"When you make a movie from a video game," explains director Xavier Gans, "you have to tell a story first, and after tell that story in the universe of the original material."

That, at least, is the theory. In reality Gans' 'Hitman' is a lot like every other game adaptation: visually astounding, perfectly capturing the look of the source; but that story he's so proud of doesn’t amount to much. A second-rate Bourne knockoff, it's little more than a framework for elaborate stunts, gravity-defying shootouts, smouldering sexiness, and gratuitous shots of the new Audi A5.

Timothy Olyphant is suitably bald (and emotionless) as the genetically-engineered assassin Agent 47 who finds himself embroiled in your average spy movie plot involving the Russian president, the CIA, Interpol, the new KGB, and quite possibly the SAPS and the Richard Clayderman fan club.

Of course he finds love — or a cold, calculating killing machine's approximation of love — with a Ukrainian hooker (Olga Kurylenko in a dress rehearsal for her part in the upcoming Bond film). With their relationship built on a rock-solid foundation (they both have facial tattoos), she helps the killer in the black suit and red tie get in touch with his emotions, even as he sees off a range of TV actors. Look, there's psycho T Bag from 'Prison Break' (Robert Knepper), clairvoyant Desmond from 'Lost' (Henry Ian Cusick), and Susan's love interest Ian from 'Desperate Housewives' who only add to the sense that you've seen this story before — and better.

As one of the original game designers points out: "In the movie they're definitely going to see a bald guy in a black suit and a red tie, and that is enough for me." Seems like it was enough for Gans too.

Extras:

'In The Cross Hairs' is a perfunctory making-of documentary that actually tries to intellectualise a skop, skiet en donder fliek while underlying the visual parallels between game and movie; 'Digital Hits' has computer geeks explaining the game's appeal and providing the earth-shattering revelation that the film 'The Professional' was a big influence; 'Settling The Score' is as dull as the soundtrack its discussing; and 'Instruments Of Destruction' goes behind the action scenes, while revealing must-know information like the Blaser R93 LRS2 sniper rifle has a polymer frame. The biggest hit is the incomplete alternate ending, revealing a bravery missing from the rest of the derivative 'Hitman'.