Action-packed. A thrill a minute. Blah, blah, blah. The commercials will spit out those paid-for advertisements from the typical sources like New York Times or Roger Ebert. But this time there will be no exaggerations. Wanted is a true action movie to the fullest extent. How can I even describe it? Well, it's got a little of a bunch of movies. The Matrix. 300. Equilibrium. Mission Impossible. The list could continue. The first two are the keys, though. Wanted combines the absurd, yet awe-inspiring action of The Matrix with 300's slow-motion intensity. Equilibrium seems to be a major influence in the final act of this movie as well. There is so much originality to Wanted in a time where unique and new ideas are few and far between. I loved the movie for many reasons and hated it for none.

Shades of The Matrix flew through my brain when we begin with our main character in his office cubicle, typing away his meaningless life one keystroke at a time. But it takes a quick turn to becoming its own movie. With the abundant "adult language" it was a more up-to-date movie. I always feel like I can connect to dialogue when they curse a little. It's more realistic. Wanted made me hate office bosses in a way I haven't since The Office a few years ago. But just as quickly as it must have felt for Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), we are thrust into a flurry of action.

                                          

As absurd and off-the-wall as the action scenes get, it is what makes the movie so good. If Wanted just had a bunch of gunfire and some hard hits it wouldn't have struck the audience the way it did. Nobody watching this movie can actually admit they didn't hold their breath in amazement a few times. That sort of "how'd they do that" sensation. But please, kick reality at the door for a bit and enjoy a kick-ass movie. Every single time someone blocked a bullet by firing another bullet at it I about flipped out of my seat. That was easily my favorite visual from Wanted.

                                             

But I knew all this going in. I knew it was going to look good. So does it have a worthy plot? No question about it. A key and well-timed plot twist keeps it moving and fresh. The film is always about revenge, but our reasoning is flipped around a few times to keep you on your toes. I definitely didn't feel as connected to the main character as I did in Wall-E, but they did a good enough job to keep me interested. Wanted is all shock and awe and no shock and aww. James McAvoy brings a great performance, albeit weak American accent, to the screen. And who can say enough about Angelina Jolie? She always sizzles the screen. When she shows up, you can guarantee some teenager is sweating a little bit. Okay, fine. You can guarantee I'm sweating a little bit. She looks as good as ever here and the character was made for her. I really do believe whoever wrote Fox (Jolie) in the script designed it specifically for her. And of course, what booty dancing is to Cameron Diaz, or dancing to Christopher Walken, being naked is to Angelina Jolie. They have to do it. It's their trademark. She gets all sorts of naked in one scene. Not quite the digital (fake) frontal nudity of Beowulf, but the real life, no faking it, beauty of a backside of one of the most beautiful women on Earth. Morgan Freeman surprised me by taking this role. Although everything he does is gold, I can't remember ever hearing him curse on screen. And we get the pleasure of two awkward Freeman moments. It fits the character, but not quite him. Either way, the one thing I will remember always about Wanted is the film's final line. I can't think of a better closing line in any movie I've seen. Really! It's just one of those that sticks with you for a while.

Go see Wanted and bring your open mind with you. If you go in remembering it's just a movie meant to entertain and not a documentary meant to inform and bore, you'll be all kinds of excited when the credits roll. Wanted is a great flick and everybody in it brings a good, if not great, performance with them.

  our of 5 trophies.