‘Hitman’ misses the mark with regular moviegoers
But completes the mission for the game’s fans
By Duffy Hery
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The emotionless character of agent 47 would be perceived by many as just plain bad acting, but to the gamer it’s a complete recapture of the character from the game.
After so many years of trial and error, the production companies finally did it. In the constant battle between pleasing either gamer fans and normal moviegoers while making video game film adaptations, the studios picked a side.
The producers of “Hitman” took the risk and went with pleasing the gaming fans that made the franchise famous. Unfortunately, normal moviegoers are left completely confused and aggravated by a film that seemed to make absolutely no sense.
“Hitman” stars “Deadwood” actor Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47, the emotionless killing machine created by a secret foundation that holds no government ties. His primary job is to eliminate his targets and leave without a trace.
Everything was business as usual for 47, until it turns out his latest target is only part of a political conspiracy to take control of Russia. In the process, 47 is double-crossed by his own company and his execution is ordered.
This sends 47 on the run with a prostitute witness and a trail of numbered agents just like him close on his tail. His only hope is to find whoever is responsible and kill every last one of them.
What makes this movie different from other gamer movies is how much the filmmakers followed the game cinematography, and how well they did so. Other movies like “Doom” have attempted this but it ended up displacing the viewer from the film.
The camera follows 47 in a third-person view from behind the back, just like in the game. Olyphant was even able to perfect the crooked walk of the agent. The movie also featured many scenes from the games any fanboy would enjoy.
Agent 47 changes into uniforms, hides weapons in random places, and even carries a bouquet of flowers with a hidden surprise.
There are many moments where 47 executes his targets similarly to the way he does in the game. During one scene, members of the audience could hear the gamers’ drool dripping on the theater floor. Agent 47 poisons a scotch glass, gets his target sick, follows him into the bathroom where he has hidden a silenced .45, and executes with extreme prejudice.
For anyone who didn’t understand the last paragraph: this movie isn’t for you.
The emotionless character of agent 47 would be perceived by many as just plain bad acting, but to the gamer it’s a complete recapture of the character from the game.
Transmitting the great parts of a game into a film seems to lean towards absurdity.
It wouldn’t make sense to non-gamer moviegoer that a six-foot-tall bald man is hard to find in a crowd because he changed clothes, but in a gaming world it’s as easy to understand as hitting the A button.
The film is strictly for the gamers, more specifically the 13-to-15-year-old, going-through-puberty gamers. Nudity in the film, which at moments rivals Cinemax, also makes its target audience obvious.
So fans of the game, flock to this movie as if it were an assignment given to you in a blank manila envelope. Anyone else should stay away because you would just be confused and annoyed by the glass characters and the gaping plot holes.



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