Producers: Hugh Jackman, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, John Palermo
Director: Gavin Hood; Writers: David Benioff, Skip Woods
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch
CREATIVE QUOTIENT
Here’s the latest franchise of the X-Men film series based on the eponymous graphic novel. As with Batman Begins etc. it spins the tale of the origin of Wolverine. The latter character is invariably a recall of Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine, the steel-clawed mutant who would rather be at peace with the world than fight.
It starts in the 19th century north-west Canada, where as a young boy, James Howlett was sickly. Doted on by his doctor father, a tragedy sends him out into the world with his half-brother Victor. Jammer (now Hugh Jackman) and Victor (now Liev Schrieber) survive several wars together. The boys meet up with military man William Stryker (Danny Huston) and along with a group of fellow mutants, they search the globe for an elusive metal derived from a meteorite. When Howlett, now renamed Logan, sees the atrocities committed in pursuit of said goal, he walks away. This time with the famed retractable claws of steel.
He lives in a cabin, with his lady-love and works as a lumberjack. But Stryker and Victor come calling, wanting their former ally to participate in an experiment. Fusing his frame with an experimental alloy, Logan becomes Wolverine. Unfortunately, he soon after finds himself a pawn in a much larger crusade against his kind, with his murderous sibling front and center. Gradually we meet more mutants.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
What sets X-Men Origins: Wolverine apart from its predecessors is the impressive stunt work. Although the CGI occasionally slips. Why did the director Gavin Hood resort to a cheap laugh (an old lady’s nonchalant comment as a nude Jackman scrambles across the road and into her barn)? The introduction of popular icons from the comics didn’t really pay off — including a hilarious looking Blob and that unfathomable fan favorite, Gambit. The last act confrontation was more special effects than script satisfying.
But compared to the previous episodes in the franchise, this one tops. Thanks to Jackman, and an equally enigmatic turn by Schreiber, X-Men Origins: Wolverine suggests that not all back stories undermine the original and it reiterates X-Men’s standing as a standard bearer for Marvel Comics.
Verdict
One for performances notable Jackman and Schrieber. One for direction and editing. One for action sequences.