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In modern warfare, the enemy is faceless, the worst crimes remain undetected and the true power lies not with those who fight the war, or even those who win it, but rather, those who fund it.

This is the world presented in The International, a fast-paced thriller that leads its audience across the globe in search of a multinational villain. The charge for good is headed by world-weary Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts). The big bad is the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, a thinly-veiled replica of the International Bank of Business and Credit (IBBC) that made headlines around the world in the late '80s under accusations of being a den of scandal and intrigue.

Enough with the plot, however -- this film is all about the action sequences. Director Tom Tykwer, who got our hearts pounding 10 years ago with Run Lola Run, brings some of that energy back to the screen in The International. Our heroes hunt the bad guys across New York, Germany, Italy, France and Turkey, capturing some of the world's most beautiful and exotic sights along the way -- including Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, the spiritual home of the great chase sequence.

Without doubt, the highlight of the film is a shootout in New York's Guggenheim Museum. A life-size replica of the iconic structure was constructed to act as an artistic backdrop to the hail of bullets and falling bodies.

Conspiracy nuts and action fans alike will have a blast watching this edgy thriller, that despite a rather elaborate plot, carries enough gritty realism to make a person think twice about the stories they read in their morning newspaper.

Consensus: The International boasts some electric action sequences and picturesque locales, but is undone by its preposterous plot.