First of the Summer Movies: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-men Origins: Wolverine is a solid way to start the summer movie season. It is by no means the caliber of film found in the new Batman films but it is a descent action film. It doesn't lack for cool action scenes, but it could have used a little more bulk in the story line. I mean this movie is all about the mythology of Wolverine so where is the story?.

This movie is all about how Logan/Jimmy (Hugh Jackman) became Wolverine. This is a back-story film. Why does Logan hate Sabretooth so much? Who or what did he lose to make him so angry? And what happened to make him lose his memory? And just how old is he anyways? All these questions are answered and this movie remains true to what we were shown in the X-men films. It was nice that they kept the movies continuous. I hate when films in a series stories don't match up.

We are treated to Logan/Jimmy's history from the time when he is a boy where he witnesses his father killing his adoptive father who Logan then kills to the time he becomes part of the weapon X program where he acquires his adamantium skeleton. I am not going to tell you the details because that would spoil the film.

Since I have never read the comics, I can't vouch for how close to the comic this story comes. But I am sure they took some liberties with the original story. In this installment, Gambit finally gets some air time. I would have liked to seen more of him in this movie and I would have like him to be a little more suave but I will take what I can get.

I also wish we had gotten a little more story. Lots of details and information are glossed over in favor of the action which hurts the movie, I think. And some of the story we do get doesn't make sense. But at least the story we do get matches up with what we are told in the other movies and that continuity is very important to me.

There are some great action scenes. Lots of good fights, destruction and explosions. Some nice effects especially with Gambit's character and some really nice camera angles and shots. The movie itself was nicely done. And the dialog was descent. Didn't have any really cheesy lines like the first film.

The acting was okay. Hugh Jackman still does a good job as Wolverine--my brother thinks Wolverine should be meaner and he does seem a little soft in this film even compared to the Wolverine that shows up in the first X-men film. Liev Schreiber is a good sabretooth, he even looks like an animal. Danny Huston is a decent replacement for Brian Cox as Stryker, but it would have been nice to have all of the original cast. Lynn Collins is good as Kayla Silverfox (Logan's Girlfriend). She doesn't have much of a role but she is believable as her character. And Taylor Kitsch does a passable job as Gambit. I would have liked a little more something else from that character. Ryan Reynolds provides one of the only characters with character as Wade Wilson--he has got a mouth on him, which makes him funny and interesting for the frames he is in. We don't get to know any of the characters in this film like we do the others--they just seem to float into and out of the movie frames.

Overall, this is a decent film. Better than the third X-men movie and maybe as good as the first one? Its light on story, heavy on action with good cinematography and effects and decent acting. Not a bad way to spend two hours but maybe you want to hit the matinee cause this ain't no Dark Knight. But if you liked the other X-men movies you are sure to enjoy this one as well. And be sure to stay after the credits--there is a surprise clip.