When choosing which mutant hero they would use to launch the X-MEN feature-film prequel series ORIGINS, the creators of the hugely successful franchise had a no-brainer of a decision in going with Wolverine. Not only is he the most well-known and popular X-Men character, but Wolverine--as brought expertly to life in true leading-man fashion by Hugh Jackman--was essentially the star of the three previous X-MEN movies.

As the title implies, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE is the back story of the fiery and conflicted Wolverine (né James Logan), whose mutant powers include killer claws that shoot from his knuckles and a regenerative ability that allows him to live seemingly forever. Taking a few mild liberties but staying relatively faithful to the comic-book source material, ORIGINS follows Logan from his first recognition of his mutant powers as a young child up through his infamous adamantium rebirth and the total memory loss that would subsequently fuel his angry quest. Wolverine's story has enough intriguing details to allow for a grown-up psychodrama in the mold of THE DARK KNIGHT, and the actors on hand--including Danny Huston as Stryker and Liev Schreiber as Logan's half-brother, Victor (aka Sabretooth)--have the chops to deliver. Director Gavin Hood, however, opts in favor of cinematic razzle-dazzle heavy on John Woo-style action-ballet and CGI glitz. From Deadpool's eye-popping swordplay (the action-adventure equivalent of Riverdance) to the tightrope-walk of a fight scene in the film's finale, WOLVERINE is a blockbuster action film in the most fundamental sense of the word. While some might complain that the film lacks the storytelling substance of the first two X-MEN films, if it's bang you're after, then this certainly isn't a waste of your bucks.

Rating: PG-13 (MPAA)

Rating Reason: n/a

Runtime:

DVD Code: Region 1 US, CA

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Color: Color

Rating: DVD Features:

Region [unknown]

Hugh Jackman, Danny Huston, Liev Schreiber

Gavin Hood

Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Hugh Jackman, John Palermo

3 stars out of 4 -- "Jackman invests his fierce character with a cheeky attitude, clear-eyed intelligence and inherent decency, compelling viewers to care about his metamorphosis."
USA Today

"It's a solid, efficient comic book movie....Both Jackman and costar Liev Schreiber, who plays Wolverine's even angrier half-brother Sabretooth, are fine actors who throw themselves into whatever they take on..."
Los Angeles Times

"Mr. Schreiber, sporting fangs as well as mutton chops, gives the movie a surly kick..."
New York Times