Posted: 10/03/2009

X-Men Origins:Wolverine on DVD

by Elaine Hegwood Bowen

X-Men Origins:Wolverine is the story based on comic book characters about a group of mutants who go about saving the world. The team is separated, and the movie goes about bringing the men back together. But in one case there are two brothers, and one brother isn’t easily persuaded to start crime fighting again.

The movie begins in the 1800’s, when Wolverine (James), played by the luscious Hugh Jackman, and Victor Creed, his half brother, played by Liev Schreiber, grow up hard and fast and are somehow thrust into the 20th and 21st Centuries, fighting together in the Civil War, World War I and II, and the Vietnam War, before they join the crime fighting team. But the two brothers have distinct personalities, with Wolverine as the kind, gentler one and Victor always on the ready to go into battle and leave carnage behind.

The brothers join the secret military Team X and go out with others to invade a diamond trafficking operation in Nigeria and steal a meteorite. Wolverine is unhappy about how the ensuing interrogation is carried out, and he leaves the team. He views it as immoral, I believe, and he wants to lead a simple, normal, sane life. But as Wolverine, he can’t be too simple, or normal, since when upset, his fingernails protrude from his knuckles to form steel claw-like weapons.

He tries to go it alone, as a logger in the Northwest, and Jackman is marvelous as this Marvel action figure turned movie star.
As members of the original team turn up dead, Wolverine is asked to rejoin the team. He’s reluctant, and it takes much persuading to get him to arm up for battle. But, after his girlfriend ends up dead, and Victor is the culprit behind her death, Wolverine agrees to rejoin the team. Afterward, he’s “retrofitted” with adamantium, a virtually indestructible metal retrieved from the confiscated meteorite.

The rest of the movie finds Wolverine trying to keep his cool long enough so that he can challenge his brother for the loss of his sweetheart.
The movie is filled with grand special effects, energy and action, and the Wolverine steals the show, although other cast members include Major Stryker, Bolt, Wraith and Gambit.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is available on DVD, and worth having in one’s DVD collection.

Elaine Hegwood Bowen is an editor, writer and film critic in Chicago.

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