4
May
Wolverine Lacks the X-Factor
movie review by ashley pierce
0 Comments | Posted by thatgirl in Uncategorized
The beginning of May typically marks the start of summer tent-pole season at the box office and Wolverine
kicks off this summer as the first blockbuster out of the gate. In this origin story, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine, a mutant who possesses superhero strength, retractable claws and enhanced healing capabilities. A prequel to the three other films in the X-Men franchise, the X-Men Origins stories are meant to delve into the back story of the popular X-Men comic book characters. In this first installment, we are given a glimpse into the tumultuous past of Wolverine and his troubled relationship with his brother, Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber). We also learn about Wolverine’s transformation, previously only revealed in flashbacks, and several other mutants are introduced as Wolverine searches for Creed and uncovers the Weapon X Program.
Now I will admit to being a total sucker for big-budget event movies and I’m just as much a geek about comic book flicks as any red-blooded American boy. In fact, I’m a big fan of this franchise and the first two films in particular, which is probably why I found this film so disappointing. While it was somewhat entertaining to watch this conflicted hero’s back story unfold onscreen, it is by no means quality entertainment. The plot is full of holes and for a film that is meant to explain the origins of a character, there were certainly quite a lot of questions left unanswered. Most notably, the explanation of why Wolverine changed his name from Jimmy to Logan, which bothered me throughout the entire film. I know many would argue that story may not be the strength of most comic book movies, but I would at least expect there to be some spectacular special effects. Unfortunately Wolverine doesn’t deliver on this front either; the effects in this film are horrible and the entire movie looks like it was shot on a green screen and computer-generated in the editing room.
That Girl says: Leave it! Wolverine is a disappointing prequel to the franchise and first installment in the X-Men Origins series. With a plot that lacks continuity and special effects that are far from impressive, the film is only mildly entertaining. Even the usually charismatic Hugh Jackman, doesn’t shine on screen, though Ryan Reynolds delivers a standout performance as Deadpool.
Release Date: May 1st, 2009 (Wide Release)
Running Time: 107 minutes
Rated: PG-13
Company: Twentieth Century Fox
Cast: Hugh Jackman – Logan / Wolverine
Liev Schreiber – Victor Creed / Sabretooth
Danny Huston – William Stryker
Dominic Monaghan – Chris Bradley / Bolt
Ryan Reynolds – Wade Wilson / Deadpool
Taylor Kitsch – Remy LeBeau / Gambit
Will i Am – John Wraith
Lynn Collins – Kayla Silverfox
Kevin Durand – Frederick J. Dukes / The Blob
Daniel Henney – David North / Agent Zero
Director: Gavin Hood
Official Site: http://www.x-menorigins.com/