NOW WITH FULL REVIEW!!

25-year-old Wes (James McAvoy) was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut.

Until he met a woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie).

After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly sexy Fox recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad's death by unlocking his dormant powers. As she teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers this team lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself.

With wickedly brilliant tutors—including the Fraternity's enigmatic leader, Sloan (Morgan Freeman)—Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

Beer.com at the Movies - June 27

REVIEW:

People describe things as roller coasters when they dip and rise, a fast ride that leaves you thrilled and disappointed that it's over (sounds like your last hookup, right?) - if you throw in "face-melting" and "beautiful" then you've got a pretty accurate description of WANTED.

Based on the graphic novel of the same name from Mark Millar, WANTED follows the story of a cubicle-slave named Wesley Gibson (played by James McAvoy) who's lost in his repetitive-stress-disorder life. But it all changes one day when he's plucked from obscurity by the sexy female assassin The Fox (Angelina Jolie) and adopted into The Fraternity, a world-spanning group of assassins.

Recruited for his lineage, being the son of one of The Fraternity’s greatest killers, he's trained by Sloan (Morgan Freeman), The Gunsmith (Common), and other killers to become a killing machine.

The film, in my mind, is cut into quarters. The first quarter is the boring life. The second is the training. The third is the Killing. And the fourth is - well, I won't spoil it for you. But in between each is a little dip in the action... not necessarily BAD, but more a chance to catch your breath between screams.

The first quarter - the boring life - gets everyone to identify with our protagonist Wesley. He works a 9-5 job, has a bitchy girlfriend, tyrannical boss, and a douchbag best friend. He's the everyman.

The second quarter is the fantasy fulfillment - being plucked from obscurity to live the high drama life of an assassin. The training scenes are done in a semi-montage style, with scenes jumping from different skill levels - utter failure, to learning, to mastering. The tension and eventual success of our hero is thrilling to watch.

The third quarter is where it gets even better - high action chases, amazingly intricate assassinations, and sexual tension (thank god for Angelina, who looks FANTASTIC). We've all dreamed of that kind of life. Watching it in this film is the next best thing.

Now, I was apprehensive of another bullet-time Matrix clone with impossible physics including curving bullets. But wow, is it ever done well in WANTED. The suspension of disbelief is easy in this fantasy world where adrenaline bursts account for slowing down time and enhancing the senses.

It's action, thrills, and great cinema all rolled into one. WANTED is a great summer action flick if you're looking to stay away from the superhero-driven flicks that are coming out, a la Hellboy II, Hulk, and Hancock.

My verdict?

SEE IT