Does 'Hitman: Agent 47' Hit the Mark? Here's What the Critics Say

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alQlJDRnQkE

Despite its special effects, A-list cast and gun-wielding scenes, "Hitman: Agent 47" appears to have shot itself in the foot. The Aleksander Bach-directed actioner, starring Zachary Quinto, Rupert Friend and Hannah Ware has been widely panned by critics.

Based on the Hitman video game series, the thriller, led by Friend, is being called out for its lack of character development - and, well, pretty much lack of everything else.

"Mostly it's just bad-bad; endless whispered dialogue scenes in laboratories or hotel suites that amount to absolutely nothing, a storyline that makes no sense, and monotonous shootouts where the heroes never miss and the NPCs never hit their targets." -- Matt Singer, ScreenCrush.com

Even the stunts apparently can't save this one.

"Violence is the point of 'Hitman: Agent 47,' but there isn't enough of it to sustain this second film based on the 'Hitman' video game series ... The genetically engineered Agent 47, bred and trained to be a 'perfect killing machine,' isn't more than a shaved head, a raised tattoo of a barcode on the back of his skull, and an absurdly conspicuous Santa-red tie." -- Inkoo Kang, The Wrap

Unfortunately for Bach, after critics have slammed his effort, it sounds like he'll have a long way to go to prove himself as a director.

"It's fair to conclude that while Aleksander Bach's directing debut is indeed the junky, incoherent shoot-'em-up we feared it might be, to dismiss it as just another late-August studio craptacular doesn't quite do it justice." -- Justin Chang, Variety

"First-time director Aleksander Bach, a veteran of flashy commercials, keeps things hurtling forward, though even a slick action picture can quickly turn tedious when there’s nothing significant at stake. A pointless journey from Berlin to Singapore at least allows for some spectacular, scenic location shots." -- Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter