Wanted...

Another film and another trip to the cinema, this time to see Bekmambetov's latest (he's the Russian that did Night Watch and Day Watch) - so indeed, it's all about insanely OTT action sequences and slow motion. Based on a comic book, and with a plot revolving around a squad of hitmen who get their next targets via lapsed stitches in material woven through a giant loom, it's all rather daft for the most part.

But daft in a good way. Cars fly over other cars in barrel rolls, bullets are curved by flinging the gun a bit, people are sniped from miles away, and so forth - it's all insanely stylish and action packed. Not many action movies look like this, it has to be said. This is not your average actioner.

No, this is not a movie designed for tweenagers - the 18 rating in the UK shut that observation up quick smart - and nor is it an excuse to leer at Angelina Jolie, who only gets her kit off once for about three seconds for a quick arse shot, which is properly contextualised. This film is all about the action and the assassination story.

I personally wasn't especially gripped throughout the proceedings, there were few edge of your seat moments. While I was still entertained by it all, I wasn't sat there glued to the spot. Ultimately I feel this comes down to the film's general lack of 'that special something', which ties you into the proceedings completely. You're almost fully sucked in, but there's something that's keeping you somewhat at a bit of a distance. It seems like a lack of heart or emotion, but then again this moderate to minor flaw most likely can be traced back to the source material.

Why? Because comic books/graphic novels and movies are two different beasts. What goes in one doesn't go in the other all the time, and indeed, going from one to the other you might have to adapt certain things - hence the apparent lack of heartening 'x factor' to Wanted's proceedings.

Otherwise it's all rather entertaining and oftentimes grin-inducing. Over all, it's a solid outing - and mercifully avoids the head-up-arse exposition of Bekmambetov's previous flicks - a sequel would be most welcome, but as long as it properly grips next time around.