X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (2009)

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"OK... People are dead..."

Well-written comic book films are a dime a dozen. 2008 showed movie-goers that great ones can continue to be made within this still-thriving genre, such as the much-anticipated "The Dark Knight" and the hype that was "Iron Man." In the beginning of the 2009 summer hits, we return to the franchise that started the cavalcade of comic films and brought them back to the forefront, in order to bring us the start of the next installments of the series, the "X-Men Origins" spin-offs. That said, it would have only been right to begin with the franchise player himself, Wolverine.

Before I begin this Official Review, let me just take the time to say that my name is not simply a randomly-assigned-letter moniker (although I am aware that most of you who read my reviews already know this). I am a comic book fan to the core, as well as at heart, and therefore anything that has to do with the characters I have come to know, love and respect in my youth has carried over into my adult years. "Wolverine" is no exception.

STORY

***Spoiler Alert***

[Skip to Acting Section]

Growing up reading the beloved "Uncanny X-Men" books, it's assumedly safe to say I have some knowledge and/or expertise with the characters of the beloved Marvel series. Wolverine's backstory has always been a mythology of the mysterious sort, and even the animated series of the nineties explored this aspect of the character. About a month prior to the release of this potential film epic, I bought and read Marc Cerasini's "Wolverine: Weapon X" novel, which is a re-telling of the classic Barry Windsor-Smith's "Weapon X" 1991 graphic novel, in order to catch up on my history of Logan's adamantium-bonding days with the Canadian government.

The film explored this, among other well-known aspects of Logan's history, which I was pleased to see adapted to the silver screen. We begin the film in 19th Century North-West Territories of Canada, where we glimpse a young James Howlett and Victor Creed (who, in the comics, was also referred to as "Dog Logan," although the film rarely tells you the character's names), and the end result of James' mutant abilities becoming active for the first time: retractable bone claws. This part of the film also tells you a few other things. If you catch it, Victor tells James that he is always sick. James replies by telling his "friend" that he was, too, at his age. This hints around about their healing factors, a mutant ability they seem to share because of the fact, which you learn minutes later, that these two are mutant step-brothers. It seems James' mother was a tramp and he just avenged his adoptive father by stabbing his real one (Thomas Logan, which the film also doesn't tell you). Bad timing, bub.

During the title sequence, we see that Victor and James (now going by Logan, his real last name) have grown and are serving the USA in the American Civil War, both World Wars I and II, and finally the Viet Nam War, where Creed has been stopped attempting to rape a local and killed a fellow senior officer, only for Logan to come to his brother's aide before they gun him down. Which, apparently wouldn't kill him. I liked the title sequence for this fact that it quickly shows this part of the mythology, that the brothers really begin to understand their "true nature" by going to war, and that Creed develops a hunger for killing.

After a failed execution attempt, the boys are left in solitary confinement when they are approached by military Major (and later Colonel) William Stryker, who offers them sanction in an elite special ops team of enhanced mutants: Team X. They take it, as this is the chance that they were destined to come upon, seems as how their war days have resulted in a dishonorable discharge due to Creed's rampage. Team X consists of all the right players: Frederick Dukes (who's got superhuman strength and which is why he can withstand a tank shell, later called Blob), Kestrel (alias John Wraith, who can teleport), Bolt (Chris Bradley), Agent Zero (known in the comics as Maverick first), and Wade Wilson, an expert martial artist and mercenary assassin. Joining the team are Logan and Victor, who do not have their aliases this early in the mythology. Sent on their first mission in Lagos, we see the powers of each member as Zero single-handedly brings down outside security, Dukes blows up a tank, Vic runs up a building, Bolt controls an elevator, Wilson defeats about ten semi-automatic gunmen with only two katanas, Kestrel teleports, and Logan does nothing. It seems that despite the apparent diamond laundering which equals millions, Stryker is simply after a paperweight.

Setting up the next scene, we see Team X terrorize a small village colonized by natives. Stryker is adamant on finding the source of the paperweight; a meteorite rock containing an unknown elemental compound. When the hostage gives no answers, Team X is ordered to execute the villagers, which morally, Logan does not see fit. After he awkwardly stops Victor from killing and they exchange a brief conversation, Logan leaves the group for good. I enjoyed the Team X/Stryker introduction as it played well into the story and made for some cult favorite character appearances, such as Wade Wilson, played incredibly by Ryan Reynolds. This guy is a master at his performances, he was so funny in previous comedies such as "Just Friends," and as a comic geek, I was happy to learn that he fell in love with the character of Deadpool and that he tried to play the character in a solo 2004 film that was scrapped. This led to obvious casting for the character and a cult following, as fans felt only he could portray him properly. I was sad, however, that despite rumors I had read on the internet in years prior to this film's release, Omega Red made no such appearance.

Six years later, we go to the part of the story which I know like the back of my hand: the Logan/Silver Fox relationship. Although she is not referenced by her full Blackfoot heritage in the film by name, Kayla Silver Fox is an integral part of the mythology, and I'm happy that she was a main ingredient. One bad thing about this part of the film is that we don't get enough time to know these two supposed lovebirds to really feel for them or care about their relationship on any level. As soon as it has evolved, it meets a tragic end. A quick scene about an old Blackfoot tale that Kayla tells to Logan hints towards his eventual alias. Koo-Koo-KaChoo got screwed. The most vivid account of Logan's Weapon X days is the killing of Silver Fox at the bloody hands of Victor Creed, who isn't referred to as Sabretooth once in this movie. This played out well, except for the fact that the blood we find on a dead Kayla shows no signs of an entry wound. Regardless, Logan is distraught and seeks out to disown his brother, only to get his ass handed to him (a term I take from fellow Wolverine enthusiast JohnnyBlaze). He even gets his bone claws half-broke off on his left hand. Ouch.

A funny scene in the hospital regarding Logan's healing factor and supposed multiple knife wounds results in another unaccepted visit from Stryker. Earlier he had visited Logan at his lumberjack place of employment and asked the mutant for help, and Logan obviously refused. But here he is irate with Stryker, and nearly breaks his trachea choking him. This all leads to Stryker manipulating Logan into telling him that he wasn't sure before that the mysterious suspect who was killing off members of Team X was Victor, and therefore convincing Logan that he can help him defeat his step-brother by giving him "the tools he needs." Which leads to the next piece of the puzzle: Project Weapon X. I am very happy how this turn of events played out. They kept Alkali Lake and Stryker's Weapons Facility from "X2: X-Men United," Dr. Cornelius and Dr. Carol Frost (Who?-- Her name was suspiciously changed from Dr. Carol Hines of the comics) accompanied Stryker as his scientists on the experiment, and Logan finally chooses his alias: Wolverine. Although there were no subjected tests on wild animals and memory alterations, they pretty much pulled the core of this sub-story straight from source material. Stryker explains that the rock they were searching for in Africa led his scientists to create a new indestructible alloy which can withstand virtually anything: adamantium. After sampling his DNA's genetic structure, Logan is placed in the tank from X2 and we see just how his skeleton becomes bonded with the metal - by tiny surgical needle drills. Owwwch... I have to say that this part of the film was the one I was most interested to see play out, and I was certainly not disappointed. Once the experiment is over, we see the monitors that show the metal's heat on Logan's bones cooling, and Stryker orders a memory wipe. Logan, with his keen hearing, wakes up and goes berserk. We finally see the Feral Rage we've been waiting for. The adamantium claws extend for the first time and scientists lose their lives in the process, as a stark naked Logan disappears into the wilderness as seen in X2 and the books. Amazing.

I pretty much just wanted to account for the film up to that point, but I will say that the old couple that he meets after escaping are mysteriously not named (by this point, I wasn't that surprised as they don't mention a whole lot of other names as well), and they are Travis and Heather Hudson (Vindicator), who in the books, are part of Alpha Flight but it was too much story so the filmmakers did a nice job reinventing it while keeping certain aspects in there. Also there's the origin of Wolverine's jacket if you didn't catch that. Also I will mention a couple of other things. Watch out for familiar mutants at the climax of the film in Act III in Stryker's other facility and wait for the Secret Scene, a post-credits Marvel tradition, it seems. What you will get depending on your location is one of two secret endings.

ACTING

Hugh Jackman had stated that he felt in "X-Men: The Last Stand" that Wolverine had become somewhat mellowed out; watered down, if you will. Though this would make perfect sense, however, as the character had learned in the film's predecessor about his mysterious past and who he was. Therefore, one could say that the character would by that point be content with hisself. Also he had developed a leader position as Cyclops was still mourning over the sudden death of his girlfriend, Jean Grey. Regardless, Hugh wanted to get back to the first time we see Wolvie in X1 where he's all buffed out and intense in the biker bar, but also portray that "berserker rage" that Wolverine is known for and that we haven't yet seen in the films. X2 got close but it was more of a Hollywood poser type attitude. Whatever the case, he definitely pulls it off. After I viewed the part where he rises from the tank immediately following the adamantium-bonding process, I was like, "Whoa." Dude is PISSED.

Liev Schrieber, a friend of Jackman's, pulled off the evil side of Victor Creed so well that I'm now like, "Tyler Mane who?" He actually pulled off all of Creed's sides well. After seeing him in "Scream," I was skeptical he would ever get a serious acting role again in a big movie without being typecast. I just don't remember from X1 the fingernail claws extracting / retracting. And another thing while we're on that topic: How does he become the Sabretooth in X1 from the Victor Creed in XMO:W? I mean the full, black opal eyes and long, golden hair and all? We see the fanged canines, nails and trench coat, not to mention the animalistic side but not the full on rage yet. But it does explain why he's fascinated with Logan in X1 and takes his dog tags. Even Liev wants to know the transition of the character. In this film, his status is pre-Sabretooth. Nevertheless, Schrieber makes the role his own.

The other actors in the film did well, too. I believed they were these people. Casting Danny Huston as the younger Stryker, I felt, was a wise choice. When he said the words "True nature," I immediately accommodated that to Brian Cox when he said the exact same two words in X2. Although Cox was the better cast, as he could pull off the evil villain side of Stryker better than Huston's, I still felt that Huston was a fair second. Taylor Kitsch as Remy LeBeau, better known as Gambit... I would have to say that I couldn't wait to see this portrayal, although skeptical. The card-throwing Cajun has been my favorite X-Man since I was a kid. As soon as I heard Kitsch using a Southern French accent, well - as best they could get it, I was impressed. They for once didn't short-change us fanboys. Although he has one scene where he throws kinetically-charged cards in a New Orleans casino (ONE SCENE - are you kidding me?!?!), it was alright, because he had his secondary weapon, the bo staff for the fight vs. Wolverine. One more thing on Gambit, though: although his power is to change an object's potential energy to kinetic energy, he could NEVER walk on walls! Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson was the perfect choice. Have to admit to never reading or knowing of Deadpool until Marvel video games, but Ryan Reynolds has increased his popularity in my case. The scene with the swords and bullets was so ill that I can take him not being in the rest of the movie cracking jokes. In late January, the studio had announced re-shoots circling the leaked workprint torrents online, and that Reynolds' character was to be given more screen time. Sadly, it wasn't true. Maybe a few seconds but I won't say where or what that is.

Lynn Collins, will.i.am, Kevin Durand, Daniel Henney, Dominic Monaghan, Tahyna Tozzi, Tim Pocock, and Scott Adkins all did great as well. Outstanding supporting cast for Wolverine.

DIRECTING

Director Gavin Hood brought more of a realism take to this film as compared with the original trilogy. The film is grittier, and depicts a more raw timeline of Wolverine's history. Had Bryan Singer directed it, it would have been more drawn out and would have taken longer between action sequences, making the film more boring and less epic. Had Brett Ratner directed, it would have been too rushed and cheesy with unneeded humor. No, Gavin Hood made this film what it was. Hiring David Benioff to write the script proved crucial. The only thing I can say is, yes, the camera work is shaky in some areas but like I said, it's gritty. It does nothing to deteriorate from the film or confuse you as to what's going on. Great directing.

VISUALS

The visual effects was by far the worst department of this film. Although great in some spots, okay, a lot of spots, there were still a lot that needed more extensive work. Maybe they did not have enough time with the re-shoots and the expected release date that they couldn't finish them, I don't know. It's worse if you have seen the leaked workprint. You know where the unfinished animation shots are and you subconsciously look for them in the film, expecting completion. Sadly, they seem barely covered up and look absolutely fake. One of the worst spots was when the helicopter rises over the horizon in the Wolverine vs. Agent Zero fight. Horrible.

FINAL WORD

Overall, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" had its ups and downs. The re-telling of Wolverine's origins was superbly handled, while incomplete special effects shots and lack of explanations or names were not. Can someone explain to me just how Weapon XI could sheathe his internal swords and be able to bend his elbows again? Also what parts of bone is the metal covering? I didn't get stuff like that. Also the rushed Silver Fox story arc was another downfall. But she is a main character, and it's obvious that she was important to Logan's life - you get that much from the film. So I'm not too hard on that. The story effectively set up "X-Men" as well as the entire trilogy where it left off, so that's a plus in my book - continuity is there. I felt it was a worthy contender and compliment to the X-Men trilogy. So I give it hats off for that aspect, as well as its entertainment value. I can't wait to see what the DVD holds in store for us, Extended Cut or not. As well I can't wait to see the other alternate Secret Scene. I will say that I expect the DVD to contain LOTS of Special Features, and not screw us over like Fox did with the "X-Men: The Last Stand" or Warner Brothers did with "The Dark Knight" DVDs. Now I can't wait to see which "X-Men Origins" spin-off title makes the next cut, whether "Magneto," "Deadpool," or "Gambit." What do you think?