Language: EnglishRun Time: 107 mins
I have been a long time fan of this particular character in the Marvel comics franchise. It would be interesting to see how the scriptwriters would interweave the mystery surrounding the character as well as the origins story already in place across several graphic novels. The signs were encouraging from what I saw of the trailers and of the news permeating across the internet though there were some scenes that I didn't quite agree with.
Hugh Jackman reprised the role that had shot him to prominence over the recent decade.
Liev Schreiber takes on the role of Victor Creed or more popularly known as Sabretooth. Tyler Mane was initially interested in reprising this role but Jackman however felt that Schreiber's natural competitive streak gave him the edge in the landing the role, given the plotline. This version of Sabretooth pre-X-men movie seemed a more human and analytical version of the one most comic fans are familiar with though the the influences of his primal nature seemed quite evident. I kind of like this version of Sabretooth, though it would take some explaining (perhaps a Sabretooth movie)
on how he evolved (or rather mutated) into the form seen in the first X-Men movie if continuity is to be preserved. Being depicted as Wolverine's half brother in the movie varies greatly from the long standing but ambigous relationship between the two most feral characters in Marvel's history. Although it makes for easier story telling, the loss of impact through the removal of ambigouity makes for a much less interesting prospect, for me at least. One of the more eye-catching of casting is that of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Weapon XI. Though it has been argued that both Deadpool and Weapon XI are separate characters in the comic continuum. Reynolds gave himself a startling performance worthy of the Deadpool name and dare I say it, his own Deadpool movie. 
Though this is good for him as an actor, I shudder to think of what fans of The Flash would make of this apparent betrayal after indicating his intent in taking on the role as the wise cracking Wally West.Will.I.Am landed a role as John Wraith, a mutant of similar abilities to Nightcrawler though his impact in the movie is negligble. Other less popular characters in Marvel reality also made the jump to the big screen in the form of the Blob, Agent Zero and Emma Frost. Though it has been argued if Emma Frost was indeed the same Emma Frost with the original character being able to read minds while only developing the secondary ability of diamond hard skin only later in her life. Cyclops also makes an appearance as is younger self played by Tim Pocock. 
The choice to cast Gambit/ Remy Le Beau is something that I do have qualms with. With the original character in the comics being more suave and more Cajun in his accent and not to mention taller. Though it is understandable how much of a feat it would be to find someone taller than Jackman. Still, somehow I feel that Taylor Kitsch's portrayal of this popular X-men character leaves much to be desired. Whether this is down to poor script writing, the actor's adaptability to the character or just my own deep bias remains a lingering conundrum. The main protagonist in the movie is that of Colonel Stryker played by Danny Huston. Brian Cox who had played the role in X2 was interested in reprising the role and argued that with the help of CGI tech, he would be able to make himself look younger. Though for some reason this idea was rejected. Huston's portrayal of Stryker was more calculating and menacing than complex and it blended a little too well with the story, almost to the point where Stryker seemed like just another plot moving character.
Liev Schreiber takes on the role of Victor Creed or more popularly known as Sabretooth. Tyler Mane was initially interested in reprising this role but Jackman however felt that Schreiber's natural competitive streak gave him the edge in the landing the role, given the plotline. This version of Sabretooth pre-X-men movie seemed a more human and analytical version of the one most comic fans are familiar with though the the influences of his primal nature seemed quite evident. I kind of like this version of Sabretooth, though it would take some explaining (perhaps a Sabretooth movie) on how he evolved (or rather mutated) into the form seen in the first X-Men movie if continuity is to be preserved. Being depicted as Wolverine's half brother in the movie varies greatly from the long standing but ambigous relationship between the two most feral characters in Marvel's history. Although it makes for easier story telling, the loss of impact through the removal of ambigouity makes for a much less interesting prospect, for me at least. One of the more eye-catching of casting is that of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Weapon XI. Though it has been argued that both Deadpool and Weapon XI are separate characters in the comic continuum. Reynolds gave himself a startling performance worthy of the Deadpool name and dare I say it, his own Deadpool movie. Though this is good for him as an actor, I shudder to think of what fans of The Flash would make of this apparent betrayal after indicating his intent in taking on the role as the wise cracking Wally West.Will.I.Am landed a role as John Wraith, a mutant of similar abilities to Nightcrawler though his impact in the movie is negligble. Other less popular characters in Marvel reality also made the jump to the big screen in the form of the Blob, Agent Zero and Emma Frost. Though it has been argued if Emma Frost was indeed the same Emma Frost with the original character being able to read minds while only developing the secondary ability of diamond hard skin only later in her life. Cyclops also makes an appearance as is younger self played by Tim Pocock. The choice to cast Gambit/ Remy Le Beau is something that I do have qualms with. With the original character in the comics being more suave and more Cajun in his accent and not to mention taller. Though it is understandable how much of a feat it would be to find someone taller than Jackman. Still, somehow I feel that Taylor Kitsch's portrayal of this popular X-men character leaves much to be desired. Whether this is down to poor script writing, the actor's adaptability to the character or just my own deep bias remains a lingering conundrum. The main protagonist in the movie is that of Colonel Stryker played by Danny Huston. Brian Cox who had played the role in X2 was interested in reprising the role and argued that with the help of CGI tech, he would be able to make himself look younger. Though for some reason this idea was rejected. Huston's portrayal of Stryker was more calculating and menacing than complex and it blended a little too well with the story, almost to the point where Stryker seemed like just another plot moving character.The Plot
The year was the late 1800s and young James Howlett had just murdered someone claiming to be his father. Howlett flees with Victor Creed and forms an alliance with the half-brother to go through thick and thin together. The proceeding scenes show both James and Victor partaking in various prominent wars in the last two centuries. The movie begins proper when scenes of Victor attempting to rape a Vietnamese woman and then attacking American soldiers attempting to prevent the cruel act, culminates in a firing squad execution for both James and Victor after the former had defended the latter. Identifying the unique abilities of these two, Stryker enlists them into an all mutant team that acts as a strikeforce for the government.
On a plane ride to Nigeria both James and Victor meets Wade Wilson (Deadpool), John Wraith,
Fred Dukes - aka The Blob (Kevin Durand), Agent Zero (Daniel Henney) and Bradley (Dominic Monaghan of LotR fame) where James reveals his all too familiar fear of flying. Upon landing and invading an underground diamond smuggling operation, Stryker reveals his intent in acquiring a unique piece of metal fragment. This led them to a remote village in Nigeria. Whilst persistent questioning by Stryker of the village head gave no headway into the location of the metal fragment, Stryker ordered a complete annhilation of the villagers. Victor snapped the head of the village chief and a brief moment of massare ensued before James halted his brother's actions and ultimately the rest of the team. Making his objections known, James left the team, preferring a more peaceful and non-violent life.
Fast forward six years to the Canadian rocki
es, James, now going by the name Logan lives with his girlfriend Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins) and seems to enjoy his newfound life. Elsewhere, Victor visits Bradley at his new life as a circus showman and kills him, though the reasons for doing so were not made clearly known. Stryker appears at Logan's workplace and warns him of the death of members of the previous team but Logan pays no heed. After an incident in which Logan's nightmares injures Kayla, she tells him a story of a wolverine and his love for the moon. After Victor kills his girlfriend, Logan goes on a rampage for blood and tracks down Victor. A fight ensued but Logan was savagedly beaten and got the claws on his left hand broken. Stryker meeting Logan in the hospital after his injury offers him a way to beat Victor to which Logan agreed.
After the scene shifts to a laboratory in an undisclosed location, Logan was given his old dog tags but he refused and requested the names on them to be changed to Wolverine and Logan, in memory of his late girlfriend. Logan was now secured in a supine position within a steel tank filled with a clear unknown liquid. With limbs clasped with metal brackets, Logan listens to Stryker explaining of the importance of the metal fragment they were searching for before and of how from it they were able to create the near indestructible alloy called adamantium. The objective was then to fuse Logan's skeletal structure with adamantium. As the process began the pain felt by Logan caused him to relive all the his previous moments of misery and torment and ended with him flatlining. But Logan's regenerative powers kick in soon after and upon hearing the Stryker wanted to erase his memory broke out into a rampage and escaped. Running into an elderly couple, Logan was given shelter by them while he explores his newly acquired abilities. The bonding occurring between the elderly couple and Logan dissipated soon after in the morning when both were assassinated by Agent Zero. A skirmish then ensued as Logan attempted to evade capture by Agent Zero, taking out Zero in the process.
Meeting up with Wraith and Dukes afterwards, Logan acquired information on the location of a mutant named Remy LeBeau, who knows of Stryker's location. Wraith elects to tag along. Upon meeting Remy, the Cajun was distrustful of Logan's intent and began to attack him while Victor slays Wraith and takes a sample of his blood.
Logan faces off with Victor and has got the better of his half brother but Remy interrupts the fight, allowing Victor to escape. Once convinced that Logan was genuine in his intent of eliminating Stryker and destroying his project of abducting mutants, Remy brings Logan by plane to Stryker's facility on Three Mile Island. There, Logan learns that Silverfox is still alive and was conspiring with Stryker the whole time in exchange for her abducted sister's safety, but still genuinely loved Logan. Logan, feeling hurt and betrayed, leaves and Stryker refuses Victor to give the adamantium bonding promised for his service, on the basis that he will not survive the procedure. Victor, enraged, tries to kill Kayla, but Logan hears her screams and stops him. Logan nearly kills Victor but spares him, and agrees to help Kayla free the imprisoned mutants.
Stryker then activates the "mutant killer", Weapon XI, a combination of DNA and abilities from various mutants, inclusive of Logan's own healing ability and adamantium skeleton. Logan engages in battle with Weapon XI while allowing time for Kayla to free the other prisoners, including her sister. Overwhelmed by Weapon XI's fighting ability, Logan finds it difficult to stave him off and is joined by Victor in the fight. The freed mutants escape, led by a young Scott Summers, while Kayla mortally wounded, elects to stay. In the proceeding scene, it shows the escaped mutants being greeted by Professor Charles Xavier who offers them sanctuary. Logan then lures Weapon XI to the top of one of the cooling towers there and is assisted by Victor in decapitating Weapon XI. Victor flees after stating something along the lines of "We're brothers. We look out for each other." Gambit saves Wolverine from the collapsing tower and then proceeds to check on the already escaped mutants. Stryker then appears from his destroyed complex and shoots Logan in the head with adamantium bullets causing him to concuss. As he approaches Silverfox to shoot her, she grabs his leg and uses her power of suggestion to make him walk nonstop before she passes on. Wolverine now awoken by Gambit and apparently acquires amnesia from the gun shots to the head. As the ambulance and fire trucks arrive, Gambit urges Wolverine to follow him but he refuses, preferring to go his own way. Logan sees Firefox and perhaps noticing her as someone familiar, stops to regard her before making himself scarce.
On a plane ride to Nigeria both James and Victor meets Wade Wilson (Deadpool), John Wraith,
Fred Dukes - aka The Blob (Kevin Durand), Agent Zero (Daniel Henney) and Bradley (Dominic Monaghan of LotR fame) where James reveals his all too familiar fear of flying. Upon landing and invading an underground diamond smuggling operation, Stryker reveals his intent in acquiring a unique piece of metal fragment. This led them to a remote village in Nigeria. Whilst persistent questioning by Stryker of the village head gave no headway into the location of the metal fragment, Stryker ordered a complete annhilation of the villagers. Victor snapped the head of the village chief and a brief moment of massare ensued before James halted his brother's actions and ultimately the rest of the team. Making his objections known, James left the team, preferring a more peaceful and non-violent life.Fast forward six years to the Canadian rocki
es, James, now going by the name Logan lives with his girlfriend Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins) and seems to enjoy his newfound life. Elsewhere, Victor visits Bradley at his new life as a circus showman and kills him, though the reasons for doing so were not made clearly known. Stryker appears at Logan's workplace and warns him of the death of members of the previous team but Logan pays no heed. After an incident in which Logan's nightmares injures Kayla, she tells him a story of a wolverine and his love for the moon. After Victor kills his girlfriend, Logan goes on a rampage for blood and tracks down Victor. A fight ensued but Logan was savagedly beaten and got the claws on his left hand broken. Stryker meeting Logan in the hospital after his injury offers him a way to beat Victor to which Logan agreed.After the scene shifts to a laboratory in an undisclosed location, Logan was given his old dog tags but he refused and requested the names on them to be changed to Wolverine and Logan, in memory of his late girlfriend. Logan was now secured in a supine position within a steel tank filled with a clear unknown liquid. With limbs clasped with metal brackets, Logan listens to Stryker explaining of the importance of the metal fragment they were searching for before and of how from it they were able to create the near indestructible alloy called adamantium. The objective was then to fuse Logan's skeletal structure with adamantium. As the process began the pain felt by Logan caused him to relive all the his previous moments of misery and torment and ended with him flatlining. But Logan's regenerative powers kick in soon after and upon hearing the Stryker wanted to erase his memory broke out into a rampage and escaped. Running into an elderly couple, Logan was given shelter by them while he explores his newly acquired abilities. The bonding occurring between the elderly couple and Logan dissipated soon after in the morning when both were assassinated by Agent Zero. A skirmish then ensued as Logan attempted to evade capture by Agent Zero, taking out Zero in the process.
Meeting up with Wraith and Dukes afterwards, Logan acquired information on the location of a mutant named Remy LeBeau, who knows of Stryker's location. Wraith elects to tag along. Upon meeting Remy, the Cajun was distrustful of Logan's intent and began to attack him while Victor slays Wraith and takes a sample of his blood.
Logan faces off with Victor and has got the better of his half brother but Remy interrupts the fight, allowing Victor to escape. Once convinced that Logan was genuine in his intent of eliminating Stryker and destroying his project of abducting mutants, Remy brings Logan by plane to Stryker's facility on Three Mile Island. There, Logan learns that Silverfox is still alive and was conspiring with Stryker the whole time in exchange for her abducted sister's safety, but still genuinely loved Logan. Logan, feeling hurt and betrayed, leaves and Stryker refuses Victor to give the adamantium bonding promised for his service, on the basis that he will not survive the procedure. Victor, enraged, tries to kill Kayla, but Logan hears her screams and stops him. Logan nearly kills Victor but spares him, and agrees to help Kayla free the imprisoned mutants.Stryker then activates the "mutant killer", Weapon XI, a combination of DNA and abilities from various mutants, inclusive of Logan's own healing ability and adamantium skeleton. Logan engages in battle with Weapon XI while allowing time for Kayla to free the other prisoners, including her sister. Overwhelmed by Weapon XI's fighting ability, Logan finds it difficult to stave him off and is joined by Victor in the fight. The freed mutants escape, led by a young Scott Summers, while Kayla mortally wounded, elects to stay. In the proceeding scene, it shows the escaped mutants being greeted by Professor Charles Xavier who offers them sanctuary. Logan then lures Weapon XI to the top of one of the cooling towers there and is assisted by Victor in decapitating Weapon XI. Victor flees after stating something along the lines of "We're brothers. We look out for each other." Gambit saves Wolverine from the collapsing tower and then proceeds to check on the already escaped mutants. Stryker then appears from his destroyed complex and shoots Logan in the head with adamantium bullets causing him to concuss. As he approaches Silverfox to shoot her, she grabs his leg and uses her power of suggestion to make him walk nonstop before she passes on. Wolverine now awoken by Gambit and apparently acquires amnesia from the gun shots to the head. As the ambulance and fire trucks arrive, Gambit urges Wolverine to follow him but he refuses, preferring to go his own way. Logan sees Firefox and perhaps noticing her as someone familiar, stops to regard her before making himself scarce.
The Critique
First off, any self-respecting Marvel comic fan would know how much mangling was done to the original Wolverine storyline just so that it could be fit onto the big screen. Maybe the writers and producers had forgotten the very idea which makes Wolverine interesting, in that it was always the enveloping air of mystery around him. Of him not knowing who he was and where he had been and despite of Professor X's efforts was still unable to retrieve his memory. This is the aspect of Wolverine, his vulnerability, so to speak which endears his fans to him. Otherwise he would just be another indestructible walking killing machine that is used as the main gear in an action driven plot, which I suspected was what they were aiming at. And with all due respect to the medical researchers who assisted or advised in the plot creation, how does heavy trauma to the head guarantee a total memory wipe? I've personally seen alcohol, drugs and cerebral vascular accidents having more effect than most cases of head trauma. In the comics, wasn't it some intricate brainwashing technique that was used on Logan to wipe his memory?
Then again, maybe I'm comparing the movie to the comics a bit too much. On the basis of the movie alone, it was a movie of sufficient standard. Given the plot holes within as well as the overuse of cameos of established Marvel characters. Not that I do not welcome such cameos but perhaps it should have been done with more taste than just simply adding them into the plot whenever possible. The CGI was good but then it is sort of the norm to expect such standards of computer generated imagery in movies, especially in those involving high action content. All in all, personally, I was a bit disappointed with the movie. I had hoped that it would retain the air of mystery surrounding the main character but unfortunately it has made him, at least in the movie world, a much less interesting character.
Watch it if you really have to but otherwise wait for the DVD release but even then, the comics would be a better bet.
Then again, maybe I'm comparing the movie to the comics a bit too much. On the basis of the movie alone, it was a movie of sufficient standard. Given the plot holes within as well as the overuse of cameos of established Marvel characters. Not that I do not welcome such cameos but perhaps it should have been done with more taste than just simply adding them into the plot whenever possible. The CGI was good but then it is sort of the norm to expect such standards of computer generated imagery in movies, especially in those involving high action content. All in all, personally, I was a bit disappointed with the movie. I had hoped that it would retain the air of mystery surrounding the main character but unfortunately it has made him, at least in the movie world, a much less interesting character.
Watch it if you really have to but otherwise wait for the DVD release but even then, the comics would be a better bet.
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