Hitman (Unrated Edition)
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.15 You Save: $9.83 (66%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.39 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Hitman (Unrated Edition)
Movie Review: terrific movie
Summary: 5 Stars
enjoyed the movie greatly. great action in fighting scenes. Really cute
when he is embarrassed about seeing her naked. Loved it.
Movie Review: Hitman
Summary: 5 Stars
If you want action..this is the movie....it is a lightweight Bourne Identity (BUT, not better than the Bourne trilogy)Movie Review: Hitman
Summary: 5 Stars
Great action movie. Timothy Olyphant is a great actor and played this character just right.Movie Review: Entertaining, Surprisingly Restrained
Summary: 4 Stars
Hitman / B0012RLX88
*Spoilers*
"Hitman" is an action movie at its core, and you'll find the usual pitfalls that most action shoot-em-up movies succumb to: an elaborate sword-fighting scene that feels more than a tiny bit unnecessary, blatant rip-offs of The Matrix, and a convoluted plot so tortured and forced that you can't help but feel sorry for the writers. But you know what, that's okay. Unnecessary melee scenes have become the modern version of an intermission for action movies - a relaxing break where you can collect your thoughts or visit the restroom. And ripping off "The Matrix" in an action movie is now like ripping off Aliens in a horror movie - it's become almost impossible *not* to rip them off at least a little, just because they were so fundamentally good. And I can endure a nonsensical plot as long as you feed me enough "oh, *that's* why...." feelings to give me my amateur detective adrenaline rush.
What I like most about "Hitman" is that the writers and directors approached the movie with uncharacteristic restraint, to the point that some scenes are almost artistic in their understated simplicity. Take the initial opening sequence where young 47 is shown as a child - most action movies would go whole hog with an expository voice-over longer than War and Peace, effectively killing the suspense and boring the user to tears, a la the unfortunate Ultraviolet. But, no, "Hitman" resists temptation and keeps its mouth shut, providing us with a much more subtle and interesting opening hook.
And take the shoe-horned love interest that is now mandatory for all movies to include - yes, it's the standard woman-who-doesn't-try-to-escape-the-dangerous-assassin-and-instead-rather-ridiculously-falls-in-love-with-him stereotype, but the writers were at least aware that the stereotype is patently ridiculous for your average, normal -kidnapped-by-an-assassin woman and so they instead introduced the facet that this particular woman has been regularly abused and brutalized for an extended time period now, making her seem less like an idiot for falling for a dangerous assassin and more like a particularly vulnerable woman grasping out at the first man who hasn't shown an inclination to sadistically torture her. At the end of the day, it's still the same stereotypical love interest, but at least now there's some semblance of a reason behind her actions, and I appreciate that little touch. This uncharacteristic restraint is also seen in the film ending, and while The Gift Ending is as predictable as the sun rising, they chose not to go whole hog with it and include a plot-impossible Happy Life Together Ending.
For all its flaws, "Hitman" seems to counter them all with a charming sense of self-awareness. For instance, it is patently ridiculous that a secretive assassin would go about with a shaved head and a barcode tattoo - he stands out like a sore thumb wherever he goes. But the writers seem to REALIZE the idiocy of this and instead of trying to make us accept it, they just blatantly and openly ignore it, as if to say "OK, we have to include the tattoo because it's in the video game, but all the characters are just going to pretend they don't see it," and frankly I like that approach - much more so than some kind of long, unbelievable explanation.
So, all in all, I enjoyed "Hitman". It's an action movie and not a particularly thought-provoking one, but it is a fresh addition to a somewhat stagnant genre and while it plays it safe with the usual stereotypes and tropes, it does so with nice flourishes and artistic touches. It's not high art, but it is entertaining, and I'm happy to add it to my movie library.
~ Ana Mardoll
Movie Review: LOOKING FOR ACTION? THIS IS A HIT
Summary: 4 Stars
HITMAN releases this week to DVD, transferring the top rated electronic game from the big screen and back to the small screen. The game revolves around a genetically engineered killer for hire and the film doesn't stray from that successful formula.
Timothy Olyphant (last seen in LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD) stars as Agent 47, the same genetically engineered assassin spawned in the game series. Hired out by an unknown group known only as the Agency, his latest target is the top runner in free elections in Russia. After having completed a head shot from miles away, he is stunned to see the same man on television having survived. He's shocked once more when an attempt on his own life is made.
The bait used in the attempt on his life is one Nika Boronina (Olga Kuryenko), the mistress of the same politician. Knowing that she is the only living connection between the two of them, 47 takes her into his protection and begins to try and unravel just who is working for whom.
With both the Russian secret police and a stalwart INTERPOL agent (Dougray Scott) on his trail, 47 follows the clues and fights off his attackers. When these assassins turn out to be the same genetically altered killers as 47, he takes them out one by one, making sure that those who are guilty of turning against him are made to pay.
This is a movie made for action junkies. While there is plenty of plot to keep your interest, it relies more on the visual tapestry of violence to hold you in its grip. There is an almost ballet like form exhibited by 47 as he uses dual side arms to take out his opponents as well as physical skills that are just short of a Jet Li film.
Along with the action is subtle humor and well played acting skills from all involved. Being taken from a video game, it would be hard to play this one as serious and carry it out, but that is indeed what happens. It is rare that a game transfers to film well (check out the horrendous HOUSE OF THE DEAD as a bad example), but when it happens like this, it gives game fans hope that more is set to come. I for one would love to see what becomes next of Agent 47 and you may too after watching this one.
While this review seems short, what more can be said about a high octane, testosterone filled, pump up the action flick? This is one of those movies where though it may have a plot, it gets enough attention to hold the film together on the side, instead focusing on the adrenaline inducing atmosphere that IS the world of the main character. He comes off as cold, cruel and calculating, but that is to be expected of someone in this line of work. It's what makes the movie as well as the games work on several different levels. This is not the sort of film that Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert would have tea over, discussing the finer aspects of the genre. This is gut crunching blow stuff up and shoot people. If thats the kind of movie you're looking for then this has it all.