Wanted [Spoilers likely, I haven't written the post yet]

[Alex]

Just got back from Wanted because while reviews were mixed they mostly said the action sequences were very good and I'm a sucker for such.

First of all, they're not that great. And the big payoff shootout felt too much like the lobby scene from The Matrix but only 50% as cool.

Second of all, there just isn't a story underlying things. I'm ok with that if I can be excited by the action. But you have to have one or the other and get both and I'm a happy camper.

Most importantly, the whole movie is a big moral disaster. I know, that sounds weird. I'm perfectly fine with assassin movies. I'm fine with anti-hero movies. I'm fine with movies that simply say "there are bad people and here is a presentation of one of them." I can be entertained by all of that.

But do not show me bad people and try to tell me they're good. The movie literally ends with the main character looking to the audience and literally (but not verbatim) saying "six weeks ago I was a loser like you, but now I've become a man because I'm a killing machine with no compunction about killing random strangers. What have you done with your life?" That's reprehensible.

But its worse. Assassin movies generally try to show that there is justification for the assassination and most of them are built on the doubt of how you can be sure of that justification. But this movie would have you believe that killing on blind faith based on the word of god is ok while actually having a known reason for the murder is immoral.

While the word god is never said, this movie essentially endorses militant fundamentalism. Now, I'll be told "it is just an action movie, you're taking it too seriously." And I agree, but this movie doesn't just go off and do its thing, it does try to talk to the audience and justify itself.

And what it is selling is abhorrent.