X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) - Rating: 4 petals out of 5

An indestructible force meets immovable objects

Photos in this post are from http://www.picapp.com
(Spoiler Alert - This review may contain spoilers)

I am always amazed that scientists (mad or otherwise) create indestructible forces and then are surprised at how much damage they actually create. But I am getting ahead of the review. The creation of the near immortal wolverine does not come until about halfway into the film.

The movie stats in the 1800’s with a young James (Wolverine/Logan) who in an unfortunate manner realizes that he is a mutant and that he just killed his father. Not good for the young cub but luckily for him, his best friend (or one and only friend) also happens to be his brother by the father he just killed. Okay, so the kid had a rough night and a fairly rough life afterwards. Rough in the sense that these brothers only seem to spend their free time fighting in wars and getting themselves “killed”. During the war scenes it is painfully obvious by the disgusted looks that James gives his brother Victor (Sabertooth), that James is not enjoying himself very much. Another surprise is that Victor either ignores it for some 200 years or, he just does not realize it (also not plausible). So, James hangs around with his big bro for 2 centuries while hating Victor’s lust for collateral damage and not doing much about it except once in a while trying to stop him from completing the more heinous crimes. One wonders what he does not stop him from doing.

Things change for the bros when they meet Striker and join some other mutants on secret government missions. Well, not before long, James decides that he has had enough and walks out, leaving Victor a little sad and a lot peeved. Before he goes, the audience gets to see the other mutants in action. Ryan Reynolds has a great scene showcasing his sword fighting skills and pretty much steals the scenes he is in, including the ones at the end of the film.

In true action flick genre style, guy meets girl, falls in love, bad guys return, girl gets hurt and revenge rant leads to hero doing something unthinkable like becoming a human experiment for the government. And the meaner, tougher, stronger Wolverine is born. Cool, we’ve been waiting for this. After watching the first three X-Men films enquiring minds want to know how Logan becomes Wolverine, and now we know. Great – and again in true action flick fashion, the reason is stupid and avoidable. I can think of many different ways to seek revenge on the guilty party in this film, however none of them would have resulting in the adamantia (did I spell that right?)enforced Wolverine. So my reasons are mute.

Back to the review:

If Wolverine is the indestructible force, does that make Sabertooth the immovable object? Or is Striker the immovable one. These two are extremely focused on their goals, both of which included getting Wolverine to cooperate. And neither one dies in this portion of the storyline. Sabertooth reemerges in the first X-Men film and an older Striker comes back in the second. So we know that they live to see another day.

But the film is more action than substance. Luckily the actions scenes are good and nicely computer generated. There is also a scene with 2 old folks who resemble Superman’s foster parents complete with barn and pickup truck. The film works because it is loaded with good actors (not just superstars).

• Hugh Jackman is great as Wolverine, having played him in 3 previous films. He does both the action and comedic scenes with great finesse.
• Will –i-am is wonderful as John Wraith – who knew he could act.
• The other X-men, including Gambit are fun to watch. The actors really got into charater and were very convincing.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not as good as Iron Man (which gets 5 petals) but it does a few things right:

• It answers those questions X-Men fans wanted answered.
• The film introduced great X-Men characters who will probably be soon getting their own films.
• The picture has great stunts and good action sequences.
• There are some funny lines which help with all the action stuff.

So, 4 petals. I can’t give it 5 petals and it does not deserve 3.

Warning – the film contains partial nudity.

Star Trek (2009) - Rating: 4 petals out of 5

Something new has been added

Pictured above: Anton Yelchin (Chekov), Chris Pine (Kirk), Simon Pegg (Scott), Karl Urban (Bones), John Cho (Sulu), Zoe Saldana (Uhuru)

(Spoiler Alert - this review may contain spoilers)

For me, the beauty of Star Trek was first, the Enterprise, second, the crew and third, the storyline of political and racial/species interactions. And lastly, Star Trek is always fun to watch. So, I love Star Trek - and when I heard they were making a new movie I could hardly contain my excitement. Having never forgiven the franchise for destroying the Enterprise D, I was waiting, hoping and longing for them to make a good come back. And I was not disappointed.

I was not utterly blown away, but I was not disappointed. Hence the 4 petal rating. (4 petals are good.)

But why 4 petals and not 5? Here is why:

The movie starts out with the birth of James T. Kirk and the death of his father. A very touching, tear jerking scene which the movie could have done without. Why the drama? His dad dies, that is bad enough. (They did not have to add the "oh poor baby, now he has to grow up with only a mom" effect. Plenty of very well adjusted kids grow up with only a mom. )

Anyhow, we move forward to Kirk as an young man who meets his future crew mates, Uhuru and Pike in a bar. The bar scene is okay and does it's job of getting Kirk to join starfleet. But the movie, for me began when Karl Urban, playing Bones, arrives aboard the shuttle craft and meets Kirk. Chris Pine and Urban play off each other very well and all their scenes together are enjoyable to watch. And they do have some funny scenes.

Kirk and Spock (played by Zachary Quinto) on the other hand, are at each others throats, literally and figuratively from the time they meet. Quinto plays a good Spock, even though Leonard Nimoy placed his stamp on that role some 40 years ago. It must have been hard to play Spock, not like Nimoy but still channel Nimoy enough to play a young Spock.

Spock, like Kirk, Bones and Scott are well known characters and playing young versions of these men must have been challenging. But the new cast does a very good job. Pine's Kirk was spot on, including the macho sprawl in the captain's chair. Cho had some action sequences which I am sure the original Sulu would have liked to play. Saldana, the lone female adds alot to Uhuru's character. It was great to see Uhuru play a major role in the film.

Back to the story (Spoiler Alert):

The story, was credible and gave the franchise license to take Star Trek in a new direction. This new path includes a romance between Spock and Uhuru (that is new) and continues with Kirk sleeping with green women (consistency is needed to link the old to the new).

And the story in brief, is that in the future Spock (played by Nimoy) tries to help the Romulans and fails., causing Nero to become enraged. Spock and Nero are swept into the past and arrive about 25 years apart. Nero arrives first, kills Kirk's dad and hangs around until Spock turns up. He destroys Vulcan (again, something new) and forces future Spock-Nimoy and younger Spock-Quinto to watch. Spock's mom and a few billion Vulcans die in the process. So now Spock and Kirk have Nero to blame for killing one of their parents. And the revenge fest ensues.

Along the way the action is great, the crew picks up Scott in the most amusing way and everyone is on the edge of their seats. Coming into the theatre we thought we knew how the story ended, after all, Star Trek the original series was around in the sixties, so these fellows survive - RIGHT?

Or maybe not. With the new plot twists and alternate time line, no one quite knows what is going to happen next. Which makes the movie great!! And exciting!!!

Wow, who knew that they could revive the franchise in such a spectacular fashion? And I am grateful. Everyone should have the pleasure of being hopelessly hooked on the adventures on the Starship Enterprise like I am.

So I forgive them these few things, which I would otherwise find utterly unforgivable:

• the Star Wars type creatures (which I really do not like)


• the obvious changes made to the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701


• the Enterprise coming charging out of warp drive, photon torpedoes blazing (very Star Warszy)

Some pluses:

• It was great to see the Enterprise on the big screen again


• It is always great to see Nimoy play Spock (I almost cried)


• Bruce Greenwood is fantastic as Captain Pike. But when is Bruce Greenwood not fantastic? Does he age? Yeah, he looks older, but he looks awesome too. He is rivalling Brosnan and Patrick Stewart for the best looking man over 50 award.


• Eric Bana was a good Nero.


• Yelchin was funny with his Russian accent.

My advice - go watch Star Trek. It is fun and funny; exciting and suspenseful. Even if you never watched Star Trek and hate the idea of seeing talking creatures on the screen - I think you will enjoy it.