SINGAPORE : When it comes to high-octane action thrillers, director Timur Bekmambetov knows precisely what the audience wants.

Before you pigeon-hole this as just another assassin plot-centred movie, realise that "Wanted" is the debut English movie of the Russian-born visual director which proves Bekmambetov’s keen eye for the visceral. At the same time, every raw emotion is explored and was never made to be undercut by the fast-paced action.

Pulsating music in perfect synchronisation with the breakneck punches, exhilarating car chases, lightning-quick reflexes, and blood-splattering effects are all additional icing to the cake as the narrative core of "Wanted" unravels its twists and turns viewed through the eyes of protagonist Wesley Gibson.

Based loosely upon Mark Millar’s explosive graphic novel series of the same name, "Wanted" stars James McAvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland) playing pathetic geek Wes, whose monotonous life revolves around home and office.

At work, he is an outcast among his colleagues, banished to face a claustrophobic office cubicle with a hugely overbearing boss who torments him with work and personal insults.

The situation is not any better at home with his girlfriend paying more attention to his supposed best friend than to him.

With almost nothing to look forward to and an almost empty bank account, Wes plods on with life until a harrowing experience at the drugstore. Ironically, it happens while he’s picking up a prescription for his frequent panic attacks.

He gets a perfect chance to escape from his rut with Fox, a stealthy, swift, stoic and deadly sexy Angelina Jolie no less, who whisks Wes off for training in his new life - a member of a centuries-old secret society known as the Fraternity.

The enigmatic and wise Sloan, played by Morgan Freeman (Batman Begins, Million Dollar Baby) helms the Fraternity which is a group of supersensory trained assassins who work to restore the balance in the world.

In real comic-action hero form, Wes undergoes a metamorphosis from loser to undaunted fighter with a cause. But he struggles to come to terms with his new identity as a cold-blooded killer and the quest to pursue the truth.

Although the movie takes place in Chicago, filming took place in Prague for good reason.

With heaps of steel beams, rivets, girders, basic solid architecture and brickwork, all of which are reminiscent of the post-industrial era, I was kept riveted (no pun intended) to the screen. The hyperkinetic action involved the city architecture like an obstacle course, with near hits and misses.

But all adrenaline aside, credit should be given for the underlying message of individual purpose.

The delicate balance between a bullet-fuelled fight and the sardonic, wry humour injected into Wes’ character would leave anyone from a hormone-raging teen to jaded office worker, satisfied with this summer blockbuster.

- CNA/jk