Why, why, why.

Rating: 5/10 (30 June 2008)

I'll start this with saying that I can't usually be bothered to write a movie review. No matter how good, or bad a movie is? There's far better people than me when putting down their thoughts that so often match my thoughts. However, I'll make an exception with Wanted.
--This post will contain spoilers, not sure how to hide them--
Walking into the theater, I was more or less certain of what to expect. A bunch of superhuman beings kicking each other's asses. Even though I enjoy cultural and classic movies, I'm not the type that'll go with 'unrealistic, duhh.Am not watching this, this is kiddy stuff'. On the contrary, I dig superhero films. I like unrealistic movies. So, I'll start with my likes for this movie.
Likes:
-Great special FX. They didn't waste any resources. They tried to make it as impressive and they succeeded. It was far better matrix quality in some scenes.
-The main hero was very nice in his role. He fit the role like a glove, he was convincing. One could 'bond' with him and feel for him at certain stages.
-Action, Action, Action. The movie's like a fast rolercoaster that doesn't stop for a moment. From moment one, to the end. Chases, shoot outs, more chases, training. It doesn't give the audience a breather, and the audience is happy for it.
-Overall, enjoyable in its strong points.
Here comes the sad list of dislikes though....
Dislikes:
-Jolie. I like her. I think she's sexy. I think she was seriously mis-casted. She was trying too hard to put the bad girl look on, which just...Didn't click for me in this movie. Sorry.
-Plot Holes : This is my favorite part of it all, really. As I said, I don't mind non-realistic bits, or flying cars, or curved bullets. But, let's break down the movie to a reasonable level.
1.'A thousand years ago, a band of assassins was created. to read names, and kill people'
Fair enough. In the situation though that only one person reads names. His name could come up, and well...oh wait. It actually happened.
Tip: When you got a machine, passing around death sentences, best to have more than a single person at the 'reading committee'
2.'You are his son. You're the only one he wouldn't harm'
So the master assassin has a son. That he knows about. That all his assassin friends know about. That he's ready to die for. Why not just capture his son, and tell the guy 'Come in, or we kill him'. Seems to me he was ready to die for his son. Oh wait. He did.
And if he knew his son was his Achilles' heel. Why did he wait to the end to tell him. Why didn't he just........give him a call?
3.'Kill him'
Never ceases to surprise. When the death order is passed on the star. Everyone's shooting at him, trying to kill him,with him surviving it. And of course, when he reaches what I'd like to call the 'dialogue area', in our case a circular room? No one tries to shoot him anymore for some reason. Did anyone hear a 'cease fire'? Beats me.
4.He lied to you. My father is innocent' 'Is this true?' 'etc. etc.'
The big climactic fight. So, let's take maths and statistics into account for this one.
One room. One star. One end-boss. 12 bad guys.
The boss clearly states to all 12, that he's lied. Once more, beats me why. He could've answered as 'No, I am not lying. shoot him'. End of story. Our hero had no proof, no evidence, whatsoever.
Instead, he admits lying. And then tells all the rest that their 'own names had come up'.
The sad part, is that all 12 believe him.
The nice part, is that Jolie's character serves as proof of the golden world rule.
'In a group of morons, their leader outbest the rest'
5.'The End Scene'
So, we go to the end scene. And Sloan decides (once more, escapes me why as he could do so earlier and in a much more convenient manner), to kill our hero.
For being the guy who taught everyone everything they know. I find it kind of sad that he actually had to step two steps behind the poor guy, to try and kill him.
Serves him right. Gets assassinated by a bullet from 10 miles or so away.
Conclusion : You don't have to give an action movie a plot, to make it a nice action movie. If you bother with one, do put some effort in it please. It's hard to make all characters seem like geniuses, of course. But don't make them look so damned retarded. :)