Rating of
3/4
I wanted to like this one more
kcvidkid - wrote on 07/02/08
Reading the "Wanted" graphic novel was a truly exciting and original experience for me. Before seeing the movie, I knew that certain elements would not be translated to the screen. I mean, who would want to see a movie where the protagonists are an elite society of super-villains who finally succeeded in killing the entire population of the world's super-heroes, then erased their memory from the general population? That's pretty dark stuff for summer movie fare, especially when we already have Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Batman selling tickets in record numbers.
Actually, the plot follows the graphic novel pretty closely. It's just that this dark history is never revealed. I guess I could use that information to provide hidden subtext. However, late in the movie is a silly, probably predictable twist that assigns the villainy elsewhere. I think it also lessens the impact of what has preceeded it.
It seems like all I've done this summer is find fault in movies that don't meet my expectations. Is there anything good about "Wanted"? Yes, I liked a lot of it. The direction and special effects are fast-paced and fresh. The music by Danny Elfman (of course) is great. The cast is appealing. The basic story remains interesting. Overall, it's exciting and fun to watch.
Still, even if I saw the movie before reading the "book", I think it would have fallen a bit flat. In fact, if I had read the "book" after the movie, I would probably have been even more disappointed in the road that was not taken.
Skin Rating = 2 (out of 4). James McAvoy. Wet. Towel. What more can I say?!?
