NeT-FlicKs

Rated: R
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Release Date: 2008-06-27
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, James McAvoy, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Common
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Produced by Marc E. Platt, Jim Lemley, Jason Netter, Iain Smith
Written by Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Chris Morgan
Visit the movie's Official Site!

Russian director Timur Bekmambetov made his first big splash on the worldwide scene with Night Watch, a film that did far better abroad than it did here in the States. He was touted as a visionary director as his Night Watch follow-up, Day Watch, hit theaters and vanished as quietly as it entered. With those films behind him, he may have found the key to attracting American interest with Wanted and its female star, Angelina Jolie.
Wanted is based on the Mark Millar and J.G. Jones comics in which a group of underground assassins known as The Fraternity take fate into their own hands using an ancient device to prophesize those they must kill. Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is the star of this story playing a man with no direction. He's an account manager until one day he finds himself inside the world of The Fraternity where he learns his father was once one of them and he must avenge his death.
Desperate for anything that will get him out of his life of being a nobody, Wesley accepts his "destiny" and is on his way to becoming a killing machine. What makes being part of The Fraternity your destiny is not necessarily a knack for punching and shooting, it takes a little more. Wesley learns how to curve bullets, knife fight and grab loom shuttles as this becomes something of a Matrix world without the shroud of technology.
The plot twists and turns and Bekmambetov shows his ability for outlandish CG driven chase scenes more than once, and while they may be outlandish and may even give you a laugh as one target is taken out with Andrea Bocelli playing in the background. The action is equally cheeky and kick-ass at the same time. This is a world where you can curve bullets for crying out loud and that is more than emphasized in the trailers, so if you see that as a problem you may as well just stay home right now because this is not the movie for you. However, if you are up for breaking the laws of physics this will be right down your alley.
However, there is more to Wanted than special effects and Jolie's nude bum (Did I forget to mention that earlier?). This is an origin story and one that had a few flaws here and there, but for the most part it is executed in a way that will satisfy the audience on its own merits while leaving room for what could potentially be a pretty cool franchise should the creators take the time in telling the story properly rather than rush one into production.
Wanted is a fantasy film that takes itself just serious enough to work, and if you are laughing it will be with what is seen on screen and not at the crazy shit you are watching. This film isn't afraid to take it to the edge. Just when you may write the film off for its use of exploding rats you will be pleasantly impressed with the aftermath. If you have seen the trailers and are still interested, the bits of cliché plot won't matter and you should walk out extremely satisfied.

Director: Peter Berg
Writer(s): Vy Vincent Ngo, Vince Gilligan
Cast: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan
Release Date: July 1, 2008
Official Site: Hancock-Movie.com
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Action,
ComedyRating: Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence and language

Like a date that goes horribly wrong midway in the evening, Hancock starts off really strong, but by the end makes you wish you had stayed at home. Will Smith is Hancock (how he got the name is cool, by the way), a reluctant, foul-mouthed drunk of a superhero. He can leap tall buildings, but he can't save the day without causing millions in damage. He should have an "A" on his chest, because most people from ages 8 to 80 end up calling him "A-hole". Criminals want him dead. Citizens want him arrested. Police want him far, far away. Enter Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), a good-natured PR guy (yes, they exist) who is setting out to change the world on his own, but he's not having much luck. Ok, he's not having ANY luck. Hancock saves Ray from getting squashed by a train, but recklessly demolishes the train in the process. Ray sees a chance to repay Hancock by helping him clean up his Exxon Valdez-esque image. Hancock is resistant at first, but Embrey won't take no (or "hell no") for an answer. At Ray's request, Hancock allows himself to be arrested to show the citizens what they're missing out on, as Ray hopes they'll come to appreciate him and vice versa. As Hancock begins on his path of redemption, we find out that he has a special bond with Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron). And that's where you want to sue the filmmakers, Will Smith, Sony and everyone named Hancock, just to make a point. Smith's performance is excellent in the first half of the movie as he deconstructs the superhero mythos. Although he learns that "with great power comes great responsibility," he seems to have forgotten that some of that responsibility is in giving the movie some cohesion. After all, Smith is one of the producers of "Hancock", so he has to take some of the blame. Bateman (Juno) keeps the movie entertaining even during the bad spots with his droll humor that reminds you of a high school guidance counselor that you can't help but to like. Charlize Theron is beyond gorgeous in the film. As Mary, she should've been the bridge to Hancock's redemption; however, her role flies in contrast to what the story should've been about, leaving you to wonder why she was there in the first place. Director Peter Berg (The Kingdom) and cinematographer Tobias Schliessler (Dreamgirls) have to be commended for their visual style whether it's intense Michael Mann type close-ups or the destructive way of Hancock's early take-offs and landings. It definitely appealed to the superhero geek as well as added realism. Berg's flying, drunken superhero will definitely bring back memories of "The Greatest American Hero." If only Berg had paid as much attention to detail regarding the storyline. Whether it was last minute casting, too many chefs in the kitchen or just one too many rewrites (the original script titled "Tonight, He Comes" was created in 1996), Hancock leaves you wondering what could've been. Will Smith may be a hero onscreen, but even his powers came up short in saving this film.