X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review

by Claw

                Every superhero has a beginning, so like the villain’s perspective of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is of one of the many superhero beginning stories from the X-Men series, which is also one of the most hyped movies for the summer. 

                The story begins in the 1840s in which a young Wolverine, known as Jimmy, displays his powers for the first time when he finds out that his father was murdered by well… his real father.  After the startling revelation, Jimmy and his older brother Victor Creed AKA Sabertooth, run away and Victor tells Jimmy that this is who they are (and repeatedly reminds him of that throughout the movie).  The movie does not explain on HOW they got their powers or how they remain young as adults until the present day. 

                After learning that they can only be killed by decapitation, Col. William Stryker takes both Jimmy (Hugh Jackman) and Victor in as mercenaries carrying out assassination missions.  When Jimmy becomes fed up with the nature of the missions, he abandons Victor and his other comrades to live in Canada as a lumberjack with a beautiful schoolteacher, Kayla.

                When Victor begins to murder Stryker’s old group, Stryker tries to enlist Jimmy to stop him, but Jimmy refuses.  After Kayla dies in the hands of Victor, Jimmy enlists with Stryker as Weapon X, a program that grants him an indestructible skeleton made out of adamantium.  He also gave himself a new name: Wolverine.  When Wolverine learns of Stryker’s ultimate catch, he escapes, vowing to destroy both Stryker and Victor. 

                This movie is what you expect out of an X-Men movie: lots of action and special effects, a somewhat decent storyline, and a movie in which the hardcore would appreciate.  The problem is that there is nothing really special about this film.  The first 3 X-Men movies had a theme of tolerance for those who are different than others.  X-Men: The Last Stand took the theme further into asking if it’s ethically possible to change your genes you believe that are more destructive than productive.  This movie didn’t even take these “what if” ethics problems into consideration.  For the casual audience, this is a standard action popcorn movie flick.  I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but other than being Wolverine, there is nothing really distinguishing about this film. 

                Director Galin Wood did a decent job in keeping the franchise respectable.  It’s better than Spider-Man 3, but even that movie gave us something we love to hate.  There are rumors about making the origins of the other characters in future movie releases.  If the X-Men franchise is to make an origins story on Storm, hopefully it will just be as action-packed, but also deliver the consequences on manipulating the weather, especially in the world of “climate change”. 

                Not bad, but not for everyone.

Overall: 6/10.