X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

ENGLISH - (PG13) - 29 April 2009 - Action/Thriller
Distributor: 20th Fox Century
Running time: about 110 mins.
Director: Gavin Hood
Producers: Hugh Jackman, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Avi Arad
Writers: David Benioff
Casts: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Houston, Taylor Kitsch, will.i.am, Lynn Collins
Plot: "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" goes back to the time before the X-Men trilogy to tell the story of Wolverine's epically violent and romantic past, including his complex relationship with Victor Creed (who later becomes Sabertooth) and the ominous Weapon X programme. Along the way, he encounters many mutants, both familiar and new, including surprise appearances by several legends in the X-Men universe.

THE VERDICT:

Green Tea says:

WARNING SPOILER! 10 years ago, X-Men franchise was brought alive by the revolution in the hands of the Fox. The franchise in general has spawned a few decent but not supremely fantastic features. Now, the franchise goes back to the original roots by discovering the life of each and every character prior to the Professor Xavier's era. As always, the lead Wolverine will be best portrayed by none other than the sexy femme Hugh Jackman himself.

The movie explores Wolverine's early life prior of joining the X-Team. First; his dark family ancestry that rooted back over 160 years ago somewhere in the Mid West, his love and hate relationship with his half-brother as both grew up with some mutant abilities, his first love and of course, how his exoskeleton power was enhanced by an alien metal that he transformed into an indestructible super mutant. In the early life of Wolverine, we may also discover much of the origins of other characters, particularly Gambit, Sabretooth and Cyclops.

Fanboys, beware! If you grew up reading those sophisticated origins of Wolverine, consider throw those novels away. The movie took a liberty by portraying a different approach on the character's early life. There is nothing much to talk about and considering this is the different origin approach, many fanboys may get upset. When Christian Bale took on the cape-crusader Batman and somehow rejuvenate the origins successfully in a highly-acclaimed 2005 reboots, people loved it. However you shall not use that as a comparison as this movie does not deal, neither did it take the audience to explore the darker side of the character.

Fanboys may again upset because this Wolverine character looks sexy rather than entertaining them with their claws. Perhaps, again this is not something fanboys want but the movie was exclusively made not only to please the fanboys, but to whole audience. Rather than focusing on some gritty images, this as a superheroes movie, some how chose not to derail much from its focus as a superheroes movie.

The story is however, still appraisal. A good sequence editing of story flow, organized in a manner of easily explored and understanding to provide a better story telling. Good news for people who had never the character so deeply, you may not get lost at all. However, things can get a bit complicated as well, as we have to deal with several story lines that cross-path to each other. Considering a 110 minutes of running time, the plots are pretty thick, condensed but straight to the point.

When Wolverine transforms, the other as well. Hugh Jackman in Wolverine is ever so familiar with the audience that we seems not been bother by how good or how bad he is. But he did a great job by bringing the character so well that perhaps he did the role by his heart. In the movie, the characterization of Wolverine was done averagely well. He lived in a normal life but somehow have to deal so much all along, sees death around him so much, and his hates and loves to his brother did transformed the character in an excellent way.

Liev Schreiber in a stocky Sabretooth was awesome too. He is in fact the best translated character in this movie than anyone else. He had lines and memorable moments all to himself. Others like Deadpool and The Blob serve as an eye to the candy only. Other roles that people anticipated, been Gambit only served important roles in two or three scenes. Wolverine's girl, Kayla Silver Fox (Lynn Collins) has a substantial screen time that we ignored during trailer but turn out in subtle way. William Stryker as the main villain is somehow too sarcastic and a man with many hidden agenda - he is so confusing!!

Been a blockbuster based on another blockbuster, I would said Wolverine as some other passable summer blockbuster you have seen. This film invites you either to love or to hate it. The movie superb effects only serve a noticeable entrance to a galore summer feast. I bet other blockbusters may beat this but for the time been, do enjoy this.

THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 3.5 stars
STORY - 3.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 4.0 stars
EFFECTS - 4.0 stars
an overall>> 3.5 stars
GreenTea-O-Meter: 13.8