reviews are somewhat apologetic, you know you are in trouble.
Good work, gangster by OptimusCrime	Jun 29th, 2008 12:57:41 AM
Capone, this review succinctly expressed exactly how I feel about this movie. I went to it Friday afternoon during a matinee, and literally left the screening feeling giddy (now I know how Chris Matthews feels after watching Barrack). Is it a great movie? Hell no! Did it kick all kinds of ass and feature a shot of Angelina's wet naked ass? Hell yes. I must recommend this to anyone with five bucks and time to kill on any afternoon in the next few weeks.
Did Jeffrey Lyons ghost write this review? by thegreatwhatzit	Jun 29th, 2008 01:12:40 AM

the movie was NOT that good by pomophobe	Jun 29th, 2008 04:41:39 AM
this review makes it sound like the second coming of the Action genre, but it wasn't that good. It was ok. The action scenes were well thought out but nothing else got the same attention. The story and supporting characters were really weak. It's basically a redo of the mMatrix without the intersesting story.
I ても奇妙 Michael Bay!!!! by Motoko Kusanagi	Jun 29th, 2008 05:41:19 AM
He's focking awesome!
If this movie were a woman I would f+ck it by Cruel_Kingdom	Jun 29th, 2008 07:47:42 AM
That's how much I love this movie. :)
Waste of talent by Aeronaut	Jun 29th, 2008 09:17:56 AM
The great actors involved did that only for the money I am sure, but they still should be ashamed. Laugh out loud awful at points.
NapoleonDynamite by Biggie Kaiju	Jun 29th, 2008 10:23:51 AM
Fucking A right about "Death Race." Time to watch another quirky favorite get turned into vapid horseshit. And I saw "Wanted." Not bad enough to be the cinematic equivalent of McDonalds; more like Chinese food.
Hell yeah by kilik777	Jun 29th, 2008 10:39:06 AM
this movie rocked. Fuck all the naysayers. I havent had this much fun at the theater all year.
Saw it Friday and was rather bored. by ShallowGrave	Jun 29th, 2008 10:48:31 AM
The only set piece with any novelty that they don't give away in the trailers is the train scene. The lead character is sadly underwritten seeming to be a petulent child for most of it. The story makes no sense, and the fight club type satire fails because the movie tries to have its cake and eat it too. It's, disappointingly, not a good movie.
Gotta say I liked it. by Pompoulus	Jun 29th, 2008 11:33:18 AM
But nowhere near this much. Mostly it wanted to be better action movies, though aesthetically there was a lot to be interested in. One thing that really bugged me is these are people that tattoo their fucking bullets, and they all dress like hobos. Save up some of those millions and buy a suit, man.
I had much more fun -- by Pompoulus	Jun 29th, 2008 11:34:43 AM
At Iron Man, and actually No Country For Old Men, to name a couple off the top.
loom of fate by Octaveaeon	Jun 29th, 2008 12:39:58 PM
I keep hearing about this loom and, I'm wondering to myself, if it has anything to do with the "spindle of necessity" - which means pretty much the same thing - that Plato mentions in the 'Myth of Er' at the end of 'The Republic'. I have very little interest in this movie since it seems to me as too focused on its own aesthetic and not on its own story, besides a few interesting ideas that are left hanging, which I felt was what eventually dragged Nightwatch down (I didn't even bother with the other one). But, if like someone mentioned, the loom of fate doesn't appear in the comics, then I'm quite interested in knowing how the screenwriters came up with the idea, which in the 'Republic' is meant to represent a justification for the philosophical life (i.e. a life dedicated to knowledge and virtue), but also poetically represent the inevitable tension between philosophers and non-philosophers; i.e. one's choices in life will always depend on the confluence of 'fate' (the contingent circumstances of life) and one's basic nature, though it is only at the end that one can assess best whether one's life was worthy or not, and what one would have done differently, had the circumstances been different, and if one had the opportunity to choose one's next life. The point being made in the text (and which purposely invalidates what is said in the rest of the book about a society governed by philosophers) is that only a philosophical life is best capable of allowing one to choose the next life wisely, though the paradox is that one does not choose a philosophical life unless the circumstances are propitious (viz. stable social circumstances and leisure), but even then one's basic character may propel a person in different directions (pursuit of wealth and happiness instead of wisdom and virtue, or eudaimonia), and thus to not recognize that the philosophical life is the best decision. Anyways, doubt any of this has to do with the story, so I'll quit wasting my time reading too much into this...
What was the name? by blinkingfist	Jun 29th, 2008 12:46:54 PM
Of that guy with the long jaw who was pompous in Family Guy? Cause 80% of you motherfuckers sound like him. Seriously are you those guys who needs validation by pretending to be some movie snob? You guys loved the shit out of Transformers? Most of you said "take it for what it is". Well "Wanted" is that kind of movie too. I gotta say you guys are taking these Matrix and Fight Club comparisons seriously...maybe that's why you're disappointed? It was a fun movie...that's it. Popcorn movie...you know? I believed the action because well you are obviously told by Morgan Freeman about these abilities that some people have and so from there you are set in a different world. Yes it was ridiculous, but who cares. Would it be more validating if they were in a computer program??? "oh well now it's more believable"....you twats. God i hate to say this but "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" got it right. The internet fucked it up for movies...it also does good things...but mostly fucks it up cause of snobs like you. You fucking move snob followers...i seriously wanna put you all in a shower room and gas you.
Take your meds little fella. by Pompoulus	Jun 29th, 2008 12:52:51 PM
Some people like it, some people don't like it, nobody's gotta gas anybody. As for Jolie, overall I liked her in this movie. She's still hot, even if nowadays she's thin as a rail and can't pull off a fight sequence because she's just too scrawny. She knows how to throw a punch though, you can tell she's still a brutal bitch, I just wish she had a little bicep to sell it.
Blinkingfist by lost.rules.	Jun 29th, 2008 01:35:59 PM
Criticizing this movies all-around shitiness doesn't make anyone a snob. The whole theater I saw this screened in stood up and booed at the end. And that was in South Philly. Trust me, those weren't snobs. Defending this movie is like defending Meet the Spartans. I don't really give a shit if you like shit films or not, but trying to call someone out for criticizing it just makes you look like the dolt.
"aggressive, defiant whirlwind of DUMB." by christian66	Jun 29th, 2008 01:37:09 PM
This movie could only kick the ass of little boys with cop fantasies.
Whose bum is it? by fiester	Jun 29th, 2008 02:03:19 PM
That's the real question.
Wesley Gibson is the great grandfather of by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jun 29th, 2008 02:27:54 PM
John Preston. Nuff said.
Octaveaeon (SPOILER, I guess) by Pompoulus	Jun 29th, 2008 02:43:39 PM
The 'loom of fate' in Wanted is a fabric that is woven in such a way as to spell out a code in binary, which is the name of the person the assassins kill. It is a loom of contracting, a loom of murder. In short, you're shooting WAY over the mark, but bless you for thinking much too hard.
everyone stop bitching by fivezero	Jun 29th, 2008 03:04:16 PM
the movie was pretty okay. it accomplished what it meant to accomplish. it was a goofy, bloody, teeny bopper, gore-fest, action flick parading as a heavy-duty summer blockbuster and the producers are luaghing all the way to the bank. anyway, did anyone see when he was shooting the gun THRU the guys head? the gun was actually in the guys head, firing. totally rediculous.
It's still more believable than Indy 4 by br1947	Jun 29th, 2008 03:12:47 PM
Dumb? Yep. Entertaining? Yep. Would have better without the bianary 1000 year old loom garbage, but hey, it just served as a setup.
CAPONE'S RIGHT by Jackson Healy	Jun 29th, 2008 04:21:13 PM
Capone, I agree with you completely. As usual, you're spot on with your take on a film. What I don't get is how so many folks here, Moriarty included, just didn't get how fantastic the script, and by extension, this movie was. Granted, for Mori it's a "binary" response; either he likes it or he doesn't, I get that and respect it. I'm just surprised, being a writer himself, he didn't "get" Wanted. Sure, it's a serious fanboy nod to both the Matrix and Fight Club. But I think it surpasses them both. In The Matrix, never for one minute do I ever believe Trinity could or would take a pair of brass knuckles and beat me to death with them. I believe, on any given day, had I visited the set of Wanted, that Angelina Jolie, still drunk with her character, might actually have killed me. That's how adrenaline pumping and mean-spirited this movie rocks. As for the Fight Club references, that's entirely fair. This film trudges in the muddy footprints left behind by David Fincher and Chuck Paluhniak. It's simply the hyper-stylized story of an office drone who discovers his inner assassin. It's a sad fact of cinematic history that Fincher got there first. Okay, I accept that, but call it a homage. We'll say we did and just call it a night. But the script? The script is a fucking tight piece of Victoria's Secret ass. I'm consistently amused by how the fanboys on this site -- and you just know 95% of them have got their own scripts they're either writing, or have written, and very few, maybe a half percent of them, will ever get anyplace worth mentioning with them -- don't appreciate great writing when it fingers them up the ass. POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD. I'll be as vague as I can and reveal as little as necessary to make my point. The last two shots of the film are fucking brilliant. If you've seen the film, then you know exactly what I mean when I say the "last two shots." One shot fulfills Angelina's character arc completely and with utter finality. All the while it comes out of left field and feels like some gratuitously violent denouncement. Then, within a heartbeat, the epiphany crashes upon you like a rogue wave, and you realize that, given Angelina's character and her poignant backstory, there was no other way to end this. As screenwriting legend William Goldman put it best, a great story sets up an ending that seems inevitable and unavoidable, then pulls the rug out and gives you a reversal straight out of left field... except with the sudden epiphany it isn't out of left field at all, but was staring you squat in the face the whole time, you just didn't recognize it. This closing action, beat, or scene cements the perfect capstone to the story. In Goldman's infamous words, "Do you know how hard that is?" And that's what the first of the last two shots of WANTED accomplishes. But it gets better. The last shot. Now, this last shot is brilliant. In the last shot, we come full circle to James McAvoy's Wesley Gibson character finally coming home to his inevitable birthright that had been waiting for him the whole film. It's perfectly set up in the opening, a thematic starter gun, so to speak, of Wesley's quest to rise to the mantle his father established for him all those years ago. Writers Michael Brandt, Derek Haas and Chris Morgan load thematic circularity, a perfect character arc and the cleverest one last "fuck you" to an overbearing boss and a girlfriend stealing ex-best friend in cinematic history, in the last shot of this movie. It's breathtaking. If the writers happen to be reading these posts, the first question I'd like to ask them is, "did you guys dance a jig when you realized how the last shot of this film could work so perfectly on so many levels?"
Not THAT well written. by Pompoulus	Jun 29th, 2008 04:46:43 PM
I guess you can find the colorful piece of corn in any metaphorical turd, and Wanted was by no means a bad movie, but I wouldn't call it great writing. I would say it was cleverer by half than a lot of action movies, sure, but that's not what I'd call fingering me up the ass... metaphorically.
"What the Fuck have you done today?" by Fat and Curious	Jun 29th, 2008 05:35:16 PM
Fuck you asshole, I wasted 8 bucks seeing your shat movie. Pretentious and gay
YES - he shot a GUN through a guy's SKULL by Steve Trevor	Jun 29th, 2008 08:13:17 PM
Yeah he did - OK. So what? They also flip a car in a 360 to assassinate someone through a sunroof - oh and they curve bullets, oh and they shoot wings off of flies. It's crazy, it's nuts, it's A FANTASY. Timur has acknowledged this much about all of his films, they are reflections of life, not life itself - of course. I love people who think that this was bad because it was not "realistic" enough? What, "The Rock" was a documentary? "Die Hard" was a true account of an event? This one ups the ante for the genre and then for the movie itself at every turn. And I loved it. I thought seeing Timur's "urban fantasy" aesthetic in an American setting with American actors was also really cool. Hell, the guy does not direct movies, he directs Wedding Cakes. And he does so unapologetically. And I for one can't get enough of them.
Watch it, bud! by Marvinatmiddleage	Jun 29th, 2008 08:19:58 PM
You know who'll like this movie? People who can relax for 90 min. Don't bad this flick 'cause I, like millions of other people out there, am Wesley Gibson and I'm just waiting to go off! (ahh! big breath!) Seriously tho... just leave the brain on the seat next to you and relax. Not such a bad thing to do theses days.
Modern action movies by bender7	Jun 29th, 2008 08:21:30 PM
I don't hate movies like these, I'm just not interested in seeing them anymore. I heard another friend talking about this movie today, and said it was brilliant ... if you "suspended your disbelief for a bit and enjoy the ride". I'm sick of these movies that you are supposed to 'suspend disbelief' or 'leave reality at the door'. It's lazy filmmaking. CGI is cheaper than doing action for real nowdays so they slap in as much computer craziness at us and tell us to not take it seriously. I don't want to suspend disbelief, I want a movie to make me suspend my disbelief
Thank you Mr_Saxon, they're copying MCMLXXVI by ganymede3010	Jun 29th, 2008 08:43:14 PM
I told fuckmichaelbay what an un-original hack he was for copying MCMLXXVI. Glad someone agrees.
"Getting" this movie by lost.rules.	Jun 29th, 2008 08:46:20 PM
If you think others are criticizing this film because they "don't get it," then you must be completely oblivious to how poorly the idea behind the movie was executed. I get what they wanted to do, they just failed miserably by creating a movie geared for simpletons with such craptastic action sequences that they manage to bore the audience with flipping cars and 360 degree murder-suicide and Jolie's ass. This was, stylistically, compositionaly, and thematically (fucking loom lol) a total train wreck.
Here is what I don't get by nicegoogly	Jun 29th, 2008 09:33:00 PM
I enjoyed the movie for the escapist, derivative of the Matrix, that it was. What really took me out of the movie was the main character being upset he accidentally shot the rat guy and his father, but no mention of the 500 people killed on the train. Fox believed in the code, one assassination could save a thousand lives and does not see the BS until the suicide scene? No one gave a shit about everyone who died on the train. What the fuck?
I really liked this movie the first time I saw it... by Anton Chigurh	Jun 29th, 2008 10:21:14 PM
...when it was called THE MATRIX! But this version has some VERY cool moments, especially the KEYBOARD! LOL!
AND, am I the only one here that thinks that... by Anton Chigurh	Jun 29th, 2008 10:23:47 PM
...Angelina looks WAAAY too anorexic? She's F'ing hot, but she needs to add like 15........
You must admit: "What the fuck have YOU done lately" by Zeke25:17	Jun 29th, 2008 10:39:03 PM
...is just a whole lot friendlier than "This is my face while I'm fucking you in the ass." And yes, Anton: Angelina has to start eating a bit more, as a steady diet of Brad just doesn't seem to add the necessary weight.
This Movie Looks Fucking Retarded Beyond Words by The Ender Smites Foes	Jun 29th, 2008 10:56:55 PM
And probably even beyond the beyond of words. Are you fucking serious? Why would anyone pay to see this corny fucking bullshit?
Terrible film. by Mostholy	Jun 29th, 2008 11:12:56 PM
Really, really bad. I don't mind it being aggressively dumb, loud, and nonsensical. I DO mind it not being entertaining in the slightest. Pfff.
Is the feces monster in it? by Dingbatty	Jun 29th, 2008 11:33:54 PM

This movie was a piece of shit by Logan-X	Jun 30th, 2008 12:11:40 AM
Absolutely horrible. The only redeeming quality was Angelina Jolie's hotness and a few cool scenes. It was like watching a mash up of Fight Club and Shoot 'Em Up, but in a package that took itself waaay too seriously. At the end, a character says to the audience, "What have you done lately?" I replied, "Paid 9 bucks for this piece of shit." I would have been better off seeing WALL*E twice. Some movies make what they deserve (see: Love Guru), Wanted is not one of those movies as it made far too much money this weekend than it deserved.
If you hated this movie by shran	Jun 30th, 2008 03:12:25 AM
so much, why the hell did you go see it? You must be one stupid ass to waste your hard earned money on a movie you hate. Or you didn't actually see it and just love to jump on the old band wagon. But in either case, you are a complete loser. You should re-evaluate your priorities. And pigphart--It's God's work you do. I reach, brother.
Capone, great review; Jackson Healy, totally agree. by Executor	Jun 30th, 2008 05:19:20 AM
Too bad some of these other people didn't enjoy it, but it really was good, and a solid, well built script. Of course, these same people will go crazy for the far inferior Hellboy 2, because it was directed by Guillermo, or because there are cool creatures. But Hellboy 2 is a sloppy, lazy, non-plotted, no emotion movie I just don't understand geeks sometimes.
really? by CherryValance	Jun 30th, 2008 09:47:42 AM
but the trailer looks so bad to me. I guess I'll catch it on DVD.
Wanted by NudeandAroused	Jun 30th, 2008 01:30:21 PM
Is a silly movie with a lot of preposterous action and gun fights. Plus it has Angelina Jolie firing guns and smiling. Please, this is no OScar winner, and it is no Shakespeare. It is an average summer flick that is mediocre at best.
SPOILERS Wanted is a huge turd...SPOILERS by Sidius	Jul 3rd, 2008 03:42:06 PM
I really don't get the fans that are digging the hell out of this film. And anyone saying this is a smarter script than the first Matrix film is certifiably insane... It's was huge disappointment. Here's why: 1. The film doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it tongue in cheek silly or is it a serious action flick. One minute McAvoy is cracking wise about his shitty life and next minute Freeman's extremely serious about messages he's decoding from a loom. (BTW "Decoding the Loom" should be the new "Nuked the Fridge" - worst plot device I've ever seen.) 2. The action sequences are the same sequence over and over and over again. There are 4 sequences that take place on a train. There are 3 car chases. The training sequence is basically the same 4 tasks repeated with the same levels of success for 30 minutes of screen time. They're in a hurry to get him trained but still waste three iterations of training instead of just having Angelina go to work on him right away? Oh and the guys punching him in the face and knifing him 3 times over don't bring clarity but some Angelina appplied brass knuckles do? Assinine. 3. The CGI and blue screen work is laughably bad. I mean like 80's Ghostbusters bad. That entire train sequence was so poorly generated it completely took me out of what little film I was following. 4. He builds a fucking "rat army" that not only was set-up quite obviously 30 minutes earlier but also manages to blow up an entire building without killing a single henchman. Oh and he had to singlehandedly wire watches to the back of about 7000 rats to do so. 5. I had no problem with the explanations for most of the stupid shit (like the heartbeat-time, or the magical goo) but the two biggest hits in the film are performed by characters sitting in a chair 10+ miles away. To hell with all that close quarters training and gunplay we saw earlier...apparently that's training to get rid of henchmen. (I mean he doesn't even use any of his special training to kill his main target - the one they recruited him for!!! 5. McAvoy's accent was a girlish high pitched whine. Maybe it's his take on the American accent. It was absolutely retarded. I went into this movie knowing it required me to suspend disbelief. I had no idea it also required me to become a drooling retard that liked seeing a head shot played in reverse. The only positives - Angelina Jolie hamming it up and Morgan Freeman saying muthafucker.

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Capone calls WANTED an "aggressive, defiant whirlwind of a film"!!

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