I don’t play video games. I saw a preview for Hitman: Agent 47, kept asking myself if the lead was Orlando Bloom, which he isn’t, and was intrigued by the promise that a woman would be kicking butt. Hitman: Agent 47 exceeded my expectations. Hitman: Agent 47 is not unique, but it is an effective pastiche of various action films.
Hitman: Agent 47 is set in a world where a scientist genetically experimented with human DNA to make them better assassins, but stopped when he felt it was wrong long after 47 experiments. Competing corporations send literal headhunters to track down his daughter, who also seems to be blessed with strategic gifts with crippling side effects-think River from Firefly/Serenity, but more functional and less medical supervision of her coping strategies. There are some clever plot twists to keep the viewer in suspense, but you will see coming if you saw the preview.
If any of this sounds appealing to you, you should see it. Hitman: Agent 47 looks great: slick, great fight scenes, pretty people. Hitman: Agent 47 features some notable actors: Thomas Kretschmann and Ciaran Hinds. I’m so happy that Hitman: Agent 47 didn’t try to create a romantic angle. I’m female. Action appeals to me. I don’t need romance to see an action film. I’m glad that Hitman: Agent 47 decided to go for a sibling vibe instead. Also Hitman: Agent 47 has a metaphor about autism, knowing how you are different from other people, coping with the overwhelming nature of the world and struggling with how to reconcile your identity and humanity with perceptions of what is normal.
If I have one quibble with Hitman: Agent 4, it is Zachary Quinto. I feel like I’ve seen how far he can go in terms of his acting range and am no longer seeing anything new. If you are a Quinto fan, that won’t be a problem, but I won’t see a film just because Quinto is in it and I won’t NOT see a film because he is in it. He should be getting better, not plateauing. I hope that I’m wrong.
Don’t see Hitman: Agent 47 if you’re looking for the next unique level of action after The Matrix (that was Wanted). Hitman: Agent 47 is an entertaining action film, which you should check out if you like the genre. Now I’m curious to watch the first film adaptation of the video game, simply called Hitman, and have added it to my queue.