20 Action Movies From The 21st Century That Didn't Actually Suck

17. Wanted (2008)

Ong Bak
Universal Pictures

Loosely based on Mark Millar's comic book series, Wanted offered an action-packed and highly-stylised genre movie that both served as Night/Day Watch director Timur Bekmambetov's Hollywood breakthrough, and turned the unassuming James McAvoy into a bona-fide (and surprisingly convincing) action hero.

Although McAvoy takes the lead role, it is Angelina Jolie that takes top billing, cementing her status as Hollywood's leading action heroine with a smouldering and playful turn, while Morgan Freeman puts a fresh spin on his 'wise old mentor' routine as the bad guy, even throwing out the word 'motherf**ker' for good measure. Energetic, insane and immensely enjoyable, the movie offers great popcorn escapism.

The plot about an ancient loom that tasks a secret order of assassins to eliminate targets is completely ludicrous, as are the movie's regards for logic and physics, but Wanted remains brilliant adrenaline-pumping entertainment thanks to Bekmambetov's penchant for staging impressive action scenes and a cast that are more than willing to embrace the ridiculous premise.

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