MOVIE REVIEW - X-Men Origins Wolverine

With the release of X-Men Origins Wolverine, the blockbuster summer movie season has officially begun. This one stars heartthrob Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and his life leading up to him being the X-Men character you've known in the first couple of X-Men movies.

Prequels have become very trendy in Hollywood over the past ten years or so. It gives movie makers a chance to tell more of a story, and make more money for a successful movie franchise. And XMOW is off to a great start at the box office. Cha-ching!

You know from the original X-Men movies, Wolverine is the indestructible mutant with the slashy metal blades that jet out from his hands. XMOW is the story of the government project that takes this "regular" mutant and gives him the gift of being indestructible. And of course, it's a project gone wrong and the government changes their mind, and has ulterior motives, and even sets out to kill our hero. Blah, blah, blah.......here we go again. The government gets it wrong, and is the big evil. Even if this the way you may feel about the Feds, have you seen this storyline enough? Can't anyone be more original?

To be very honest, if you're a fan of the X-Men you will love this movie. If you're not, or if you're not into superhero movies in general, this movie will miss with you. This is an over-the-top special effects fest on steroids. While there is plenty of action for all, much of this is just looks silly, and as I watched it I envisioned a bunch of 14 year - olds thinking how cool this all is. There is no new ground here, and the effects have been used in countless movies in the past. I found myself checking my watch more than a few times wondering when this pubescent picture was going to be over.

Although with all things in perspective, this is summer fun movie time, and at times this is. But by and large this flick thin on any kind of meaningful story, or dialogue to mention. The real downfall of XMOW is that we've seen this movie 150 times before in one way or another. The same effects, same silly spoken lines, and a soundtrack that sounds just like every other superhero movie ever made.

X-Men Origins Wolverine, If you're a fan, go and have fun. If you're being dragged along for the ride, or expecting to see something exciting and new....you'll be checking your watch too.