Angelina Jolie’s Forgotten Action Movie Will Blow Your Mind!

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In the heart of summer 2008, Timur Bekmambetov’s film “Wanted” made its way to theaters. This comic book adaptation by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones was a notable release amidst a bustling season, particularly for superhero movies. Notable titles such as “Iron Man”, “The Incredible Hulk”, “Hancock”, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”, and “The Dark Knight” all premiered within three months. Remarkably, despite the competition, “Wanted” managed to carve out its own success. Interestingly, a planned sequel never materialized. It could be said that among these movies, “Wanted” has faded from public memory the most (with the possible exception of “Hancock”, and rightfully so in that case).

regretfully, the film remains enjoyable even today due to its engaging lead performances by James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie (making their debut in what was not their last comic book adaptation), as well as some unforgettable action sequences. It’s still a delightful watch after 110 minutes.

What Is Wanted About?

McAvoy’s character, Wesley Allan Gibson, is a discontented office worker who laments his past decisions and endures daily mistreatment from a particularly wretched boss. Despite telling himself that he enjoys the monotony of his life because it’s secure, in reality, it’s stifling his mind and making him feel increasingly detached from others.

Everything shifts dramatically for Gibson when he unexpectedly encounters Fox, a woman, in a grocery store. However, when a stranger (who appears unknown to Gibson) attempts to harm him within that very store, Fox jumps into action and saves the office worker in a heated gunfight. She reveals to Gibson not only that his previously unknown father has passed away, but was an assassin. Moreover, she informs him that the same man (Cross) who killed his father is now pursuing him.

Fox guides Gibson to what appears as an abandoned factory at first glance, but it’s actually a hidden assassin training center led by the head of the assassins, Mr. Sloan (played by Morgan Freeman in an unexpected role). They challenge him to accomplish tasks he deems impossible, such as firing a bullet to hit the wings off a fly or make a projectile curve around a massive chunk of meat.

Swinging between the urge to return to his mundane existence and immersing himself in this “Brotherhood,” Gibson eventually chooses to take a risk and seek vengeance against the man who killed his father. Sloan demonstrates the “Web of Destiny” to Gibson, an instrument revealing individuals whose actions would significantly worsen the world. Once your name appears, you are obliged to eliminate them.

Over time, the “Fraternity” had been a reliable and trustworthy organization. However, things changed significantly when Sloan took control. This shift occurred precisely when the “Loom” foretold Sloan’s downfall. Since then, there has been an attempt to hide the truth, with Cross being the main focus before he could reveal secrets. It appears that Sloan is manipulating events so that Gibson eliminates Cross. The reason for this is that Cross is actually Gibson’s father.

Bekmambetov’s movie is remarkable because it transformed a lesser-known item into a popular hit. It received positive reviews from both professional critics and diverse groups of viewers due to its fast tempo, endearing acting, and unique idea about understated yet incredibly skilled assassins (which was similar to what John Wick later achieved).

Not only did Wanted contribute significantly to the growth of McAvoy’s fame within the U.S., it demonstrated his ability to headline a major studio production. Before this breakthrough role, he had garnered some recognition as Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and for his performances in The Last King of Scotland (2006) and Atonement (2007). Wanted paved the way for McAvoy to portray Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class and its subsequent films. As for Jolie, she appeared in Eternals 13 years later; however, due to the disappointing critical and commercial reception of that film, it’s probable that her Marvel Cinematic Universe tenure will be limited to a single appearance.

Stream Wanted on Max.

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2025-04-06 02:10