Buy the premise and let this movie take you on a trip

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2009)

I'm revising my commentary (again) on this movie after seeing it more than a few times. It keeps getting better after each viewing. It's about a fraternity of assassins who've been around for 1000 years who kill based on the orders of "fate", a theoretically pure process divining who will be killed based on the best interest of humankind and "to maintain balance in the world". But a rogue member is killing fellow members and a son of one of the fraternity is recruited to kill the rogue. The possibilities and convolutions from that premise are plentiful and they are fully explored.
You do have to fight through the incredible violence (much like the Matrix, it's in-your-face stuff) and a few artistic liberties. But there are some real spiritual, intellectual and emotional ideas being presented here. Along with some great visuals. If you're able you will understand and hook into them and come to absolutely love this movie. Even more with each successive viewing. ... Jolie's understated performance is nice but it's the story, the ideas, attention to detail and intensity that provide the brilliance. It's a twisting, turning, thoughtful, eventful, intellectually honest, unique trip that will meet every expectation you have in a movie. The last 25 minutes and final confrontation are a cinematic masterpiece.
This is one of the best movies I've seen in the last 5 years and maybe one of the top 10 movies I've seen period. ... Warning. You might not get the genius of this movie from one viewing but you'll be drawn to watch it again. And again. Buy into this movie from the start and it won't let you down.