Wanted

Though Wanted is definitely VERY spectacular, with interesting acting performances, it is unfortunately also the work of a director who mistakes a film for a commercial and doesn’t know how to tell a story in a way that would truly engage the audience. Sorry. (07/02/2008)

An entertaining and stylishly shot nightmare for any expert in ballistics. (07/28/2008)

If it wasn’t so stupid, I’d give it five stars. Wanted is a very brisk modern action flick that looks incredibly cool at times, but that also has laughable moments the absence of which I would most certainly welcome. But I still had fun. (10/22/2008)

Bekmambetov picks up in Hollywood where he left off in Russia. He just lovingly wrapped the "nothing" plot in a screaming visual package, using A-list actors instead of ribbons. Morgan mentors on a flywheel (not meant in a bad way), Angelina pouts her lips seductively again after a long time, and James boldly shows his ticket to the acting elite club of his generation. I didn't catch on to the anarchy that much (I’m interested in the comics) and the comparison of forces with The Matrix also seems quite wrong to me. Still, I’m definitely giving it a thumbs up, particularly in that Len Wiseman should get one of the DVDs so he can see how to film "over the top" action without necessarily looking stupid. 4 ½. (08/09/2008)

A very pleasant surprise. Great actors, good action, not nearly as bad a script as I expected and above all a generous portion of directorial ideas. Too bad about the lower budget and thus unimaginative production design and maybe too frantically filmed fights. Anyway, an enjoyably anarchic extravaganza that pulls no punches. (06/23/2008)

Or: How the Russians (I know, he’s from Kazakhstan, but still) pays Czechoslovakia a “friendly" visit, like they did in 1968, this time for American money. I’ve liked Bekmambetov ever since Night Watch, but back then he didn’t manage to keep total control. Then, in Day Watch, he let go of the reins far too much. At the beginning of Wanted, my hopeful smile was wiped from my face by the opening action scene. It’s a long time since I saw such dumbness and pure awkwardness on the silver screen. It’s just far too much. I awaited in horror what was to come. But then it managed to push itself off the bottom of the anti-talent pool to incredible quality. Even the Palahniukesque toiling of the main “pimp" indicated that Timur and his gang might manage after all. And then it really gets going, one idea after another. This is an inaccessible action movie in all ways, despite having a functional story, good actors and even that stagnating Danny Elfman is on his way to the top again. And last but not least, you have to get used to an approach where loads of teenagers are fondling their darlings in the street. I mean pistols, not girls. This is a stylish celebration of weapons. But you know what? The arms industry couldn’t hope for a better commercial. (06/26/2008)

Let your heart rate increase to 400, let yourself be kissed by Angelina, and above all, let everything go. Because it's just futile writhing from nowhere to nowhere. You won't find a more peculiar way to find spiritual revival anytime soon. Twist the path to the bullets, fulfill the mission, or just enjoy it splendidly. Because James McAvoy as the God of Chaos is watching over you and makes you forget that the plot about a woven message is actually just a big nonsense. So now you can tell me, why are you here...? (08/14/2008)

I'm pretty bummed about this movie... since I hate bullying and abuse, at first I wanted to turn the movie off. I like Angelina, but at that moment I hated her! The whole movie actually struck me as made up and a stupid take on a young boy. I don't think that's the impression it was supposed to leave on me. Luckily the ending evened everything out and I surprisingly liked the film as a whole... MAYBE it was even clever?! (02/09/2011)

Wanted is like a giant shiny bubble that captures attention and acts as an amusement park attraction, but its lifespan is terribly short and it doesn't leave anything valuable behind. The impressive action scenes can't overshadow the fact that the film is intellectually shallow and doesn't create any functional fantasy world that would engulf the viewer. As a result, the stupidities like bending bullets or superkillers jumping from one skyscraper to another stand out even more. Not that the current cinema doesn't abound in such things, but here everything is subordinate to visuals and action, so in the end, it misses the mark for me. Overall impression: 15%. It's exactly the kind of action movie that completely bypasses me and actually bothers me in practice because a huge amount of energy and financial resources could be used more meaningfully in the film industry... (03/25/2011)

If I were a target, Wanted would hit my bullseye. It's got everything I love: Fight Club-style funny lines, action scenes that recall Matrix, and a twist that is delivered when you least expect it. James McAvoy, who I quite liked because of his performance in Atonement, fits the role of Wesley like a glove. He’s convincing as a cowardly loser who takes anti-anxiety pills for breakfast (and, in fact, for snacks, lunch, and dinner) and as a sharpshooter who knows exactly what he wants. Angelina driving a Lada is irresistible (I think Fox is the most important role of her career) and Morgan Freeman is a tough guy once again. I would highlight the perfect action sequence on the Pendolino train, which arouses both amusement and amazement (were they crossing the Macocha Gorge? :-), the fact that they finally mentioned my native Moravia in a foreign action movie, and the impeccable soundtrack by Danny Elfman who also sings the title song. (08/01/2008)

I was expecting a bigger action bomb, everything was is too free and cool for it to captivate me. This is not another Matrix, this loaded and spectacular ride is basically a banal simple story about an outsider who gets beaten up, goes through a tough training, where the ending can be easily guessed. The action scenes are not as excellent as I expected and the slow-motion effects are not as effective as I expected. However, the whole thing looks daring, unconventional, and above all, it doesn't take itself too seriously, so I'm able to accept the bending bullets, the camera gun, the digital high-speed train, and the flying Viper. I have already said that Bekmambetov has a sense and talent for action, but he should finally give it his all and forget about slow-motion and other technical nonsense that only disrupts an otherwise solid pace. (11/08/2008)

The actors are of course great and also quite sexy, but Wanted is a one-sided exhibition of its director. Bekmambetov may be a visual gourmet and a big fan of straightforward cinematic action, which makes the film flow incredibly well with scenes that outdo each other thanks to the effectiveness of the effects and the rhythmic editing, but he somehow forgot that a pure action flick should also tell a story. Wanted tries to have a stylish plot, and there is even one big twist (which comes to the surface during the most frantic action sequence), but it all feels too shallow and superficial.... No one can deny its potential to help you switch off your brain, but unfortunately, in the busy Hollywood competition, I demand a little more than that. 70% (03/01/2012)

Subjectively, it's not a five-star film. Wanted would have had to do more fucking and shooting heads instead of explaining why they were doing it in the first place, it's just that in terms of a multiplex blockbuster, Bekmambetov's work is a real evolution for several reasons. 1) It clearly demonstrates how an action movie can combine a good dose of blood and violence. 2) It has the balls to tell off people who have spent considerable resources to see it, see the keyboard scene or the hero's last line ("And what the fuck have you done lately? " – they watched Wanted). 3) While in other movies the hero emerges from his personal shit (school loser – Kick-Ass, Spider-Man; personal trauma – Batman), Wesley's naked self emerges in Wanted from the shit that all of society is in. So while Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker, and the like are different before they turn into supermen, Wesley Gibson is just like all of us and rises from that state. In fact, he's kind of the subconscious hero in all of us. 4) Morgan Freeman says "Shoot that motherfucker!" 5) The basic existential question is said in front of an ATM machine at the end – which is very much true to life. -) 6) I started to like Angelina Jolie. 7) Civilization's mental "illnesses" (bouts of stress, awareness, apathy) are presented here as the germs of superpowers, and thus Wanted gives hope that my inability to concentrate, distractibility, and forgetfulness will also one day allow me to punch through metal railings, dodge bullets or massacre 400-pound fighters... (06/28/2008)

Timur Bekmambetov just works for me. His approach to action movies is grandiose, there are beautifully over-the-top action scenes that are so exaggerated, it's divine. It resonates with me, and when the whole movie is executed like that, I have no objections. Moreover, "Wanted" is a wonderfully gritty film, and even though it only shares about ten minutes with the source material, as an action movie, it works excellently. (05/25/2014)