Review of Wanted (2008) by Spencer H — 22 Dec 2017

Wanted is the type of movie that's not meant to have logic applied to it. I'm talking logic among the lines of the Fast & Furious franchise. From what I heard, Wanted is not a direct adaptation of the comic book miniseries it was based on.

And I think that was what pissed off those people who DID read the comics. However, Mark Millar liked it since it still had the darker elements of the comic, so it must mean that it's not THAT bad, right? Yeah, probably.

James McAvoy's American accent is rather crap. I mean, couldn't they have him use his native Scottish accent? Millar is Scottish as well, so I'm sure he'd have approved. I did feel that the editing and scene transitions were a little off early on in the movie and the Loom of Fate is something that I understood why it infuriated some people over its implausibility.

But then again, it is categorized as a fantasy movie on IMDb. However, I had a good time watching it. From some awesome, stylish action sequences and effects reminiscent of the bullet-time action sequences in The Matrix.

McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman all seem invested in their roles. And yes, there is some sweet, sweet jolly Jolie fanservice. And a plot twist that happens later on is a decent twist that gives everyone "Usual Suspects" syndrome of "We've been played!".

And it knows not to take it itself too seriously, mainly when young Professor X SMACKS Star-Lord in the face with a keyboard and its ending, that suggested a sequel. Sadly, it got stuck in development hell, though there is a video game that's set after the events of the movie.

Gleefully over-the-top and immensely stylish, Wanted offers the pleasures of Morgan Freeman dropping an f-bomb preceded by "mother" and that keyboard scene I mentioned earlier.