Wanted (R)

Explosive action film is extremely violent.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Directed By: Timur Bekmambetov
  • Cast: Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy
  • Running Time: 110 minutes
  • Release Date: 6/26/2008
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 12/1/2008
  • Genre: Action/adventure
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this over-the-top action film -- which stars Angelina Jolie and is based on a series of comic books, both of which will up its appeal with teens -- is loaded with extraordinarily explicit, extensive, stylized violence, including lots of bloody shootings, beatings, and more (blood and brain matter splatter are shown). The movie's style owes a debt to The Matrix, but it's much more graphic than that sci-fi epic. The film also suggests that the central character's transformation from corporate cog to killing machine is a positive thing to be admired. Also expect lots of swearing, some cigar smoking, and some pretty passionate scenes (including male and female rear nudity).

Families can talk about the appeal of action films. Why does violent entertainment have such a grip on the public imagination? Talk with your kids about the difference between real life and fantasy -- even teens. Point out that consequences exist -- even if it makes you feel humorless. The fact that violent movies stimulate parts of the brain bears some commentary from the parental units. Families can also contrast Jolie's positive public work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations with her professional work in violent action films. Do the two roles fight against each other, or are they simply different aspects of the same person? Which do you think is the "real" her?

Message

Social Behavior:

The film revolves around a secret society of assassins who kill on the orders of a mystical "Loom of Fate" the group's ideology is based on the idea of "Kill one, save a thousand" -- i.e. eliminating people based on the hypothetical ramifications of their unknown future acts. Lead character Wesley vents many of the frustrations of the modern cubicle-dwelling office laborer, questioning the choice between tedious, anonymous conformity or exciting, violent transgression. The fact that he ends up going with the latter is presented as a positive choice.

Consumerism:

Brands seen on screen include Captain Crunch, Cheerios, Snickers, Power Horse Energy Drink, Capital One, Google, and more.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Some cigar smoking; a character has a prescription for anti-anxiety drugs; some discussion of the "morning-after pill."

Violence

Extensive, graphic, and bloody violence, including (but not limited to) lots of shootings (shown in great detail, with blood splatter and visible brain matter, and often reversed on screen and shown again for cinematic effect), stabbings, slashings (including blood and extensive tissue damage), beatings (including broken bones, shattered flesh and extensive blood), people being burned alive, dead bodies used for target practice, a shooting victim used as a human shield (with a firearm poked through what's left of the head), assassinations, rats used as delivery platforms for plastic explosives, a violent train wreck, car crashes, and a graphic murder/suicide.

Sex

Intense semi-clothed sexual activity; male and female rear nudity; discussions of condoms and "the morning-after pill." Crude discussions of sex. Characters have an affair.

Language

Language includes very frequent uses of "f--k," "f--king," "motherf---er," "a--hole," "s--t," "p---y," "horses--t," "whore," and more.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by James Rocchi

WANTED, loosely based on a comic book series by Mark Millar, begins as the tedious, troubled life of white-collar wage-slave Wesley Gibbon (James McAvoy) is invaded by a stylish, sexy criminal named Fox (Angelina Jolie). She tells Wesley that his father -- long thought dead -- was not only killed yesterday, but was one of the world's greatest assassins. Fox wants Wesley to join her group, The Fraternity, so that he can avenge his father, save his own life from his father's killer, and join The Fraternity's secret mission of "maintaining the balance" of the world by eliminating presumably deserving targets named by a mystical device called "The Loom of Fate." But as Wesley embraces his new life and confidence, he learns that his newfound work has consequences, and his new mentors and peers have secrets.

Is it any good?

4
Wanted is a bold, burly knockout action film that's immensely stylish and superbly shot, but it's also astonishingly violent and graphic. The English-language, big-studio debut of Russia-based director Timur Bekmambetov (best known in America for his Night Watch and Day Watch epic fantasies), Wanted is full of inventive special effects, edge-of-your-seat stunts, and hairpin twists and turns. Wesley, an unhappy office drone, becomes part of a criminal conspiracy that empowers and excites him; the fact that he and Fox kill people named by coded messages from "The Loom of Fate" is a mystical plot device that lends a thin layer of mystical philosophical rationalization to their violent deeds. And McAvoy, Jolie, and Morgan Freeman (as Fraternity leader Sloan) commit to their thin roles completely, and the film has several touches of gallows humor and bizarre bravado.

But when Wesley finds out that all is not as it seems, his newfound life turns poisonous and even more dangerous. The plot's changes and conspiracies are mostly an excuse for hyper-stylized on-screen violence with slow-motion fights and car stunts, curving bullets and beautifully shot bloodshed as Wesley fights to survive. Wanted offers nothing new -- it's clearly aping both The Matrix and Fight Club in its cinematography and sensibility -- but it's so enthusiastically well-made that it's a nearly perfect example of the modern action film. Wanted isn't high art, but it's superbly made trash, and the rare big-money action film that's as entertaining as it is excessive.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 32 reviews.

Age 15+
4


Posted on 01/07/09 by YBNormal Adult contributor

Age 13+
3

Posted on 01/04/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 01/03/09 by fdog1 Kid contributor, age 14

Epic Action/Thriller

First off, Wanted was an Amazing movie. Gory, yes. Sex, yes but nothing hardcore. Language, constant, the f word, s***, anything pretty much. I watched this alone once and once with my dad, but I'm pretty mature and can handle the violence, which in case your wondering, is pretty stylized and comic book-y some looks real, like ***spoiler*** when Wesley gets beaten by the fraternity trainer. All in all, an awesome movie. Go rent it sometime. Pretty good little sub plots too and kinda hidden social commentary in there, which gives the movie a nice little intellectual side to dilute the intense gore and violence.
5


Posted on 12/29/08 by david1135 Kid contributor, age 17

Great action-packed movie, very violent.

This movie has great special fx, but It also has very sexual scenes, bloody scenes, and lots of shooting.
5


Posted on 12/26/08 by bk375394 Kid contributor, age 11

an extremly innapropriate thrill ride

this movie is very good. lots of intense action scenes and lewd and dark humour. this movie is definetly not for kids and neither is the comic boook. an uncountable amount of swears and sequences of extreme violence gives this movie a well deserved r rating.
Age 16+
5


Posted on 12/26/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

This sci-fi/action/drama is a visual masterpiece

4

Posted on 12/10/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Wanted is a great action flick that never disappoints

Non-spoiler review: Wanted is a heavy R rated movie that includes everything you want. Mindless action, Morgan Freeman actually drops f bombs, and you see Angelina Jolie's body (even if it isn't that explicit). Wanted is about a guy named Wesley Gibson who has a hard life. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend, he has a mean boss, and has to take pills. Then Angelina Jolie comes in and tells him to join the Fraternity and be apart with the assassins because his father was the best assassin and joined the Fraternity. The action sequences in Wanted are very unique and yet it's still kick butt action. It's very slow motion. Overall Wanted is a good movie that never disappoints. Parent's guide: Sex/Nudity: There are two affairs in the movie, but both are non-explicit and very brief. Brief talk about birth control. Violence/Scariness: Very graphic and bloody violence. Most of the violence is on-screen and is slow motion. Profanity: About 44 f words and its derivatives, scatological terms, anatomical terms, sexual references to genitalia, name-calling, religious exclamations, religious profanities Drugs/Alcohol: I don't remember any. Social Behavior: Very bad. A guy Wesley Gibson is taught to kill all these people who killed his father. Characters constantly cuss, are in affairs, and kill. Commercialism: Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, and James McAvoy are big targets. Age recommendation: 17+ Throughout the movie there are very graphic and brutal killings, constant swearing including f words, s words, a words, p words, and more. There is some sexual content.
Age 17+
4

Posted on 12/04/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Good movie

This is definitely not for kids. It's very violent and graphic. It is a good movie though. If you can get past the blood and gore, it's very entertaining. Lots of languauge too.
Age 12+
5

Posted on 11/25/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

great movie

this is a great movie a lot of blood and there is 2 scenes where there is h*mping but its only 5 seconds long they say the f word a lot you do see some partial nudity but the movie is about the violence
Age 17+
3

Posted on 11/20/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

movie has soft porn in the beginning, I was ready for the other violence and action, but not the sex scenes

See all 32 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 17 reviews.

Age 15+
4


Posted on 01/07/09 by YBNormal Adult contributor

Age 13+
3

Posted on 01/04/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 16+
5


Posted on 12/26/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

This sci-fi/action/drama is a visual masterpiece

Age 17+
4

Posted on 12/04/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Good movie

This is definitely not for kids. It's very violent and graphic. It is a good movie though. If you can get past the blood and gore, it's very entertaining. Lots of languauge too.
Age 12+
5

Posted on 11/25/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

great movie

this is a great movie a lot of blood and there is 2 scenes where there is h*mping but its only 5 seconds long they say the f word a lot you do see some partial nudity but the movie is about the violence
Age 17+
3

Posted on 11/20/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

movie has soft porn in the beginning, I was ready for the other violence and action, but not the sex scenes
Age 17+
3


Posted on 07/26/08 by aliclement Adult contributor

Age 17+
0

Posted on 07/08/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Dangerous message to the angry masses

If it wasn't so evil, it would qualify for down right wretched. This movie clearly states that you can either be an American loser automotron or take control with abject violence. After killing yet another human, the hero asks in the last line of the movie "... what the %^@ have you done today?" Let's hope the viewer doesn't think, "you know you're right, my life sucks, so let's go kill some more people standing in my way!"
Age 17+
3

Posted on 07/03/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 17+
2

Posted on 07/01/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

HORRIBLE!!

I know everyone's impressed with the stunts done in this movie, & they ARE impressive, however, there was just too much violence & bloodshed for my taste. I actually thought this movie was HORRIBLE because it glorified killing people & made it look cool. I WOULD NOT recommend this movie to anyone, as it was quite disturbing. This is partly what's wrong with our society, too much violence/killing/bloodshed/crime, & movies like this don't help matters. THE ONLY reason I gave this 2 stars is for the cool stunts done by Angelina Jolie. I actually walked out part way thru the movie: sorry folks, this one's a BIG disappointment.
See all 17 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 15 reviews.

5


Posted on 01/03/09 by fdog1 Kid contributor, age 14

Epic Action/Thriller

First off, Wanted was an Amazing movie. Gory, yes. Sex, yes but nothing hardcore. Language, constant, the f word, s***, anything pretty much. I watched this alone once and once with my dad, but I'm pretty mature and can handle the violence, which in case your wondering, is pretty stylized and comic book-y some looks real, like ***spoiler*** when Wesley gets beaten by the fraternity trainer. All in all, an awesome movie. Go rent it sometime. Pretty good little sub plots too and kinda hidden social commentary in there, which gives the movie a nice little intellectual side to dilute the intense gore and violence.
5


Posted on 12/29/08 by david1135 Kid contributor, age 17

Great action-packed movie, very violent.

This movie has great special fx, but It also has very sexual scenes, bloody scenes, and lots of shooting.
5


Posted on 12/26/08 by bk375394 Kid contributor, age 11

an extremly innapropriate thrill ride

this movie is very good. lots of intense action scenes and lewd and dark humour. this movie is definetly not for kids and neither is the comic boook. an uncountable amount of swears and sequences of extreme violence gives this movie a well deserved r rating.
4

Posted on 12/10/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12

Wanted is a great action flick that never disappoints

Non-spoiler review: Wanted is a heavy R rated movie that includes everything you want. Mindless action, Morgan Freeman actually drops f bombs, and you see Angelina Jolie's body (even if it isn't that explicit). Wanted is about a guy named Wesley Gibson who has a hard life. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend, he has a mean boss, and has to take pills. Then Angelina Jolie comes in and tells him to join the Fraternity and be apart with the assassins because his father was the best assassin and joined the Fraternity. The action sequences in Wanted are very unique and yet it's still kick butt action. It's very slow motion. Overall Wanted is a good movie that never disappoints. Parent's guide: Sex/Nudity: There are two affairs in the movie, but both are non-explicit and very brief. Brief talk about birth control. Violence/Scariness: Very graphic and bloody violence. Most of the violence is on-screen and is slow motion. Profanity: About 44 f words and its derivatives, scatological terms, anatomical terms, sexual references to genitalia, name-calling, religious exclamations, religious profanities Drugs/Alcohol: I don't remember any. Social Behavior: Very bad. A guy Wesley Gibson is taught to kill all these people who killed his father. Characters constantly cuss, are in affairs, and kill. Commercialism: Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, and James McAvoy are big targets. Age recommendation: 17+ Throughout the movie there are very graphic and brutal killings, constant swearing including f words, s words, a words, p words, and more. There is some sexual content.
5

Posted on 07/21/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 14

A must see movie for kids around the world!

definetly take the kids =D!
5


Posted on 07/14/08 by checkers157 Kid contributor, age 12

BEST MOVIE EVER!!

This was the best movie I have ever watched! It does have graphic violence and language, but not much sex. It was funny, gory and AWESOME!!!!!! Bravo! 5 out of 5 stars.
3


Posted on 07/12/08 by amazeutwo Kid contributor, age 15

5


Posted on 07/04/08 by edwardlover82 Kid contributor, age 14

this is the BEST movie ever!!!

i loved this movie so much. it had some sex scenes. i loved this movie so much! i want to see it again and again and again!
5


Posted on 07/04/08 by Rissypants15 Kid contributor, age 14

What a Movie

This is a fantastic action movie. It's my all time favorite movie with thrills, and kills around every corner. Now to people who are worried if this movie is apropriate, I found myself comparing this to The Departed. That was one of the most descrptive R rated movie I had ever seen and Wanted is honestly nothing compared to that.Blood is really the only main issue in this movie. Curse words are used mainly out of pain or total shock, they are mostly thrown in as if used in daily life. Sex is only shown a few times during a spanking sex seen and Angelina Jolie's butt is shown for all of three seconds. There is also a shor of a condom box and talk of birth control , but for a breif ten second period. The main idea of this movie is Morgan Freedman runs a ferturnity of assasins and Angelina Jolie trains James McAvoy well enough to fight one of the best assasins in the world. The best part of the movie is the end, where there is a crazy turn in the plot line that will have you on the edge of your seat. I'm a real fan of this movie and I think anyone over the age of 14 could see this. Or anyone who saw The Departed would be fine too. Another movie you could compare this to would be Casino or The Godfather, they are both R for about the same reasons. I hope everyone goes to see this, it was AMAZING!!!!
5


Posted on 07/01/08 by socabadboy Kid contributor, age 15

See all 15 kids reviews >
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