Looking for some mindless action? Hitman may just fill that hole until something better comes along. It is based on the popular video game franchise, although it does not attempt to recreate any specific plot thread from any one game. The plot is an original one that combines elements taken from the series and molds them into a new adventure.
In my mind this was a good idea. If you try to copy straight from the game, you will forever be linked to that specific volume and the details of the movie better match up with the game lest you face the wrath of the fanboys. I have not played any of the games, so I cannot say with any degree of certainty how well it fits in with canon. What I can say is that there is so little real substance that it may not matter.
The opening credits sequence takes us through Agent 47's (Timothy Olyphant) formative years through footage taken from defunct television series Dark Angel (seriously). We are told of The Organization and how they handpicked their soldiers from the orphaned youth of the world. They would then be trained in all forms of killing, forget how to be a human as that would just get in the way; all the masterminds wanted were pure, emotionless killing machines. However, for as much training and programming they put their chosen through, there is no way to predict, completely, how anyone will react in a given situation, no matter how far back their emotions are repressed.
We catch up with Agent 47 in Russia. He is on an assignment - kill President Belicoff (Ulrich Thomsen). Why? I am not entirely sure. There was something said about a group not liking his conservative views and having a desire for change. Anyway, 47 is really good at his job, and he succeeds in his task. For all of his planning and all of the precautions he takes, everything heads south when Belicoff makes a public appearance and is very much alive. The hows and whys of his seeming resurrection will be left for you to discover; what is left are the loose ends. It quickly becomes apparent that 47 is being set up and he will need to act fast to find out who is behind it and why.
With the double-cross in full effect, 47 finds himself being pursued by Russian secret police, led by Yuri Marklov (Prison Break's Robert "T-Bag" Knepper), and Interpol, led by Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott). He also meets Nika, a prostitute with ties to the president and the only other person who can unlock the secret behind Belicoff's return. Besides her plot point, she also is an unknown factor to 47. He seems to be intrigued by her, yet attempts to keep up his guard. It is a moderately interesting relationship, although it leaves much left to the imagination.
The plot is pretty straightforward with little in the way of twists or surprises. What makes this worthy of watching at all is the action, and to some extent, the performances. There are plenty of stylish fights using fists, guns, and swords. There isn't anything we haven't seen before, but that doesn't take away from the "cool" factor. Director Xavier Gens has a good eye for action and knows how to paint the screen with appropriate slow motion; there is promise for his future projects.
Article comments
1 - bibbyroo
i saw it this weekend, and i would agree with you about the wasted potential. the previews made it look like it was going to be a big story about his past and figuring out his place in the world, but absolutely none of that is ever dealt with. in fact, the only 'challenging' topic mentioned was his lack of interaction with women. but then, instead of being forced to confront that area of his life, he just drugs her and walks away.
i would agree, the action was decent, but the story was really lacking...
2 - egnarOelpruP
When you think about the previous game-films, this isnt half bad compared to;for example(god forbid) Doom and Bloodrayne.
They're getting somewhere, it'll take time, but eventually they'll actually make a good film based on a game.
It might take a couple of years, but they'll do it.
3 - Chris Beaumont
As far as game-movie adaptations, ones that I think are better movies than the Hitman movie: Resident Evil (series), Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat, Doom. Hell, DOA was more entertaining than this.
4 - #4
This movie was a let down, I believe that yes doom is even worse, and we know that catwomen should never have been made, but i think that they should stop making movies based on games, don't try until they find a real game, splinter cell for instance.... The actor for Agent 47 was a total let down, i didnt feel he fitted the part, and he felt un comfortable in some positions... Sorry, but i love the games, and not the movies, lets keep it this way.