X-Men Origins: Wolverine - Movie Review and Synopsis
An origins story that follows the early life of James Howlett (Jackman), also known as Logan, and best known as Wolverine. The chronicle of his younger years as a mutant connects to his relationship and eventual falling out with Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Schreiber), and his fateful entry into the Weapons X project, the governmental program that turns willing and unwilling beings into living weapons.
Media-friendly producer Lauren Shuler Donner was the first person to promise a bleak look into James Howlett’s backstory (call it Dark Knight effect), but when that didn’t gel with initial reports that Fox wants/wanted a more PG-13 take on their first X-Men spin-off, it seemed like everyone involved with the production stepped up to let fans know everything was (mostly) copacetic on set and in the editing suite. Latest reports indicate director Gavin Hood is “90% pleased” with the final results. And what about the rumors of Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool project being in development? I doubt it’s an overstatement, and Reynold’s definitely pushing for it.
Director: Gavin Hood
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Release Date: 1 May 2009 (USA)
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
A multi-strand narrative set in early 1980’s Los Angeles, centered on an array of characters who represent both the top of the heap (a Hollywood dream merchant, a dissolute rock star, an aging newscaster) and the bottom (a voyeuristic doorman, an amoral ex-con). Connecting the intertwining strands are a group of beautiful, blonde young men and women who sleep all day and party all night, doing drugs — and one another –with abandon, never realizing that they are dancing on the edge of a volcano.
A successful asset manager, who has just received a huge promotion, is blissfully happy in his career and in his marriage. But a temp worker starts stalking him, all the things he’s worked so hard for are placed in jeopardy.
A petty thief is gunned down in an alley and a Congressman’s assistant falls in front of a subway – two seemingly unrelated deaths. But not to wisecracking, brash newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey who spies a conspiracy waiting to be uncovered. With a turbulent past connected to the Congressman and the aid of ambitious young rookie writer Della Frye, Cal begins uprooting clues that lead him to a corporate cover-up full of insiders, informants, and assassins. But as he draws closer to the truth, the relentless journalist must decide if it’s worth risking his life and selling his soul to get the ultimate story.
Upon discovering he was sent to Earth to carrying out a sinister plan, a humanoid alien named Goku (Chatwin) looks to fulfill his dying grandfather’s wish: Prevent the evil Piccolo (Marsters) and his alien forces from collecting seven mystical artifacts which would allow him to take over our planet. In order to fend off the attackers, Goku must find Master Roshi (Chow), who is the one person who can set him on the right path.
