Hitman (Uncut)

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Customer Reviews:

SURPRISINGLY GOOD [Posted on 2008-06-23]
Films based upon video games haven't exactly enjoyed the greatest success. From the terrifically bad Uwe Boll films, to Doom and Street Fighter, video game adaptations have been some of the worst films in recent years. This brings us to the latest attempt, Hitman, which I can confidently state...isn't all that bad. It's not groundbreaking and its got its share of plot holes but it's a decent action film with a sort of James Bond Lite feel.

Timothy Olyphant turns in a surprisingly deep performance in his role as the assassin known only as Number 47. He works for the "Organization" who takes orphans and trains them to be nameless and anonymous assassins, giving them only a number and tattooing barcodes on the backs of their heads. 47 is the best at what he does. A ghost who slips in, kills whom ever he's been assigned to kill, and then disappears. Interpol agent Mike Whittier (Scott) has been tracking down 47 for several years. The trail leads to Russia as Number 47 accepts a mission to kill the Russian President Mikhail Belicoff. The hit seems to go off as planned until 47 sees the Russian President alive and well on the news. He knows there's no way he could have missed.

47 soon realizes that he's been set-up by his own organization in a covert plot to replace the Russian president with a look-alike. The only loose ends are Number 47 and a Russian prostitute, Nika, who was a virtual slave to Belicoff's sadistic brother Udre. The Organization sends out a team of it's own assassins to kill 47 and the girl. Meanwhile Whittier's investigation is hindered by Russian secret police just as he finally seems to have 47 trapped.

Hitman has some outstanding action scenes that are stylishly filmed. 47's escape from his hotel when he discovers the double cross is just one of the many action highlights. The whole film had a very elegant look to it. There are some wonderful framing shots and use of slow motion which I normally detest. You can certainly tell that James Bond films are a big influence on Director Xavier Gens. 47 doesn't have an array of gadgets but he does have a fantastic arsenal of the latest weapons at his disposal.

Olyphant plays Number 47 as somewhat emotionally challenged. He's used to being in control and when he's betrayed it almost confuses him. Later, when Nika tries to seduce him, he knocks her out with a hypodermic needle. One might think it is because he simply has no time for sex but my take was that the mere thought of sex was too vexing for 47. He didn't know how to react to Nika's advances and this merely underscored the fact that being an assassin is all he's known throughout his life.

Furthering the Bond influence, Olga Kurylenko who plays Nika, is all set to become the next Bond Girl when she teams with Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace. She was one of my favorite things in the movie. She's beautiful and exotic, tough and sexy. All of the performances in Hitman were far better than I expected. You can poke a few holes in the plot but this film vastly exceeded my expectations.

Extras

The DVD features four deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and a gag reel.

In the Crosshairs is a 24:10 documentary about the making of the movie.

Digital Hits takes a look at the games genesis from videogame to film. 10:30

Instruments of Destruction focuses on the various weapons used by Number 47 in the film 14:20

Settling the Score is a featurette on composer Geoff Zanelli who wrote the score.

AN EXCEPTIONAL ACTION FLICK 8.75 OUT OF 10 [Posted on 2008-07-13]
Thankfully these days, movies based on games are turning out to be quite good: Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat, and now Hitman. In fact I can't wait for upcoming films like the next Resident Evil, the Bioshock movie, the Max Payne movie, the Metal Gear Solid movie, the Gears of War movie, and someday the Halo movie. Whoever made this movie mut have really loved the Hitman games, because a lot of love and care went into making this movie.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: A genetically engineered assassin named Agent 47 goes around the world eliminating certain targets like other assassins and politicians by orders of an organization he works for. But when he's double-crossed on an assassination mission in Russia, he's determined to find out who set him up and eliminate the targets while protecting a woman who has ties to his target and trying to avoid capture from his pursuors.
MUSIC: The score in this movie is quite good, and fits well with this film's theme and story.
STORYLINE: Not the best story ever, but it does a fairly good job at pacing and plot twists.
ACTION: Lots of gunplay, lots of blood, and even some sword fighting.
ENTERTAINMENT: This movie is quite good, and definitely worth watching. It has an interesting storyline, awesome action, and great actors. Don't let kids watch it though, this is strictly for adults.
OVERALL: There are a few roughspots in the story, and I did find the sword-fighting scene to be a little cheesy, but this movie is quite good for the most part.
THE GOOD: Lots of blood, lots of gunplay, cool story, good pacing.
THE BAD: Story has some problems, the sword-fighting scene was somewhat cheesy.

Almost saves itself [Posted on 2008-07-14]
What a crappy movie! No reedeming factors save Olyphant's character. Repetitive scenes, a joke of a story line and forgettable supporting actors. Rent it and forget it if you must, otherwise give this a miss.

Surprising what Olyphant keeps in his trunk... [Posted on 2008-07-19]
Critics were pretty sniffy about this movie on its release, and its true its no piece of art, but taken on its own hyper-kinetic action merits, it's actually not that bad.
Timothy Olyphant plays the Hitman - created, trained and indoctrinated as a consummate killer, known only by his number - 47. After a title introduction establishing his credentials, we see him as he goes on a job in Russia - but all does nto go as planned, and he has to question who is telling him the truth. His only clue is a young Russian woman, who he takes with him as he tries to unravel his predicament. Meanwhile, Dougray Scott is the Interpol officer out to track him down in a remarkably wooden performance. Olyphant himself performs adequately, in a role which requires him to reign in any charisma which is his stock in trade, and become for the most part emotionless.
There is undoubtedly a large suspension of belief required, as the worlds law agencies find it impossible to track a man who wanders around bald with a barcode on the back of his head.. but the action scenes are fun enough, and at least some plot has been inserted to help the unlikely transition from game to big screen. Olga Kurylenko (soon to be seen in the new Bond movie Quantum of Solace) is very easy on the eye in a variety of incredibly unlikely clothes which seem to only barely cover her - and not always that.
Best of all perhaps, are the locations - St Petersburg looks great, and Bulgaria filling in for Russia looks satisfyingly fresh and different to the norm.
All in all, this does not do enough to break the curse of game to big screen adaptations being disappointments, but it's better than most and for brainless and occasionally imaginative action is worth a watch.

Good if u liked the game [Posted on 2008-07-19]
All who played the game will like this adaptation to screen. Those who haven't but are susceptible to violent movies will also like it

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