What a pleasant surprise

Rating: 9/10 (6 July 2008)

This is the movie in which I knew so little when I was seated in the cinema except for the fact that Angelina Jolie is in it and it is action packed.
Then came the first 10 minutes (no rolling credits) with James McAvoy as miserable as he can be. I started wondering if this was the right movie with Angelina Jolie! This is a very clever movie because the life of James McAvoy begged sympathy and provided an excellent balance with the actions. The action sequences was excellently choreographed and sent the hearts pulsing. The images as seen by the assassin, his leap across the building, the supermarket encounter, the car chasing scene were just the beginning of a series of breathtaking actions.
Angelina Jolie is so charming (even more than in her role as Mrs. Smith against Bradd Pitt), her eyes are all smiling when she trains James McAvoy and her tutoring sessions on the top of the train fully demonstrated her fluid actions.
I never peeped at the watch and there were twists and laughs from time to time. All the actors/actresses are excellent. The only minor disappointment is Morgan Freeman - he is excellent as always but he doesn't look a villain and he has played such paternal roles for so long. It would be nice to see a new face for a change.
James McAvoy did exactly that. He looked so suppressed in the beginning, then his special talent surfaced and the running and fighting all added up. He also knows how to act! Such a delight that in the second part he caught my attention even more than Angelina Jolie. But the truth is I cannot imagine anyone playing the role any one better than Angelina Jolie.
Will there be a sequel?