Spring Break
Prequel arms successful series with new claws
Ross Leonard
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: Diversions
The summer blockbuster season officially started with the release of "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." The story of Marvel Comic's greatest anti-hero before his days as the rugged bad boy of the X-Men begins with Logan as a boy when he discovers his mutation for the first time. We get a brief history of his 100+ year existence throughout the opening credits as he and his brother, his eventual arch rival Victor, fight the great American battles waged in the Civil War and on the beaches of Normandy.
Wolverine's past is a dark one, and we learn his origins down to the very last detail - his past love, his occupations, and most importantly how he obtained those three metal claws that emerge from each of his fists which make him so iconic. The end even ties this movie to the trilogy that was released throughout the 2000s.
This spin-off of the originals takes a more aggressive, violent approach, which is fitting for a tale about one of its most violent heroes. Hugh Jackman assumes the role yet again, making this his fourth time bearing the infamous claws. I think it's safe to say that Jackman virtually owns the role of Wolverine, and nobody can ever amount to what he puts into the character. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine.
The story incorporates some popular franchise characters into it but mainly focuses on Wolverine, which was sad to see because some of the characters, such as Gambit, deserved a more involved role. The special effects were a little sub-par for a movie with such a big budget as this one, which was disappointing and took away from the film. There was pretty much action from start to finish - maybe if they would have taken some of those scenes out they could have polished up the effects, but I guess that's what you get in a summer blockbuster.
While I hope they don't continue to make these "Origin" films so they don't taint the ones already out, overall it was a good prequel to a very successful trilogy.
Ross Leonard
diversions@dailybarometer.com
Wolverine's past is a dark one, and we learn his origins down to the very last detail - his past love, his occupations, and most importantly how he obtained those three metal claws that emerge from each of his fists which make him so iconic. The end even ties this movie to the trilogy that was released throughout the 2000s.
This spin-off of the originals takes a more aggressive, violent approach, which is fitting for a tale about one of its most violent heroes. Hugh Jackman assumes the role yet again, making this his fourth time bearing the infamous claws. I think it's safe to say that Jackman virtually owns the role of Wolverine, and nobody can ever amount to what he puts into the character. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine.
The story incorporates some popular franchise characters into it but mainly focuses on Wolverine, which was sad to see because some of the characters, such as Gambit, deserved a more involved role. The special effects were a little sub-par for a movie with such a big budget as this one, which was disappointing and took away from the film. There was pretty much action from start to finish - maybe if they would have taken some of those scenes out they could have polished up the effects, but I guess that's what you get in a summer blockbuster.
While I hope they don't continue to make these "Origin" films so they don't taint the ones already out, overall it was a good prequel to a very successful trilogy.
Ross Leonard
diversions@dailybarometer.com
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