Hitman: Agent 47

Hitman: Agent 47

Starring Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto, Cirian Hinds

Directed by Aleksander Bach

The Story:
Dr. Peter Litvenko (Cirian Hinds) created the Agent Program - where he builds up young children and genetically alters them, removing emotions such as guilt, remorse and fear and giving them heightened senses of intelligence, speed, and strength.  Although the Program ended decades ago, and Litvenko went into hiding, Antoine LeClerq (Thomas Kretschmann), the head of an organization known as the Syndicate, wants to bring the program back.  So he enlists John Smith (Zachary Quinto) to find Litvenko, by finding his daughter Katia (Hannah Ware).

Meanwhile, one of the few agents left, Agent 47 (Rupert Friend) is also out to find Katia, and kill her, before the Syndicate finds her and her father.  At first, Katia sides with John because she believes he's out to protect her, but then joins with the Agent after realizing the Syndicate was planning on killing her when they found her father.  Now it's a race against time as both groups frantically search for Litvenko, and Katia learns to harness the power within her.

The Synopsis:
Tell me if you've heard this story before.  A man who has super strength, agility, intelligence and fighting ability must protect a female who is lesser than him, but also harnesses a secret that's even more powerful than he could imagine.  Throw in a shady organization that's bent on world domination by gaining the super soldier's power for themselves.

Is it "Terminator?"  "Limitless?" "The Bourne" series?

Well, pretty much.

However, it also describes the plot of "Hitman: Agent 47," a film that proudly follows the traditions of other video-game-to-movie-adaptations such as "Super Mario Bros.," "Tomb Raider," "Street Fighter," and "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li."  Basically, whatever great fun the game gives is turned to mind-numbing boredom as any resemblance of the actual game (with the exception of the character names) are completely thrown out, and replaced by a by-the-numbers style action flick that you'll quickly forget as soon as you get in your car.

Even the action sequences were dulled down and diluted, if not only because we've seen it so many times before.  At one point in time it was inventive and new and exciting, but now they're just expected.   There wasn't any moments that really stood out, as the whole film was a flatline of mediocrity, from the story, to the acting, to the action and the incredibly predictable ending. 

The Summary:
"Hitman: Agent 47" seemed to do a hit on itself, as it produced a film that's about as dead as the unfeeling gaze in Rupert Friend's eyes the entire movie.

The Score: C+