Fans of the video game on which this film is based may get a kick out of the cinematic treatment, but even these low level kicks will be tempered by the film's failure to articulate its main plot points or to create characters we care about.
Hitman (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:92
Fresh:14
Rotten:78
Average Rating:3.7/10
Consensus: Hitman features the unfortunate combination of excessive violence, incoherent plot, and inane dialogue.
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
US Box Office: $39,617,876
Synopsis: Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, HITMAN chronicles the frame-up and retribution-packed odyssey of Number 47 (Timothy Olyphant), a bald assassin raised from birth to be a killer and tattooed... Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, HITMAN chronicles the frame-up and retribution-packed odyssey of Number 47 (Timothy Olyphant), a bald assassin raised from birth to be a killer and tattooed with a barcode on the back of his head. There's lots of BOURNE SUPREMACY-style flash-edits and superhuman stunt work as 47 seeks to find out why moderate Russian presidential nominee Belicoff (Ulrich Thomsen) was the client for his own assassination, a hit that 47 pulled off perfectly, except for one hitch: the target's still alive. For romantic interest we have Olga Kurylenko as a foxy Russian prostitute sold into slavery by the evil Belicoff. She and 47 wind up on the lam together but they'll never be safe as long as Belicoff is still alive. Meanwhile, Interpol agent Mike Whittier (Dougray Scott) has been tracking 47 for years; he's on the scent and about to close in. Luc Besson was the producer on this, and fans of his TRANSPORTER, THE PROFESSIONAL and LA FEMME NIKITA films will eat it up, as it's got the same narrative arc, same hyper-kinetic shoot-em-up flavor, vividly saturated colors, swooping camerawork, tightly choreographed fights, and lots of blood flying from the copious bullet wounds. Vin Diesel executive produced, and one wonders what stopped his big bald head from filling the screen in the lead, but no matter, as Olyphant does a thorough job, speaking in a measured drawl that recalls, of all people, Clint Eastwood in his DIRTY HARRY days. [More]
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Henry Ian Cusick, Michael Offei
Director: Xavier Gens
Director: Xavier Gens
Screenwriter: Skip Woods
Producer: Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Charles Gordon, Adrian Askarieh
Composer: Geoff Zanelli
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Hitman
It might just be one of the best videogame adaptations ever made, which isn’t saying much. It could also be the film of the week which, come to think of it, isn’t saying much either.
Rooted firmly on the positive side of good and dumb ... Whether you go for it or not may ultimately depend on your feelings about a movie that helpfully explains its locations with onscreen captions like "London: England" and "Moscow: Russia."
There's enough intelligence behind it that you don't feel you're just waiting to hit the reset button.
For what it is --- a fast-paced, violent thriller, based on a video game, of all things --- it's actually entertaining.
Hitman's performances outclass the film's video-game origins. These are credible characters, not video drones.
There's a certain primitive simplicity to it, the editing is awkward in spots, and it derives from a game, but I flat-out enjoyed it.
You should see this movie for the action and gunfights... oh, and for Olga Kurylenko.
It delivers top-notch action, dazzling gunplay and lots of fireworks. What more could we ask for?
A slick take on sniping, strangling, homicidal body doubles, and a seductive Moscow sex slave in distress, the property of a local baddie, whom the hero invites to tag along from inside his car trunk, don't ask.
A bit po-faced and unremarkable; more outrageousness and humour would have helped.
Hitman stands right on the threshold between video games and art. On the wrong side of the threshold, but still, give it credit.
It's based on a computer game, Hitman (see what they did with that title?), though even when it reaches maximum velocity, it's still panting behind The Bourne Ultimatum for style and excitement.
Obviously made to appeal to the computer game’s fans, it still begs the question: How does a film with this level of violence get a certificate of 15?
This is a script written with the sensibility of a geeky 12-year-old boy and then dumbed-down some. More than some.
Hitman is by no means great filmmaking but as video game adaptations go, it proves mindlessly entertaining and at least it's not irritatingly stupid.
Latest News for Hitman
October 28, 2009:
Xavier Gens Will Cope with Fallout ![]()
"Hitman" director Xavier Gens is set to direct "Fallout," a post-apocalyptic thriller that's being touted as a film "that combines elements of 'Assault on Precinct 13' with... More...
June 24, 2009:
Fox Hires Kyle Ward for Hitman Sequel ![]()
Fox is gearing up for a "Hitman" sequel -- and according to IESB's sources, the studio has hired Kyle Ward to write the script. More...
March 24, 2008:
Fifth Rambo on the Fast Track?
Who's ready for more Rambo? More...
March 10, 2008:
RT on DVD: Call It, Friend-O -- No Country For Old Men Hits DVD
The critically-acclaimed, Oscar-winning No Country For Old Men comes to DVD this week, accompanied by a litany of fellow Fresh films (Lake of Fire, Summer Palace, Dan in Real... More...
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