I'm no fan of that kind of movie, but I actually enjoyed "Wanted." What makes "Wanted" better than your average gun crazy blockbuster is the visual flair of its director--a Russian by the name of Timur Bekmambetov, who's making his first film in English.....and the acting talent of James McAvoy, who is so good that he made me accept the preposterous over-the-top storyline, and just enjoy the ride.

When we first meet, Wesley Gibson (McAvoy), he's a clinically depressed office worker. But later that day in a pharmacy to pick up his anti-anxiety medication, he meets Fox, the assassin played by Angelina Jolie. "I knew your father," she tells him.

"My father died the week I was born," he replies.

"Your father died yesterday on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Building," she adds. "He was one of the greatest assassins who ever lived and the other one is behind you." And with that she pulls out a pistol and begins shooting at a man in the aisle who shoots back at her.

After a wild chase scene in the streets, in which Fox actually lies on the hood of her car to shoot at the assassin, Wesley is recruited to join the "Fraternity," an elite band of assassins led by Morgan Freeman. Supposedly, the group has been around for a thousand years. Following mystical commands given to them on the looms of a weaver, they kill supposedly evil people before they can commit their dastardly deeds. "Kill one, save a thousand," Fox says. Crazy, ridiculous...of course, but not a problem in a film this clever and astonishing visually. And besides, before the film is over, the very idea of the "Fraternity" is debunked.

Anyway, gradually, our Mr. Everyman discovers amazing skills he never knew he had, and suddenly we're racing through a series of dazzling action scenes that defy gravity and push escapism to new levels of extravagance.

I don't even like violence in movies, but the spectacular thrills of this clever fantasy have no real connection to life or death and are more exciting than any carnival ride you can find.

---