WANTED: true adaptations (movie review of WANTED)

It's been a while since I've been out to a movie and could actually review it. I wanted to do it for Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, two films which really nailed the adaptation process, true to the original characters and story lines (Iron Man is the superior one, though Hulk was a lot of fun and Ed Norton was a great choice for Bruce Banner). However, to stay timely, and in the same genre, the movie adaptation of the comic series Wanted, comes out today and I have written a review of it. Frankly, it was difficult to distance the source material from the movie, as I really enjoyed reading the series (but it has been a few years since I read it). If you would like to read a brief summation of the book, check out the wiki post, or just buy the tradepaperback at your local comic shop. Full review, click on "Read More".


It's difficult to sit through Wanted, directed by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (Nightwatch,Daywatch, two of the most popular films from Russian in the last few years) and written by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas, and not see the influence of films such as The Matrix Trilogy, Fight Club, XXX, and other action movies and conspiracy films. But what the viewer needs to know it is that it is loosely adapted from the Top Cow comic book series by the same name, written by Mark Millar and illustrated by JG Jones. In brief, the comic book is neo-pop, playing with the graphic storytelling genre while infusing it with a cynical wicked sense of humor. One needs a long shower after reading about the exploits of anti-hero Wesley Gibson and his 'Fraternity': a group of superpowered villains who control the world from hidden fortresses. They can do so because after a great war in 1986, where the all villains joined forces to defeat the superheroes, who were then brainwashed along with the rest of the world, to forget their existence. This works great until one of the major members, Mr. Rictus (based on the Joker), assassinates the Killer, Wesley's long lost father. Wesley, who was designed to resemble Eminem (and at times written with the similar attitude) leads an ordinarily boring life where his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. After the assassination, he is approached by The Killer's former girlfriend, Fox (based on Catwoman and Halle Berry), to take on the mantle of the Killer and find the assassin. And all mayhem ensues as Mr. Rictus leads his gang to kill off the brainwashed superheroes and his former allies in crime to become the leader of the remaining groups. (Again, read the wikipost for a full synopsis.)

Basically, the movie starts out pretty much the same, with 'The Killer' being assassinated by a new character, Cross (played by the stoic Thomas Kretschmann) after a very Matrix-esque action sequence. The filmmakers then introduces the viewers to Wesley in a Fight Club-esque montage loosely inspired by panels from the book. Within moments, he is recruited by Fox (Angelina Jolie, looking nothing like the character), to join The Fraternity of Assassins, headed by Sloan (Morgan Freeman, playing his usual mentor character with some mischievousness), to assassinate Cross. All this is eventually explained and actually adds a better twist than the conclusion of the series.

Without any spoilers, it is in that third act twist that the movie surpasses Millar/Jones' series (as a reader, I was always puzzled and let down by the anti-climatic reveal of the final chapter). As a 'summer action blockbuster' movie, it is a fun ride, once one suspends their sense of disbelief and just goes along with it. McAvoy has proven in various roles to be a very capable actor and again proves so. He deals with the nuanced details of an ordinary schmuck who finds himself rich after inheriting his father's saving and capable of firing the wings off of flies and is instructed to assassinate people. The filmmakers add an extra level as Wesley takes on his first assignment and contemplates the reality of being asked to kill someone he has nothing against. This small factor is where the two Wesley's differ: Millar created a nihilistic character in the book, who, once he discovers his destiny, immediately embraces his darkside, killing people without remorse. He revels in his instant celebrity, living in a penthouse, banging Fox, driving fast cars. The movie strips away the superhero antics and costumes and brings it down to earth (well, except for the whole special-skills-of-the-assassins thing). Not to harp too much on this, but the way Millar played with the genre and specifically with the hedonistic ways of villains is what made it such an interesting and, albeit, disturbing read. Of course, a true adaptation of that would have busted the budget and not flown well with the always safe Hollywood suits.


So we get a watered down version, where Wesley must find his purpose in life now that he has these abilities, including a bonding with a father he didn't know through this group of assassins. After all, nothing bonds people like blowing things up. There are interesting little touches, but far too many deus ex machina devices throughout that throws the story off. There's even a sad little back story to Angelina Jolie's Fox so that the character does not seem like that much of a cold-hearted assassin. The trailers themselves water the story down with Mr. Freeman's narration that the Fraternity is out to assassinate people who deserve it. (Which reminds me of another plot device that was really unnecessary). Nonetheless, Mr. Freeman seems to have quite a bit of fun as Sloan (FYI, the name of Wesley's dad in the book; not a spoiler: he's not that here) and does make the movie worth watching.

Conclusion: with the foreknowledge that this adaptation was going to be a very loose one based on an interesting book, there wasn't much expectation that it would be a good movie. Wanted (the movie) does surprise by being a fun action packed flick with some interesting plot twists, great special effects and stunts, and solid acting from the principal actors; although it would have been interesting if the producers had taken a page from the book and cast Marshall Mathers as Wesley and Halle Berry as Fox (although, frankly, anyone over Angelina Jolie actually). See it for fun, read the book to be intrigued.