Reviewed by Melissa Garza
“I’m coming for blood, no code of conduct, no law.” Logan (Hugh Jackman)
Many of the critics panned the latest edition of the X-Men franchise. Some have labeled it predictable, cheesy, and of course the comic book crew are up in arms about how much it differs from the written word. Despite all the naysayers, it still scored 87 million dollars opening weekend despite the fact that a near complete copy had been leaked over the internet prior to its release. Truth be known, it earned every penny.
The movie opens in the 1800s with a young sick James Logan (Troye Sivan) lying in bed and trying to recoup from an awful cold. Across sit’s a neighborhood child Victor (Michael James-Olsen) who is fascinated by the young child’s illness. Soon, Victor’s drunk father arrives and in a rage kills the man that James had known as his father. The young boys run down the stairs and upon seeing his dad dead, the sick child grows angry and claws shoot out of his knuckles. He lunges on the drunkard with a fatal blow. Right before dying, the man confesses that he is actually James’s father.
Unable to deal with what happened, James runs off and Victor follows. Victor tells him that they are now on their own and have to watch out for one another. Years pass and the brothers fight in every war. James, who is now referred to as Logan (Hugh Jackman) becomes more and more unsettled with Victor’s (Live Schreiber) violent nature. Whereas Logan attempts to do what is just, Victor does what he wants and cares little for authority. Despite the differences, Logan still stands by Victor. The two are eventually strung up as soldiers repeatedly shoot them. When they live through it, they are thrown in a small hovel with rats. There they are introduced to Stryker (Danny Huston). Stryker convinces them to join forces with an elite group to help their country. Both agree.
Soon, the missions include killing an entire village of innocents. Logan is unable to continue with the group and leaves much to Victor’s dismay. Six years later the group has dismantled. Logan wanting to live the quiet life, becomes a construction worker. Unfortunately, that is short-lived when it appears that Victor has murdered his ladylove Kayla (Lynn Collins). Hell-bent on revenge Logan joins forces with Stryker. He agrees to give into the animal and allows Stryker to inject him with a compound that allows him to be indestructible. He nearly dies during the ordeal but when he pulls through, Stryker once again reveals his true colors and asks for Logan’s memory to be erased. Thankfully, Logan overhears and manages to escape.
When Logan realizes that other mutants are being held hostage on an island where they are put through experiments by Stryker, he decides find out where it is and to free them. He finds the only mutant ever to escape the island; and thus the introduction to Gambit (Taylor Kitsch). I fully admit that I am extremely bias when it comes to the character of Gambit. Ever since I was a kid, I thought Gambit was the coolest. Whereas so many other superheroes rely on brute strength, Gambit was always a bit more suave. I’m happy to report that the casting was done excellent and that the film stays true to the nature of the character.
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is an exceptional movie that delivers on every level. The conflicts between Victor and Logan are some of the best scenes of sibling rivalry ever put on screen. Growing up my favorite biblical story was the one of Cain and Abel. There is just something so fascinating about the tale of a good brother verses an evil one. What makes the tale of Victor and Logan more dynamic is that it delves as much into the bond as it does the animosity. Despite, all the horrible atrocities that Victor perpetuates with seemingly no conscience, the unity between the two never fully dies. It is a testimony to the acting and the overall film, when the viewers can watch a character do some of the most despicable things one can do, and still root for the brotherly bond to prevail in the end.
One thing that is definitely worth mentioning is how great Hugh Jackman did capturing the essence of his character. I’m the first to admit that I cringe when I hear the word remake or reinvention, but while watching the production I couldn’t help but think that Jackman could take over the reigns of Dirty Harry. Clint Eastwood is no doubt irreplaceable but there is something very special about Jackman’s acting ability and the way in which he can express both a soft caring nature and absolute disregard simultaneously. If ever the Dirty Harry franchise is renewed without Eastwood, Hugh Jackman better be cast in the lead.
On a side note, Halle Berry has been discussing the media how much Storm deserves her own Origins film as well. If ever that was put into production it has the potential of ruining the X-Men franchise. The character is not interesting enough to stand on her own. Gambit, on the other hand, should definitely continue to flourish in the X-Men franchise, whether it be via his own Origins film or simply the next addition to the franchise.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10
