Just tune in, turn off and watch the action.

Rating: 7/10 (31 July 2008)

I desperately want to love this film despite the fact it has plot holes all over the place, the film is based on a comic book style hero's of good and evil but who are the bad guys? The nearest possible reference with regards to the style and content is The Matrix with all the bullet time action and superhuman feats, although the film is stylish it suffers from a vague familiarity that just nags in the back of your mind. It's never really explained how these guys got their power which for me is an important aspect. The film is basically done in four acts 1). Dweeb with uninteresting life explored 2) Dweeb taken to secret society to learn of his untapped powers 3) Dweeb becomes superhuman assassin 4) Hero seeks revenge.
Not a bad tale by any stretch of the Imagination, James McAvoy carries of both sides of his personality well even if he is somewhat annoying in the first car chase sequence with all the screaming he does. Angelina Jolie looks stunning; however she is underutilised in this role, which is a shame as she is capable of more. Morgan Freeman is treading water here with yet another old sage role that seems to epitomise his career. Terrence Stamp's role was all but a cameo. Common was wooden and Marc Warren may have grunted occasionally. The supporting casts were really not given very much to do but be background fodder, this was a mistake given some of the work they have done previously.
Some of the scenes are probably stretched too far and become a little tiresome, for instance the training segments really didn't need to be so in-depth we got the picture and could have moved on.
That said, on the whole the film is entertaining with twists and turns towards the end you may or may not see coming. Jolie's actions in the showdown sequence with the other assassins seemed unnecessary, without some serious inventive writing I seriously doubt there will be a sequel for many of the characters.
Well worth the price of a ticket at the cinema. Just tune in, turn off and watch the action.