Anyone else see the resemblance of a bit of the "modern" part of this film to 'The Assassin' or 'Point of No Return' starring Bridget Fonda, who was an undesirable that was turned into an assassin using all manner of programming techniques? Michael Fassbender didn't pee himself when being injected the "lethal dose" in this version though ;)
shareOnly the same fashion that Chandler's Philip Marlowe tales and Fleming's Bond series can be deemed similar; both heroes are booze soaked errant knights in a modernity that places a premium on sensationalism and real politick whilst scoffing at "outmoded virtues" like justice and integrity. That's where the similarities end. AC and Fonda's rendition of La Femme Nikita likewise are united only by a central character who happens to be a death row inmate: to my recollection, Gabriel Byrne and his backers had no intention of "serving the light" via the wet work they doled out to their army of hatchet men. And women.
shareAnti-heroes recruited into the service of a shadowy secretive, ancient order. Given a new life to serve the cause. That could basically describe the origins of a whole range characters such as Batman, Vigilante, Snake-Eyes, Crying Freeman, or Wesley from Wanted.
When I'm good, I'm GOOD. When I'm bad, I'm BETTER.