A contract killer(..a bald Timothy Olyphant, in custom suits and tie, sporting a bar code on the back of his head), brought up and trained from childhood by a shadowy organization, is set up by a Russian political figure(Ulrich Thomsen) and will do whatever it takes to get even. In tow is the target's often abused "property", a young woman(..the smoldering Ukrainian beauty, Olga Kurylenko) he purchased and now wishes executed for she "knows too much". Both will move through Russia(..Moscow mostly), dodging a determined Interpol Agent(Dougray Scott) and the country's own police force in order for the hit-man's mission to be accomplished.
Slick looking ultra-violent action flick which operates along the lines of the Bourne series featuring an unstoppable, highly skilled assassin who remains one step ahead of those pursuing him. He's the puppeteer while those after him are merely his puppets on string, his maneuvering them in any way he wishes. Robert Knepper is Yuri Marklov, working for the corrupt Russian politician who must answer for his men's incapability at eliminating the the thorn in their side.
When I entered viewing this film I was expecting a tame dud because the version I thought I was watching seemed to be rated PG-13..then I started watching it and realized this must've been the intentional version the first director, Xavior Gens, had envisioned. The film features lots of shootouts(..plenty of blood spray) and Agent 47(Olyphant doesn't have a name)often engages fellow assassins in thrilling hand-to-hand combats. While the film never allows 47 and his "luggage" to carry their budding relationship to the expected climax, the film certainly opens the possibility that these two will become an item.
The film is ultimately about a man and his mission, an incredibly gifted, well trained marksman who never abandons his assignment..even if the assignment is made by the very same person who is himself the victim! Olyphant, one of those actors who hadn't quite reached the top tier in starring as an action hero, accepting the role after Vin Diesel passed, barely changes expression(..and rarely talks) keeping his mind, almost, always on the task at hand. Kurylenko has these wonderful moments where she's allowed to bilk her enormous sex appeal, walking through a hotel room practically naked(..except for a little pair of panties)as Agent 47, even as his mind is preparing for the next objective in his strategy to kill his quarry, stares at her as she overlooks the city from a balcony. Scott is, of course, solid as the Hit-man's dogged pursuer, who has tracked him for a long period of time and seems to know him better than anyone, although he encounters countless resistance along the way.
The action sequences(..how Agent 47 is able to infiltrate areas swarming with authorities and heavily armed henchman)are flashy and highly stylized(..if preposterous and improbable)..I'm guessing fans of the game, for which this based, won't be disappointed.
Slick looking ultra-violent action flick which operates along the lines of the Bourne series featuring an unstoppable, highly skilled assassin who remains one step ahead of those pursuing him. He's the puppeteer while those after him are merely his puppets on string, his maneuvering them in any way he wishes. Robert Knepper is Yuri Marklov, working for the corrupt Russian politician who must answer for his men's incapability at eliminating the the thorn in their side.
When I entered viewing this film I was expecting a tame dud because the version I thought I was watching seemed to be rated PG-13..then I started watching it and realized this must've been the intentional version the first director, Xavior Gens, had envisioned. The film features lots of shootouts(..plenty of blood spray) and Agent 47(Olyphant doesn't have a name)often engages fellow assassins in thrilling hand-to-hand combats. While the film never allows 47 and his "luggage" to carry their budding relationship to the expected climax, the film certainly opens the possibility that these two will become an item.
The film is ultimately about a man and his mission, an incredibly gifted, well trained marksman who never abandons his assignment..even if the assignment is made by the very same person who is himself the victim! Olyphant, one of those actors who hadn't quite reached the top tier in starring as an action hero, accepting the role after Vin Diesel passed, barely changes expression(..and rarely talks) keeping his mind, almost, always on the task at hand. Kurylenko has these wonderful moments where she's allowed to bilk her enormous sex appeal, walking through a hotel room practically naked(..except for a little pair of panties)as Agent 47, even as his mind is preparing for the next objective in his strategy to kill his quarry, stares at her as she overlooks the city from a balcony. Scott is, of course, solid as the Hit-man's dogged pursuer, who has tracked him for a long period of time and seems to know him better than anyone, although he encounters countless resistance along the way.
The action sequences(..how Agent 47 is able to infiltrate areas swarming with authorities and heavily armed henchman)are flashy and highly stylized(..if preposterous and improbable)..I'm guessing fans of the game, for which this based, won't be disappointed.