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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #611 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-03-31
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's hard not to feel like one has entered a certain dimension of video-game logic while watching Hitman, a lightly enjoyable action-suspense movie indeed based on a popular and bloody game about a mysterious hired gun with a bar-code tattoo on his bald head and a number (47) in lieu of a name. Living like a chaste monk while slipping past borders to kill his targets, 47 (Timothy Olyphant of Deadwood) moves like a determined shark and speaks softly to his contact at the enigmatic "the Organization," which raises cast-off children to become well-paid assassins. Fruitlessly pursued by an Interpol cop (Dougray Scott) who can never get sovereign governments to cooperate, 47 has no trouble slipping in and out of countries to ply his trade. Until, that is, he's set up to take a fall in Russia by shooting a national leader who is promptly replaced by a lookalike double. Suddenly on the run, 47 has to retrace his steps and formulate a lethal plan for extricating himself from a trap. Caught in the chaos is the lovely Nika (Olga Kurylenko), forced into sex slavery by 47's new enemies and the one person who seems uniquely qualified to break through 47's many personal barriers.

Directed by France's Xavier Gens, Hitman features loads of bloody mayhem and unabashed moments of pulp absurdity, such as a scene in which 47 and three other Organization killers agree to fight one another respectfully, then proceed to pulverize each other with swords and fists. As fodder for gamers, however, Hitman is packed with visuals and dramatic moments that seem so odd on the big screen until one realizes they are basically placemarkers for the video-game edition. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Based on the popular Playstation 2 game, HITMAN chronicles the 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 run 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 THE TRANSPORTER, LEON and LA FEMME NIKITA films will appreciate this film, as it has a similar narrative arc, vividly saturated colours, swooping camerawork, tightly choreographed fights, and lots of blood flying from the copious bullet wounds.

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Customer Reviews

One question....WHY?
This is an abomination to the great game. The 47 in the film isn't even albino, Timothy Oliphant looks and sounds like a 14 year old boy and has none of the trade characteristics of the in game 47 (the deep voice, the presence and the stern look of a man who is capable of killing). Why Timothy? look at the other good actors they could have chosen e.g. Jason Statham, The guy who does 47's voice in the game (he even looks the same because 47's appearance is based on the voice actors) and even dare i say Vin Diesel could have managed a much better job.

The plot has more holes than swiss cheese, and while watching it I wondered if the directors had even played the game or just looked at the front covers. Anyone who has played even one level in the game knows that it is based upon stealth, precision and being undetectable, not as the film suggests going into rooms full over people and blowing everyone to bit with as much noise and destruction as possible.

A deeply disappointing film and should be avoided by people with any taste at all.

HITMAN IS A HIT!
Having never played the video game or knew much about it, I decided to watch this on pay-per-view not expecting a great deal from it to be honest. I had read mostly negative reviews when it was released on the cinema but I like Timothy Olyphant, excellent in gritty western series Deadwood and good as the villain in Die Hard 4.0, so I thought I would give it a go. And I'm really glad I did. This is slick entertainment from beginning to end and it isn't just `all' action. There is a plot and some characterisation and build up to the set pieces, some of which are stunning. One of the best being how the Hitman escapes from his hotel room when raided by an army of Russian cops using a bomb attached to the door and a rope hanging over the balcony. The ensuing chase through the hotel is superbly done. Olyphant is a revelation in this role. His performance is understated but charismatic. The look of the Hitman is very cool to say the least and Olyphant carries it off with style. Olga Kurylenko as the prostitute he comes to protect is also very good in this, boding well for the next Bond movie she's starring in, Quantum of Solace. Dougray Scott is also effective as The Inspector, an Interpol agent whose sole obsession is to track the Hitman down. I expected a childish video game movie but was rewarded with an excellent thriller featuring a great new action hero.

I will certainly be investing in the DVD and I hope they do a sequel.

Highly recommended.

EXCELLENT FILM!!!
What an excellent film,my other half got it and i was very sceptical as its really not my kind of thing but i loved it!
Brilliant acting and agent 47 is so stylish and a true gent to the lovely russian girl.
The plot is very easy to follow and the fight scense wicked! I think all will be pleased with this one,I will certainly watch it again and again.