Wanted

Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, and Thomas Kretschmann

MPAA Rating: R (for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and brief kitchen sexual encounter)

Release Date: 06/27/2008

Runtime: 110 minutes

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Synopsis:

Based upon Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series and helmed by stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov -- creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history, the Night Watch series -- Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody's transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. In 2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a new generation: Wesley Gibson.

25-year-old Wes (James McAvoy) was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut. Until he met a woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie).

After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly sexy Fox recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad's death by unlocking his dormant powers. As she teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers this team lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself.

With wickedly brilliant tutors -- including the Fraternity's enigmatic leader, Sloan (Morgan Freeman) -- Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

One of the more entertaining movies of the summer, Wanted keeps you on the edge of your seat with a production that can only be described as an aggregate of the films Matrix and Fightclub.

Wesley, the main character of the film, makes a rough transition from ordinary life into a world of secrecy, covert operations,and personal destiny. Armed with the knowledge that his father, a man of great ability and noble ends, was murdered in cold blood by an act of betrayal, young Wes is emboldened to discover the truth and restore the balance of justice. Wesley's eyes are opened to an entirely different world long hidden in the shadows of routine life. The "fraternity of assassins," a secret society of ancient weavers originally established to maintain the delicate order of justice, welcomes him in only to show him the sacrifices he must make to become one of them.

After seeing first hand how the "fraternity" works, some things didn't seem to fit for Wes. Where do they get their orders, who interprets them, and are these interpretations infallible? Shortly after Wesley asks himself these questions, he discovers that his life is not the product of fate - that it's his for the making.

The film provides some interesting parallels with Christianity. In the beginning, Wesley's character is portrayed as physically weak, cowardly, and emotionally fragile - sort of like a pre-conversion state. As the story develops, however, he gradually finds the courage, resolve, and superhuman abilities he never thought were available to him - sort of like a rebirth. Drawn from his innate abilities, he finds a sense of purpose and he begins to see the ancient traditions of this brotherhood in a different light.

The entertainment value of the movie was excellent. The acting fit the script well and the cinematography was cutting edge -- although at times it felt like a run-off of the Matrix with the brutality of Fightclub. Violence was pronounced; it was probably among the more gruesome of movies to hit the theater in recent years. For instance, when it came time to train Wesley with a gun, real human corpses were used for target practice, which even startled Wesley as they hung from meat hooks. And there were also a few graphic headshot assassinations filmed in slow-motion sequences (some of which were also in reverse sequence).

The foul language in the film was only matched by the level of violence, both of which were too numerous to count. The Lord's name was used in vain several times in the film, sometimes accompanied by F-bomb expletives. Although the sex scene in the beginning was relatively small and unrevealing, it was filmed with animalistic imagery on a kitchen table conveying a reckless release of hormonal urges.

There was no political commentary worth noting, nor was there a noticeable agenda to push. The basic message of the movie was one of finding purpose and reaching one's fullest potential. The film was rather secular and is probably not suitable for Christian audiences, especially young children.

The film is certainly entertaining, but falls short in areas of language and violence.

Overall CMC Rating: 43/100

• Entertainment Value: 20/25
• Violence: 0/15
• Language: 0/20
• Sexual Content: 10/20
• Drugs and Alcohol: 8/10
• Worldview/Message: 5/10
• Jesus Alert