Hugh Jackman continues his superhero role as Wolverine, with co-stars Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth and Danny Huston as William Stryker. This one hour and 47 minute sci-fi action film reprises main character roles while squeezing in a few new mutants into this continuing X-Men film series. Great fighting sequences, blinding chases and, of course, important character tie-ins permeate the film.
Hugh Jackman still has his star-making physical presence from the 2000 X-Men film and this time his hair isn’t a distraction thanks to a more natural look. Jackman builds the Logan/Wolverine character as an admirable hero who stands up for what’s right no matter what threats he faces. After the initial goal of taking “care of anyone who gets in our way” with close brother and fellow mutant Victor Creed, Logan understands human nature over the years while contending with several powerful mutants.
The plot, beginning in 1845, has great action sequences and engaging themes (the power of being a mutant…of even being indestructible) that make good impressions, but overly familiar hero/villain archetypes clutter up the flow. Wolverine encounters endless cowboy-like showdowns and staged face-offs after a chaotic beginning montage spanning through all the major U.S. wars. Logan eventually finds his limits to violence, but Victor, played by Schreiber, can’t satisfy his insatiable hunger for death. “That’s enough,” Logan shouts at Victor, who continues firing on unseen targets. The frequent violence is savage at times, but largely bloodless to retain the popular PG-13 rating.
Schreiber does a great job physically and emotionally as Victor Creed, a.k.a. Sabretooth (originally played by Tyler Mane in X-Men), but must suffer through some awkward dialogue near the end where he tempts Wolverine to “embrace the other side.”
Huston plays Stryker (played by Brian Cox in X2: X-Men United) who has limitless resources and assets - the only elements that keep him close to the mutants. Stryker exploits that dependence for his own personal gain. Logan understands Stryker’s motives best while Victor adheres to the system of violence. “This is what we do,” Sabretooth says to Wolverine. “What are you going to do, run until they figure out how to do it to you?”
Article comments
1 - thegoddessofdsawn
This movie was awesome. I would go back to see again and again. Hugh Jackman looked hotter than ever!
2 - Xfactor
There's been enough said about the incoherence & weakness of this movie's storyline -- loose ends, unjustified occurrences, distorted storytelling, blah, blah, blah... I agree with some of it.
Now, I want to comment on the smaller production screw-ups that are simply unacceptable for a movie with a budget of such magnitude:
1. Wolverine's fast-drying mutant hairdo. Notice that right after the enraged Wolverine (Weapon X) rises soaked out of the water tank upon his adamantium procedure, he escapes through a sliced hole in the lab wall with a perfectly blow-dried hairdo. I wasn't aware he had that additional mutant ability... psss!
2. Cut & Paste looking Claws animation. As some have commented. What is the deal with the Photoshop looking adamantium claws & sparks as Wolverine's checking them out in the old couple's bathroom? That is simply unacceptable CGI for a major Hollywood production in this day & age.
3. Gambit's irregular Cajun accent. If this Taylor Kitsch dude couldn't consistently maintain the accent, just give the guy less dialogue involvement, edit him out, or just simply cast someone out that can get the accent right.
Despite the poorly weaved & inexplicably altered storyline, based on ridiculous production screw-ups alone, this movie ranks pretty low in my list right along both Hulk & Fantastic 4 movies . And believe me I'm a Marvel fan!