X-Men Origins: Wolverine (C or 2/4 stars)
Ahh, the summer blockbuster season has begun. It doesn't feel too much like summer outside, but I digress. 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' opens in Canada's Northwest Territories in 1845. We are introduced to young mutant half-brothers Logan & Victor, who escape a murder scene in which Logan killed a member of his family. During the opening credits, we bear witness to the 2 brothers fighting in various wars: Civil, WWI, WWII & Vietnam. Clearly, they can live a long time. During the 70's, they (Logan played by Hugh Jackman, Victor by Liev Schreiber) are recruited by one, William Stryker (Danny Huston), a man assembling an elite team of mutants to do favors for America. When Stryker's methods become too morally brutal for Logan to handle, he abandons the group.
Retreating to Canada's wilderness, he carves out a life for himself as a logger, and lives with a woman named Kayla (a beautiful Lynn Collins). Unfortunately, Logan's past catches up with him. And both Stryker & Victor (who's thought all along that Logan betrayed him by leaving the group) will kill anyone in their way 'til they reach him. Tragedy befalls Wolverine, & as an act of revenge, decides to rejoin with Stryker; who has some ulterior motives designed for him. Having acquired a metal from outer space, Adamantium, Stryker infuses it into Logan's blood/marrow stream; thus creating a nearly indestructible mutant fighting machine. Logan always had strength & claws. But with Adamantium in him, his healing powers have strengthened, his retractable claws are now metallic, & his vengeful fury has only greatened. Epically violent, romantically-tinged, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' shows just how ruthless Stryker's Weapon X program truly is.
Nearly everything about this movie is OK. The action sequences are OK, but fairly meaningless. The special-effects are OK. The production values are OK. Character development is OK (compared to other superhero films); very little sticks. The Origin story is OK (only moderately interesting). So, yeah ... the movie is OK. I wasn't bored. There is nothing glaringly bad about it, and nothing great, either; kinda reminds me of last yrs. The Incredible Hulk; rarely rising above 'competent'. I remember 3 or 4 scenes from that movie and I expect the same to happen with this one. Throughout this film, Wolverine encounters many mutants (of varying abilities); including characters played (too briefly) by Dominic Monaghan & Ryan Reynolds. And I really enjoyed seeing a young Cyclops.
Liev Schreiber makes for a fun, intimidating villain; growling his way through nearly every line he utters. His Victor/Sabretooth is quite the formidable figure. Danny Huston is a decent Stryker. There's just something about his face that says 'bad dude'; which is probably why he's typecast as such. But it's Hugh Jackman who makes this movie. Having been a focal point in the 3 previous X-Men films, he just has a wonderful feel for this anguished character. Jackman treats the material quite seriously (without going over-the-top). He prepared for this film, physically (clearly). And it's just funny to see him in a primitive, feral role like this whereas 2 months ago we saw him hosting the Academy Awards in a tuxedo. Regardless, he makes Logan (Wolverine) believable; which is no easy task.
There are some enjoyable morsels to take away from this film. i.e., how Wolverine got his name; where he found his jacket; why he's a traumatized hero. But for the most part, 'XM: W' is disappointing; in so much that ... it's more generic than I figured it would be. The cast & crew are talented. But because this film is a prequel/origin story, the element of surprise (the direction characters/plots could go in) is nil. And the script does nothing unique to prevent us from realizing that we KNOW what will become of these characters (in the 3 other X-Men films). Another issue: the best aspect of the X-Men series (the political struggle btwn. mutants & humans) is non-existent here. It's the driving force in the other films. But because this is merely an origin story, that compulsion is absent. All that said, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' is decent enough. And I look forward to the next origin story.
Retreating to Canada's wilderness, he carves out a life for himself as a logger, and lives with a woman named Kayla (a beautiful Lynn Collins). Unfortunately, Logan's past catches up with him. And both Stryker & Victor (who's thought all along that Logan betrayed him by leaving the group) will kill anyone in their way 'til they reach him. Tragedy befalls Wolverine, & as an act of revenge, decides to rejoin with Stryker; who has some ulterior motives designed for him. Having acquired a metal from outer space, Adamantium, Stryker infuses it into Logan's blood/marrow stream; thus creating a nearly indestructible mutant fighting machine. Logan always had strength & claws. But with Adamantium in him, his healing powers have strengthened, his retractable claws are now metallic, & his vengeful fury has only greatened. Epically violent, romantically-tinged, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' shows just how ruthless Stryker's Weapon X program truly is.
Nearly everything about this movie is OK. The action sequences are OK, but fairly meaningless. The special-effects are OK. The production values are OK. Character development is OK (compared to other superhero films); very little sticks. The Origin story is OK (only moderately interesting). So, yeah ... the movie is OK. I wasn't bored. There is nothing glaringly bad about it, and nothing great, either; kinda reminds me of last yrs. The Incredible Hulk; rarely rising above 'competent'. I remember 3 or 4 scenes from that movie and I expect the same to happen with this one. Throughout this film, Wolverine encounters many mutants (of varying abilities); including characters played (too briefly) by Dominic Monaghan & Ryan Reynolds. And I really enjoyed seeing a young Cyclops.
Liev Schreiber makes for a fun, intimidating villain; growling his way through nearly every line he utters. His Victor/Sabretooth is quite the formidable figure. Danny Huston is a decent Stryker. There's just something about his face that says 'bad dude'; which is probably why he's typecast as such. But it's Hugh Jackman who makes this movie. Having been a focal point in the 3 previous X-Men films, he just has a wonderful feel for this anguished character. Jackman treats the material quite seriously (without going over-the-top). He prepared for this film, physically (clearly). And it's just funny to see him in a primitive, feral role like this whereas 2 months ago we saw him hosting the Academy Awards in a tuxedo. Regardless, he makes Logan (Wolverine) believable; which is no easy task.
There are some enjoyable morsels to take away from this film. i.e., how Wolverine got his name; where he found his jacket; why he's a traumatized hero. But for the most part, 'XM: W' is disappointing; in so much that ... it's more generic than I figured it would be. The cast & crew are talented. But because this film is a prequel/origin story, the element of surprise (the direction characters/plots could go in) is nil. And the script does nothing unique to prevent us from realizing that we KNOW what will become of these characters (in the 3 other X-Men films). Another issue: the best aspect of the X-Men series (the political struggle btwn. mutants & humans) is non-existent here. It's the driving force in the other films. But because this is merely an origin story, that compulsion is absent. All that said, 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' is decent enough. And I look forward to the next origin story.