| Wolverine: Declawed |
| Written by John Narcomey |
| Friday, May 01, 2009 |
|
So here i am at 2:44 in the a.m. home from the midnight showing of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and all I have to say is " I am disappointed." I look back on July of 08' when i first saw the trailer for this movie at Comic-con San Diego were Hugh Jackman entered Hall H to give the fans a sneak peek of the much talked about Wolverine. And there I was sitting in amazement at what looked like the coolest thing i was going to see next year (right up there with Benecio Del Toros Wolfman, what happened to that movie?). So when the movie was leaked sans effects and everyone within shouting distance was telling me how horrible it was all i could say to them was " I'll have to see it for myself." And see it for myself i did. I don't judge comic book movies or book adaptations on how closely they hold to the source material, for the most part I enjoy when movies of this ilk stray from the source and hold to the spirit of the adapted material (i.e. The Dark Knight, Hellboy 1 & 2, even The Spirit). But a good movie is a good movie and a bad movie is a bad movie no matter what beloved property is used to infuse the marketing. And I must say X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a bad movie - for adults. Not because the continuity of the source material is stretched unbelievably thin or at times completely forgotten. It would be incredibly difficult to place Wolverines complete comic book existence into a 90 minute film. It is basic plausibility and the g-rated goofiness of some of the scenes and set pieces that left me cringing. When i say plausibility i am not talking about the reality of mutants existing, or secret covert government agencies that gene splice humans for there fractured vengence filled motives being realistic, when going to a comic book movie disbelief is meant to be suspended. I'm talking about plausibility with in the world of the movie that I am watching. Take for instance Wolverine; a character in three previous films and now in his own movie who has been to battle, has witnessed wars, has a healing factor and heightened senses who doesn't notice that when his beloved is murdered that there isn't a scratch on her, that the blood all over her body (spoiler alert) is not her own, and that conviniantly cannot heal his own scarred brain but can heal every other part of his body. Honestly how is one supposed to stay involved with such blaring contradictions. And I won't even go into the strange change of attitude Sabertooth has by the end of the film or any of the other plot holes for that matter. Being a business man and an artist I understand the need for the pg-13 rating, Marvel comics is a business and is out to make money from the largest audience possible Iron Man was pg-13 though and the film was as entertaining for me as it was for the kiddies so it can be done even with a character as dark as Wolverine (just look at the Dark Knight or the Hulk vs. Wolverine cartoon.) The fact is huge opportunities were missed, jokes were shallow and played, the plot was dumbed down, and the quick music video editing of the movie left me surprised when the finale slammed me in the face leaving me wondering if i missed the first 3/4 of the movie. And if it wasn't 3:30 in the morning i would go into more detail. The fact is it is 3:30 in the a.m as i type this so I will wrap up with this; X-men Origins: Wolverine has successfully declawed and dare i say neutered Wolverine ( "I didn't say blob i said bub" so says the tough Wolverine) to sell more tickets, toys and the like so If your a parent be prepared to bring your kid cause your gonna' have to, if your grown and or a fan its your dime and your time. P.S. Wolverine's claws were way more realistic in the X-men movies.... |
