From Bond to Mission Impossible, the special agent films are heading towards us hard and fast recently and are indeed very successful because they are entertaining due to the plot intrigue they provide.
A new breed of action films is hitting the big screen recently, namely the games adapted film productions such as pixels for instance and in this case the newly released agent hit man 47.
Although based on a video game and does hint at gaming images throughout, this film does nevertheless provide strong enough characters, story lines and plot to keep us riveted.
The idea of an agent or of a genetically engineered agent isn't new by any means, be it as a human robots (humans plugged into the Matrix) or robots turning human (I Robot), but the clever accomplishment in this film is the balance between a cinematic production of an agent style film and a reproduction of a video game scenario.
The story and plot give the film all of the elements required for a cinema going experience, such as build ups, denouements and edge of the seat twists, as well as character development through dialogue and evolving emotions and expressions (with good acting performances throughout).
The video game simulation comes through via the use of strobe lighting, faded colour motifs, quick edits of flashes between close ups and long shots during action scenes as well as settings reminiscent of game screens -including winding ladders and stairs, metallic backgrounds and car/motorbike chase scenes as well as versatile and incredible weaponry.
There is a particular scene where all these video gaming elements are present: the hit man shoots with exaggerated speed using incredible comic book like weaponry whilst turning around himself in circular motions, against the backdrop of a grayish looking busy public street; very much like a video game simulation.
The fact that the story builds and unwinds nicely as well as offers a few surprises and unexpected turns and the fact that the main characters develop both through their interaction with one another and through self discovery, provide the film with a juicy fleshy content deserving of a cinematic label and not just with a video game simulation label.
The portals for the characters allowing them to evolve are provided to them through both their interaction with one another and the use of their genetically enhanced powers which allow them to grow emotionally and physically.
Agent 47 seems to gain emotional credibility throughout the film because of his relationship with Katia and his facial expressions mirror this by becoming less cold and more humane, whilst Katia gains confidence and strength as she discovers who she really is and as she changes into a more empowered less frightened woman (hence the title 90 which I chose above, but I won't say too much here else it will be a spoiler). The father also gains credibility as a character because of his need for redemption and his love for his children.
This character development supports the film greatly as a movie production aided by story plot line and good dialogue, without nevertheless taking away from the special effects and camera tricks which remind us of a generic video game setting.
I will leave you with this one thought or question even: in the scene at the hotel where Katia and John are bonding over her injury, can you spot a mistake in dialogue? And if so do you think this is intentional? It is in relation to a name used and to me it looked like either sloppy/lazy work (no retakes or re-filming of this scene for some reason) or (could it be actually) intentional?
If this dialogue mishap is indeed intentional, is there a message in this mistaken name calling? Is this an existential question about labels being unimportant or useless especially if we view one another as engineered rather than choice making individuals with strong free wills?
I will let you decide.
And remember 47+43=90 (no value judgement attached to higher numbers by me here of course as numbers are abstract and could mean anything we want them to, but there is some reference to the superiority of higher numerals in the film so look out for that too!
A new breed of action films is hitting the big screen recently, namely the games adapted film productions such as pixels for instance and in this case the newly released agent hit man 47.
Although based on a video game and does hint at gaming images throughout, this film does nevertheless provide strong enough characters, story lines and plot to keep us riveted.
The idea of an agent or of a genetically engineered agent isn't new by any means, be it as a human robots (humans plugged into the Matrix) or robots turning human (I Robot), but the clever accomplishment in this film is the balance between a cinematic production of an agent style film and a reproduction of a video game scenario.
The story and plot give the film all of the elements required for a cinema going experience, such as build ups, denouements and edge of the seat twists, as well as character development through dialogue and evolving emotions and expressions (with good acting performances throughout).
The video game simulation comes through via the use of strobe lighting, faded colour motifs, quick edits of flashes between close ups and long shots during action scenes as well as settings reminiscent of game screens -including winding ladders and stairs, metallic backgrounds and car/motorbike chase scenes as well as versatile and incredible weaponry.
There is a particular scene where all these video gaming elements are present: the hit man shoots with exaggerated speed using incredible comic book like weaponry whilst turning around himself in circular motions, against the backdrop of a grayish looking busy public street; very much like a video game simulation.
The fact that the story builds and unwinds nicely as well as offers a few surprises and unexpected turns and the fact that the main characters develop both through their interaction with one another and through self discovery, provide the film with a juicy fleshy content deserving of a cinematic label and not just with a video game simulation label.
The portals for the characters allowing them to evolve are provided to them through both their interaction with one another and the use of their genetically enhanced powers which allow them to grow emotionally and physically.
Agent 47 seems to gain emotional credibility throughout the film because of his relationship with Katia and his facial expressions mirror this by becoming less cold and more humane, whilst Katia gains confidence and strength as she discovers who she really is and as she changes into a more empowered less frightened woman (hence the title 90 which I chose above, but I won't say too much here else it will be a spoiler). The father also gains credibility as a character because of his need for redemption and his love for his children.
This character development supports the film greatly as a movie production aided by story plot line and good dialogue, without nevertheless taking away from the special effects and camera tricks which remind us of a generic video game setting.
I will leave you with this one thought or question even: in the scene at the hotel where Katia and John are bonding over her injury, can you spot a mistake in dialogue? And if so do you think this is intentional? It is in relation to a name used and to me it looked like either sloppy/lazy work (no retakes or re-filming of this scene for some reason) or (could it be actually) intentional?
If this dialogue mishap is indeed intentional, is there a message in this mistaken name calling? Is this an existential question about labels being unimportant or useless especially if we view one another as engineered rather than choice making individuals with strong free wills?
I will let you decide.
And remember 47+43=90 (no value judgement attached to higher numbers by me here of course as numbers are abstract and could mean anything we want them to, but there is some reference to the superiority of higher numerals in the film so look out for that too!
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