Hitman (2007)

Opened November 21, 2007
Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some sexuality/nudity
Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Henry Ian Cusick
Director: Xavier Gens
Screenwriters: Skip Woods
Composer: Geoff Zanelli
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Producers: Vin Diesel, Charles Gordon, Adrian Askarieh (II)

Synopses:

• A gun-for-hire known only as Agent 47 hired by a group known only as 'The Agency' is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which finds him pursued by both Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Eastern Europe.
• The "Hitman" is a genetically-engineered, elite assassin known only as Agent 47. His hallmarks are lethal grace, unwavering precision, and resolute pride in his work. But even 47 couldn't anticipate a "random equation" in his life exactitude: the unexpected stirrings of his conscience and the unfamiliar emotions aroused in him by a mysterious Russian woman.

The official website for Hitman has multiple categories to look through including about the film. Click on the following links for more resources and information on the movie as well as reviews: Wikipedia, Internet movie databata (imdb), Yahoo! movies, Rotten Tomatoes, NY Times, Houston Chronicle, Movies Online, Roger Ebert, Fandango, Moviefone, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide

Trivia:

• When the project was first announced, Vin Diesel was going to star as Agent 47. Despite Timothy Olyphant taking over, Diesel is still credited as executive producer.
• The car Agent 47 drives is an Audi S5.
• When Agent 47 jumps through the hotel window into the kid's room, they're playing Hitman: Blood Money (2006) (2006) (VG) for the PlayStation 2. (They're playing through "Death of a Showman", the training level.)
• Diana and Agent Smith, characters from the video games, make appearances in the film.
• The movie was delayed from its October 2007 release, to late November 2007 to facilitate for re-shoots.
• Timothy Olyphant underwent muscle and martial-arts training in preparation for his role.
• The character of Nika (Olga Kurylenko) draws inspiration from a recurring female character from the games known as Lei Ling (changed to 'Mei Ling' in 'Contracts'). Lei/Mei Ling was a prostitute that 47 saved on two occasions, receiving vital information in return.
• Olga Kurylenko was distraught after having to cut her hair for the role. She said she didn't feel like herself anymore, which she used to help her connect with her character.
• Director Xavier Gens was originally asked by the studio to make the movie PG-13, which he refused to do because of the source material. He was allowed to shoot the movie aiming for an R, however in the final stages, he was removed and Nicolas De Toth was brought in to re-edit the movie for commercial purposes, as he did with Live Free or Die Hard (2007) (he is thanked in the credits for this editing).
• The production had originally tried to use Jesper Kyd's music, but instead opted for an original score by Geoff Zanelli.
• During the restaurant sequence, the scene in which Nika talks about owning a squirrel/chipmunk when she was young was actually true for the actress, and the scene was improvised during filming.
• The scene where Agent 47 sits atop the roof, sniper in hand and red lettering behind him is taken directly from artwork from the game, as is the scene between 47 and Yuri in the bathtub, including the rubber duck.
• Most of the footage from the opening credits is edited from footage from the TV show “Dark Angel” (2000), which shares a similar story line about genetically enhanced children trained as super assassins and soldiers.

Reel Thoughts entertainment rating: 2/5
Reel Thoughts award-worthy rating: 2/5