s contradictory as it may sound, finding a good mindless action movie is actually a rather challenging task. Luckily, tapping into the worlds of mindless video games for cinematic material is an increasingly commonplace option, where excessive attention to stunts and visuals must generally trump storylines and character development to ensure amusing player interaction. The creators of this particular video game adaptation have gone to great lengths to showcase the blood, bullets, and babes requisite for a proper translation of the popular assassin adventure.

Raised from birth solely to be an elite hitman-for-hire, Agent 47 (Timothy Olyphant) unquestioningly carries out jobs for a mysterious paramilitary organization, which possesses equally veiled motives. When 47’s employer orchestrates a political target, the Russian president, it soon becomes apparent that deception and the dispatching of the assassin are parts of the plan. The skillful killer must uncover the leaders behind the conspiracy while simultaneously protecting a sassy prostitute (Olga Kurylenko) and eluding the Russian Secret Police and two determined Interpol agents.

Wasting little time with a tedious back story (and thankfully straying from contrary religious tones as suggested by several trailers), “Hitman” jumps right into the plot, full of geopolitical turmoil, secret agency machinations, interconnected police investigations, and numerous other reasons to have a gunfight in a crowded location. While those unfamiliar with the video game basics may question Agent 47’s origins, it’s actually rather commendable (and practical) to forego such a setup to plunge straightaway into current events. It’s not as if a masterly assassin is much of a stretch for fantasy adventure. The story does eventually convolute itself with excessive setting changes and rehashed concepts from other crime thrillers, but the plot never interferes entirely with the truly important stuff – the action.

While not overloaded with meaningless violence, several unique moments of bloodshed and an impressive body count find their way into the movie. A few sequences stand out as attaining just the right balance of machismo and mise en scene – particularly with the decimation of a drug lord’s domicile and a four-way assassin showdown, apparently inserted to mimic the combat functions coded into the game. At a few points throughout, it becomes evident that everyone involved is trying a little too hard to evoke awe, though hyper handheld shots and a few coolly positioned guns aimed at the viewer help to stow the silliness. Agent 47’s costuming is also a boon (though an unconvincing camouflage commodity), with sharp black suits and bright red ties as a nod to the slick look of the original shooter. The end result is a fun and sexy romp through the international playgrounds of professional gunmen, which retains a combination of essential seriousness and the expected sacrificing of story for style and carnage.

– The Massie Twins