Kevin Irwin - Stepping out of the shadows of his X-Men pals, Hugh Jackman's feral mutant gets his own back story - minus a true explanation of his glorious sideburns. It's a knowing foundation for franchise glory.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:239
Fresh:87
Rotten:152
Average Rating:5.1/10
Consensus: Though Hugh Jackman gives his all, he can't help X-Men Origins: Wolverine overcome a cliche-ridden script and familiar narrative.
Theatrical Release:29-04-2009
Synopsis: When choosing which mutant hero they would use to launch the X-MEN feature-film prequel series ORIGINS, the creators of the hugely successful franchise had a no-brainer of a decision in going with... When choosing which mutant hero they would use to launch the X-MEN feature-film prequel series ORIGINS, the creators of the hugely successful franchise had a no-brainer of a decision in going with Wolverine. Not only is he the most well-known and popular X-Men character, but Wolverine--as brought expertly to life in true leading-man fashion by Hugh Jackman--was essentially the star of the three previous X-MEN movies. As the title implies, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE is the back story of the fiery and conflicted Wolverine (né James Logan), whose mutant powers include killer claws that shoot from his knuckles and a regenerative ability that allows him to live seemingly forever. Taking a few mild liberties but staying relatively faithful to the comic-book source material, ORIGINS follows Logan from his first recognition of his mutant powers as a young child up through his infamous adamantium rebirth and the total memory loss that would subsequently fuel his angry quest. Wolverine’s story has enough intriguing details to allow for a grown-up psychodrama in the mold of THE DARK KNIGHT, and the actors on hand--including Danny Huston as Stryker and Liev Schreiber as Logan’s half-brother, Victor (aka Sabretooth)--have the chops to deliver. Director Gavin Hood, however, opts in favor of cinematic razzle-dazzle heavy on John Woo-style action-ballet and CGI glitz. From Deadpool’s eye-popping swordplay (the action-adventure equivalent of Riverdance) to the tightrope-walk of a fight scene in the film’s finale, WOLVERINE is a blockbuster action film in the most fundamental sense of the word. While some might complain that the film lacks the storytelling substance of the first two X-MEN films, if it’s bang you’re after, then this certainly isn’t a waste of your bucks. [More]
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Will.I.Am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Daniel Henney
Director: Gavin Hood
Director: Gavin Hood
Screenwriter: David Benioff, Skip Woods
Producer: Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Hugh Jackman, John Palermo
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for X-Men Origins: Wolverine
We’re soon mired in a predictable tale of revenge, an escalating series of empty tragedies occurring to half-sketched characters that ultimately packs all the emotional resonance of a night on the Xbox.
X-Men Origins is really a series of action sequences, the usual mix of bangs, chases and fights, held together by a plot so predictable that you get no points for guessing right.
It's dull, bone-crushing, special-effects stuff, of interest only to hardcore fans who've probably read it all in Marvel comics.
While not a disaster, this isn’t the claws-out, rampaging adventure we hoped for. No-one cares where Wolverine found his jacket - a spin-off with him kicking ass in Japan would have been way more fun.
With some dire blue-screen effects, dizzying tonal instability and a total absence of suspense or originality, ‘Wolverine’ is something of a disaster.
Imagine Watchmen unafraid to engage with its own idiocy, or Commando with claws - this is an honourable addition to the most consistently enjoyable comic-book franchise of the lot.
The novel innovation is that these hairy wolves move in contrary ways. That is the dismal sum of the original thinking.
It's hard to see how anyone other than hardcore fans will find much to entertain them.
Hollywood has got its grubby little hands all over the greatest comic book character of all time and he stinks of it.
Unfortunately director Gavin Hood, who married action and melodrama in Tsotsi, doesn't have as deft a feel for this material. The thrills are purely primal.
Entertaining enough to keep Fox and Marvel’s planned series of X-Men spinoff movies on track, but not quite the socko start to the summer season we’d anticipated.
It's never less than a competent action pic and fans of the series will be happy with the prospect of more movie in the origins series rolling off the production line.
Good blockbuster fare. Origins lacks the magic of the previous films, but Hood does well with a franchise whose shelflife depends on which mutants are next.
In short, if you love X-Men you'll devour this anyway. But to the uninitiated, this isn't even as good as Jackman's last stinker, Australia.
The action is fast and furious, the script is impressive for this type of movie and the visual effects (apart from the odd occasion) are phenomenal. This is a not to be missed blockbuster that will impress as much as it will entertain.
It's woefully unimaginative, overdependent on CGI effects and wantonly wasteful of its big budget and talented cast.
Even if you're not a superhero fan, Wolverine won't disappoint since, alongside some gloriously over-the-top action scenes, it's an intelligent, brooding movie.
Whenever the Aussie is on screen, chomping cigars and doing his Dirty Harry-style act, this prequel is great stuff.
The screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods is an arhythmic mess, full of holes and elisions so that, even on the lowest-common-denominator basis of helicopter chases and acts of decapitation, the film doesn’t have anything like the power it should.
Latest News for X-Men Origins: Wolverine
October 15, 2009:
Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
Len Wein is a living legend. Whilst not known around the globe like Stan Lee, mention his name to any comic book aficionado and they'll kneel down and say things like 'we're not... More...
October 14, 2009:
Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
South African Gavin Hood directed the Oscar-winning Tsotsi but has also knocked about Hollywood, acted in over a dozen movies and, following his political thriller Rendition,... More...
October 11, 2009:
Win Exclusive Wolverine Prize Packs
More...
September 18, 2009:
Does X-Men: First Class Have Its Cyclops? ![]()
Did Tim Pocock just deliver a casting scoop, or did he goof up? Either way, he says he's playing Cyclops in the "X-Men: First Class" movie. More...
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