Wanted

[Armless Penguin]

I saw this at a free preview screening last night. To be honest, I liked it more than I'd begun thinking I would. The slow-mo was far less annoying than I expected from the later trailers and the clips, and in some cases did really enhance the action and/or do something else interesting with it. The film doesn't follow the graphic novel's plot-line really at all, other than the basic premise and a few other, relatively unimportant, tid-bits. It's basically just a ridiculous visceral action film a la SHOOT 'EM UP, and if you go in there expecting something like that and are able to suspend your disbelief for a hair shy of two hours, you'll probably enjoy it. If not, then you should avoid the film at all costs.

[andy khouri]

WANTED: Timur Bekmambetov

CBR News speaks with "Wanted" director Timur Bekmambetov about the differences between the film and its source, action movies with messages, and the return of the “Hard-R” to the summer film season.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=16887

[Toku King]

Well, I have not read any of it. Was Millar using that character just as juvenile comedy or as a way to sarcastically comment on other characters?

I think it was just to show the grosser side of villainy that you don't normally see in everyday comics.

[Tobias March]

I think it was just to show the grosser side of villainy that you don't normally see in everyday comics.

Christ it's every other day now in the comix...cheers Mark.

[The Xenos]

. To Bekmambetov, the decision to tone down the book’s nastiness was “smart.” He continued, “I don’t think it’s good for millions of people to see a movie about a person just killing people for fun.” As for the Injustice Gang-style setting of the book, he said, “This idea is good for comic book, but doesn’t work for a movie.” ” The changes, however, illustrate the difference between the two mediums. “It has the same vibe, the same ideas but it’s different because you cannot repeat. Comic books [are] different. You study pictures, you have time to think, and a movie has to run.”

What the hell? How is something in a story appropriate for one medium and not another? You can't study a film after you've seen it? Bah. I had a good impression of this director. That line disappoints me greatly.

The anti-hero or villian winning the day in a story where the bad guy wins is appropriate for films just as it is for any media. I guess Hollywood and film just doesn't have the balls for it, but maybe comics do? If that's film, give me the books any day. I sure hope that's not how film works. I thought film was just as pliable.

The actor has to feel the tone of the comic book because this comic book has a very unique tone. Its irony, its smartness. It’s a little bit smarter than other comic books [films], except the great character in ‘Iron Man.

I dunno. I got a felling the book was more smartass than smartness.

Well, I might still go see it anyway. I usually bitch about a book not being true to its source. I yelled at the TV when I saw the BS happy ending of I Am Legend. Yet I really didn't care much for the book too much. Bah, I'm a hypocrite.

Plus, like Daywatch, this film looks visually stunning. I enjoyed the director's previous work. The cast is great too,

[NOD]

I can see how they wouldn't want to use a super-villain underworld as the setting. That wouldn't really mean anything to the millions of people who don't care about comics that they want to get to come and see their movie.

I think I'd be more concerned about them changing the story if Wanted was a better story. Frankly I'm ok with them altering a Fight Club rip off liberally sprayed with "edgy" super-hero mythos commentary.

I think his comments about comic characters becoming richer due to the influence of film to be both arrogant and ignorant, unless by richer he means "thinly veiled movie pitches".

What the hell? How is something in a story appropriate for one medium and not another? You can't study a film after you've seen it? Bah. I had a good impression of this director. That line disappoints me greatly.

The anti-hero or villian winning the day in a story where the bad guy wins is appropriate for films just as it is for any media. I guess Hollywood and film just doesn't have the balls for it, but maybe comics do? If that's film, give me the books any day. I sure hope that's not how film works. I thought film was just as pliable.



I dunno. I got a felling the book was more smartass than smartness.

Well, I might still go see it anyway. I usually bitch about a book not being true to its source. I yelled at the TV when I saw the BS happy ending of I Am Legend. Yet I really didn't care much for the book too much. Bah, I'm a hypocrite.

Plus, like Daywatch, this film looks visually stunning. I enjoyed the director's previous work. The cast is great too,

[mattx110]

What the hell? How is something in a story appropriate for one medium and not another? You can't study a film after you've seen it? Bah. I had a good impression of this director. That line disappoints me greatly.

The anti-hero or villian winning the day in a story where the bad guy wins is appropriate for films just as it is for any media. I guess Hollywood and film just doesn't have the balls for it, but maybe comics do? If that's film, give me the books any day. I sure hope that's not how film works. I thought film was just as pliable.



I dunno. I got a felling the book was more smartass than smartness.

Well, I might still go see it anyway. I usually bitch about a book not being true to its source. I yelled at the TV when I saw the BS happy ending of I Am Legend. Yet I really didn't care much for the book too much. Bah, I'm a hypocrite.

Plus, like Daywatch, this film looks visually stunning. I enjoyed the director's previous work. The cast is great too,

High budgeted hollywood movie with angelina jolie is different from other films and needs a moral declawing.

[MaxofSteel]

Well, I'm amazed.

Wanted's got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes so far.

[Jmacq1]

Out of only 11 reviews. Wait until Thursday and we'll get a little more accurate viewpoint on where it breaks down with the critics.

Still, 11 positive reviews in a row is pretty good. Then again, sometimes RT's criteria for what a "fresh" review is seems a bit sketchy. I've seen plenty of "meh" reviews noted as "fresh."

[MaxofSteel]

Out of only 11 reviews. Wait until Thursday and we'll get a little more accurate viewpoint on where it breaks down with the critics.

Yeah it's still fairly early.

[soylantgreen]

Out of only 11 reviews. Wait until Thursday and we'll get a little more accurate viewpoint on where it breaks down with the critics.

Still, 11 positive reviews in a row is pretty good. Then again, sometimes RT's criteria for what a "fresh" review is seems a bit sketchy. I've seen plenty of "meh" reviews noted as "fresh."

13 reviews now, and it's at 92% - the guy from the New Yorker didn't care for it (what a surprise - he gives negative reviews to nearly EVERYTHING). Still, 92% is amazingly high; the only summer movie to beat that so far is Iron Man, at 93%. Time will tell, but so far, I'm excited to see that the critics are actually giving it a much warmer reception than I'd anticipated.

Just a fun fact: "The Matrix" and "Fight Club", the two movies that "Wanted" seems to be compared to the most, scored 86% and 81% on the Tomatometer, respectively.

[The Xenos]

Hmm. After reading an interview with Millar, maybe it's just the case of the original author liking the filmmaker's rewrite better than his own ending.

http://www.comics2film.com/index.php?a=story&b=34036

[Legato]

Having read the graphic novel Im still going to see the movie out of support for the Director and Morgan Freeman.

I just hope that the movie would develop Wesley into a heartless bastard like the graphic comic novel did.

[Tanjint]

Hm, as much as I agree with alot of Xenos sentiments...again, Millar makes a convincing argument about the possible merits of the film. I'm excited, probably gonna see this Friday night.

-T

[The Xenos]

As much as I argued before, that comment from Millar rather changed my mind. I find it interesting that an author prefers someone else's take and ending for his story. Kinda reminds me of Del Toro and Mignola on Hellboy. Not as big a fan of Millar and this director, but this does look good.