X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Fox

R4 DVD

Wolverine is a major character within the X-Men franchise and this film explores his origins and early life. A second film based on his character is also under development. One of the unique things about the X-Men franchise is its focus on alienation and the role of the “outsider”. There are not superheros in the usual sense of the word but individuals with unique gifts which make them both feared and held in awe. It also means that they are alienated from the world around (including in many cases their families) and used and abused for their abilities, especially by the military.

Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, is a significant figure in the franchise. He is difficult, brusque and stands separate even from other X-Men. He trusts no one and wants to work alone at every opportunity, he only co-operates when he is forced to by circumstance and need.

In this film we come face-to-face with the brutality of living as someone who is different. In revenge for what he sees as his father’s death, he realizes he is adopted and has killed his real father so goes on the run with Victor Creed. Victor (in the comics known as Sabretooth) is a way too devoted brother and as they go through many lives together (they seem to be close to immortal) while Wolverine aka Logan becomes more compassionate, Victor develops a contempt for those who won’t accept them. Victor truly adores Logan but resents his desire to live a normal life and becomes more and more violent and unstable.

The story meanders between action film, special effects spectacular and angst ridden set-pieces. At times it seems to have a trouble balancing the science fiction come superhero tale with the emotional driven themes. X-Men, the first film in the franchise, directed by Bryan Singer was father more adroit at balancing emotion and spectacle than this one.

There are lots of sub plots along the way which are used to describe the various elements of Wolverine’s character as understood in the other films in the franchise. These do seem a little “forced” but since this is a prequel things do need to fit together, even if not perfectly. The most successful explanations are those about Logan’s transformation into Wolverine through a government secret project using Adamantine, an element not found on earth but only in fallen meteor pieces. Logan undertakes this process as he wants revenge for the death of his wife by Victor. However as the complex tale unfolds we find his wife was an “agent” of the secret government agency and the a trap was set to extract Wolverine’s DNA and use it to help create the ultimate X-Men powered weapon, Weapon XI. The battle between Wolverine and later both Wolverine and Victor against Weapon XI is impressive being set on Three Mile Island with lots of explosions and special effects.

The ongoing war between brothers Logan/Wolverine and Victor is impressive and forms the backbone of the film. Most of the other X-Men figures are stereotypical and their characters are not especially well developed. Their only role seems to be to create a stage on which the “battle of brothers” can be played out with some good old government conspiracies thrown in for good measure.

The ending of the film where Wolverine is shot with Adamantine bullets which erase his memory is a little too neat and while it sets the stage for the original films is a bit of a letdown.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is an entertaining film with lots of action but it had so much more potential. Wolverine is one of the more interesting of the X-Men characters filled with angst, suffering and regret and so much more could have been made of him in this film. When it ended it left me with a feeling of opportunities lost.

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This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 4 of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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