X-Men Origins: Wolverine

I watched this movie summer last year while boarding a passenger ship bound for Bohol. My family was staying in economy cabin, and the television set was shared by all. It was night, a storm was coming to the country, the wind was terribly cold, and I could hear waves violently slapping the hull of the ship. The player was not working properly, but hell, I still watched the movie along with the other boarders. I could not miss the film; I loved the X-Men. Well, here is the movie plot.

In 1845 Canada, young James Howlett sees his father killed by Thomas Logan. The trauma activates the boy's mutation: bone claws protrude from James' hands, and he kills his father's murderer. With his dying breath, Thomas Logan reveals that he, not John Howlett, is James' real father. James flees with Victor Creed, the abused son of their father who is thus James' brother. They spend the next century as soldiers, fighting in the American Civil War. Later, Major William Stryker approaches them and offers them membership in Team X, a group of mutants including marksman Agent Zero, swordsman Wade Wilson, teleporter John Wraith, invincible Fred Dukes and electropathic Chris Bradley. They join the team, but the group's questionable actions and disregard for human life cause James to leave.

Six years later, James, now going by the name Logan, lives in Canada with his girlfriend, Kayla Silverfox. Colonel Stryker locates Logan and warns him that someone is killing members of the team; both Wilson and Bradley are dead. Shortly afterward, Victor murders Kayla and attacks Logan. Stryker offers Logan a way to beat Victor; Logan undergoes an operation to reinforce his skeleton with adamantium, a virtually indestructible metal. Before the procedure, Logan asks for new dog tags inscribed with "Wolverine". Once the procedure is complete, Stryker orders Logan's memory erased, but Logan overhears and fights his way out.

Logan locates Wraith and Dukes and asks them about the location of Stryker's new laboratory, referred to as "The Island". They tell him to find Gambit, who escaped and knows the location of The Island. Logan locates Gambit in New Orleans. Victor manages to find Logan, and after killing Wraith, he attacks him. When Logan is about to kill Victor, Gambit interrupts, giving Victor the chance to escape. Logan and Gambit fight before Logan convinces him he is not working for Stryker. Gambit takes him to Stryker's facility on Three Mile Island. Logan learns that Kayla is alive and conspired with Stryker in exchange for her sister's safety.

Logan leaves, enraging Victor. When Victor demands the adamantium bonding promised for his service, Stryker refuses. Victor attempts to kill Kayla when she tries to persuade him Stryker betrayed them both, but Logan hears her screams and returns. Logan defeats and nearly kills Victor, but stops when Kayla reminds him of his humanity.

Stryker activates Weapon XI, originally Wade Wilson, but now a "mutant killer" with the abilities of other mutants, which Stryker refers to as "The Deadpool". Logan holds Weapon XI off while the other mutants flee. The party is greeted by Professor Charles Xavier, who offers them shelter at his school.

Logan lures Weapon XI to the top of one of the plant's cooling towers. Logan is almost killed until Victor intervenes. Logan decapitates Weapon XI and kicks him into the base of the cooling tower. Victor departs and Logan is saved from the collapsing tower by Gambit. As Logan carries Kayla to safety, Stryker shoots him in the forehead with adamantium bullets, rendering him unconscious. Kayla uses her persuasion powers to make Stryker drop the gun and commands him to walk away before dying from her wounds. Gambit returns as Logan regains consciousness, but the bullets that were shot at his brain have triggered amnesia. Gambit tries convincing Logan to come with him, but he declines, wanting to go his own way.

I was in my third grade when the X-Men action series was shown on TV. It really fascinated me. It was somewhat different than the series today – the composition of the team, the costumes, and even the characters (I remember that Storm was Japanese and not Black). There was no Internet back then and the local stores contained no Marvel comics. So I had to content myself with the TV.

It’s good that Hollywood came up with the movies. I loved the X-Men movie series but it is more exciting to focus on a single character than showcase the whole team. And X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a big success. I got to finally understand the hero.

As expected with superhero movies, this one is packed with heart-stopping actions. The stunts are flawless (for me!), and the special effects are great. There is no dull moment. There is action after action after action. And it’s wonderful! It is almost a two-hour action drama with a little love story, sparing corny attempts for humor. Particularly, I love the fight scene in the farm where Wolverine defeated the battalion of trucks and helicopter. I was amazed how was such moment was shot in good details. It made me jump off my seat. LOL!

Wolverine has become more human with the movie. In the previous films, more than being a rival to Cyclops, he has been portrayed as unkind, impulsive, and ill-tempered. With the “Origins”, we got to see more of his humanitarian side – that he is capable of loving and being loved. There is more depth to his character. His bitterness has been well explained and described. And in the end, we admire the guy not from his being just fierce and strong, but more of who he really is.

I heard there will be a sequel to the film. I’ll await that. And hopefully, the other X-Men would get their own “Origin” movie as well. I really want to understand the characters behind the heroes.

More readings:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wolverine/