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The Russian “Night Watch” series is a proven success story. Based on Mark Miller’s graphic novel and directed under the watchful eye of Timur Bekmambetov this latest tale in the collection, “Wanted,” introduces us to young Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) a human so at odds with his own being and environment that we want to scream out in agony on his behalf. His doormat personality and exploitable self-loathing defines him, until he meets a beautiful, mysterious woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie) who literally rocks his world. She convinces Wesley that his estranged father’s murderer must be killed. Slyly she seduces him and then recruits him into a secret, ancient society of avengers known as The Fraternity.
Wesley’s training as administered by The Fraternity members takes up the bulk of the film, but that’s not to say the footage is wasted. Plenty of excitement and painful looking exercises in extreme fighting and weaponry prove to be integral to the story. As a recruit, he becomes both mentally and physically strong, extremely dangerous and capable of performing acts of extreme violence as he learns the ways of the Society under the watchful eye of its leader, Sloan (Morgan Freeman). It is when Wesley uncovers the ultimate secret behind The Fraternity that his true destiny is revealed to him.
Mary K. Morgan is a member of the St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. |
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