Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity.
107 Minutes

Directed By: Gavin Hood
Written By: Skip Woods and David Benioff
Staring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Houston, Will i Am, Lynn Collins, David Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Scott Adkins, and Ryan Reynolds

Now see this is a real weapon. You whip out a couple of swords at your ex-girlfriend’s wedding and let me tell you, people listen. People remember. -Wade

Review

Just when I thought all the testosterone and bravado had been sucked out of the world I made it to the theatre to see “Wolverine” and discovered where it had gone.  Apparently HughJackman has been part of some mass conspiracy to steal and keep all of the man fierceness in the world for himself in his role as Wolverine.  However, he was successful in his endeavor.  In a film full of men with super powers and mass ego’s, his character’s machismo seemed to reign far stronger than the rest.  X-Men Origins: Wolverine was a film set to fixate and understand the where’s and how’s of Wolverine, and if his rawness and tough exterior was something learned, or aninert instinct within him.

Hugh Jackman returns in the role of Wolverine and as the title suggests it is at his introduction to the world of being a mutant.  Running threw northern Canada with his mutant brotherViktor , both seemingly invincible and each defying age, they fight in wars upon wars utilizing the only thing either seem to be good at: their fighting skills.  Logan does it for lack of knowing his place while his brotherViktor seems to be developing a taste for the war and violence.  Each are sentenced to death by a firing squad for killing one of their own, and they become discovered by a man namedStryker that commands their abilities and introduces them to an elite squad that also has strange talents.  Wolverine (Logan) leaves the squad when he disagrees with it’s morals and goals and as a result finds himself a job as a logger in a remote part of Canada.  He settles down with a girl who not only loves and accepts him, but understands him.  When she is killed the animal returns and he seeks revenge.

There is a lot I really enjoyed and thoroughly liked about Wolverine, but there were also areas that I was very disappointed in.  TheCGI implemented in the film was a catastrophe.  The occasional slip or bad moment is acceptable in this genre of film, but when the filmmaker is being so bold as to focus an entire scene on a moment entirely utilizingCGI , it had better be good.  There were weak moments to the point of the distracting away from the climatic building tension, but the scene in the bathroom, which should have been humorous and exciting was such clear cartoon animation that the entire moment was ruined.  It was a massive disappointment and took away from some of the most exhilarating parts of the movie.  While I hated the bone claws and even the metal ones, even though I loved the way they were adapted into the story even if they looked terrible.

The character’s were invigorating and magnetic.  Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine was very likely his most gripping performance out of the four films.  Besides being in absolutely jaw dropping shape, the rugged indifference, and volatile temper, with a sense of morality simmering beneath was a riot to watch.  It was never clear which side of his personality would be revealed next, and it just kept you guessing.  His brotherViktor (later to become Sabretooth) and himself have a perilous start together and the years following that introduce them to other mutants and then reintroduce them to each other.  That relationship is compelling to watch unfold, as Viktor could have been the choice of who Wolverine may have become. Those that were part of Stryker’s gang were all clever and intriguing characters, even though some of the actors abilities were questionable.  Zero, Viktor, and especially Wade (or Deadpool ) were character’s to get excited about.  While some of those “heroes” fall, we become privy to the beginning’s of other “X-Men”, and also a suave Bandit by the name of Gambit.  In this film you never get a shortage of super powers or cool hero moments.

The actual story, how it develops and then unveils it’s twists and turns is actually very clever, but also natural.  The film sets the majority of it’s focus on the rural yet beautiful Canada.  So many films feel the need to make their settings take place in exotic places, but the tall trees and lush green vision of Canada was not only beautiful but much easier to grasp.  It was stunning cinematography and it’s my thoughts that it gave a considerably more textured feel the tale.

This addition to the super hero genre had some very high points and overall was a very entertaining film.  Only some honestly terribleCGI and awkward character interactions distracted from it, and while it may be a bit annoying, it doesn’t ruin the movie, it just prevents it from being great rather than good.  HughJackman’s performance alone is worth the price of admission.  The action is fun, the story is smart, and the character’s are enthralling.  This is an exciting movie about action, fun characters, and super powers.  It  may not hold up to the original X-Men film, but it is still a fun addition to the family, and frankly has me enthused for further X-Men Origins additions.  I didn’t love Wolverine, but I genuinely liked it.

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