X-Men Origins: Wolverine – A disappointment

I’m disappointed. I know. How can this be?! The first time I saw the preview, I nearly peed my pants with excitement, but I should have know that this was not going to be X-Men 4. First of all, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a prequel, so it’s pre-Wolverine, pre-Xaivier and pre-lonerville. Parts of it are even pre-Adamantium.

James Logan is played by our lovely Aussie Hugh Jackman, and we’re introduced to a slew of new characters and glimpses at others we know in a much younger form. As it turns out, James is the brother of the grizzly Victor (Liev Schreiber) who we know becomes Sabertooth. (That was a suprise to me, but fanboys let me know if this was how it played out in the comics.) The two discover at a young age that they’re, well, different. The enlist in over a century of wars before they’re recruited by Stryker to join his special ops teams.

The team is made up of mutants like them including Ryan Reynolds as the sword-wielding Wade Wilson, Will. i. am as John Wraith, Dominique Monaghan as Chris Bradley. They become, respectively, Deadpool, Kestel and Bolt, and there are other characters like The Blob and Agent Zero, but unlike the plethora of mutants in the previous X-Men movies. It feels like we don’t get enough of the characters, their motivations or their powers. Sure there are some cool early scenes that show the team kicking butt, but there’s not much after that.

The film is directed by Gavin Hood (Rendition), and, sure, the CGI effects are meant to blow your mind, but the action seems rushed and off pace. On top of that, most people who love comic book, action movies will miss the rough and rebel Wolverine they’ve grown to love. Instead, there’s this oft emotional but seemingly confused guy who lets his anger get the best of him, but shies away from a brother who let a growing love for violence take control.

Oh, and I won’t spoil to much, but there’s these other storylines of Wolverine losing the love of his life, past team members getting killed off though it never because clear for what reason, and this government conspiracy to create to ultimate mutant. (He turns out to be super creepy by the way!)

The great things about this movie are the final battle (totally rushed but amped climax) and the scene shown in most previews where James basically battles a Hummer and a helicopter! Schreiber is convincing while typical in his portrayal of Victor (lots of growls and dog like running and jumping) and Taylor Kitsch, as Remy LeBeau/Gamit, is HOT HOT HOT.

But the downside is Jackman’s James (not to his fault, I believe, but more so the script writers) is a little flat for supposedly telling this backstory full of emotions. And it seems that the battles are repetitive. How many times can the two battle? We know neither will die or their future storylines would be moot.

What we do know is that the producers (Hugh Jackman smartly became one) are in the business of making money, and even if this can’t stand up to the prior films, it still manages to be entertaining and will still make money. My guess is there’s a reason it wasn’t titled Wolverine, since I’m sure there will be an X-Men Origins: Phoenix, Magneto, Cyclops, etc…etc. I’ll probably still be there to watch them all, but my expectations will start just a bit lower. I guess in the end that means maybe I’ll end up less disappointed and more pleased.

See Tanya’s review here!

See Robin’s review here!