So I was able to go see Wolverine on opening day last Friday. I was
SUPER stoked, because I am a huge comic fan (obviously). I heard that
the critics were ripping Wolverine a new one, but I didn’t care. I
mean, come on, this was WOLVERINE. The classic anti-hero. The guy who’s
the best at what he does. And what he does ISN’T VERY NICE.
Right?
There’s not much to screw up with a dude with huge metal claws slicing the crap out of people. Well. You’d be surprised.
So what did I think? I think it was a decent enough movie. Good enough to see in the theaters? If you’re a comic fan, definitely. If not, well, I’d say, maybe not.
As far as the movie following the comics…let’s be real, if the movie followed the comics, the movie
would be 12 days long and completely incomprehensible. I understand that they need to condense it down to it’s pure elements, get the best stuff that works onscreen and go with that.
This movie didn’t do that! There was a lot of action, which I loved, but the plot was so woefully thin. Some parts didn’t even make sense. Others were silly. Others were against the laws of physics.
I mean, you don’t need to have a Watchmen sort of script to make a good comic movie. Just look at Iron Man. It had a really simple premise – a rich arrogant dude in a metal armored battle suit fights evil. And that movie was AWESOME.
So overall, it wasn’t a bad movie. The action was excellent and Hugh Jackman did a bang up job. But the plot and dialogue weren’t up to par. The essence of Wolverine…was a bit missing. Let me expound.
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SPOILER ALRT!!!!
If you don’t want spoilers, don’t read below!
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What were my issues?
1. We didn’t REALLY see the animal side of Wolverine.
They kept TALKING about it, but we never really saw it. Sure he got plenty mad sometimes, but he was always in control. In the comics Wolverine is known for his “berserker rage”. That’s where he got so angry, he literally lost his mind, and would become feral, or animal like, and it would take a lot to bring him back to the world of rational humanity.
2. Sabertooth is Wolverine’s brother
What? In the comics they are such mortal enemies, it was strange seeing them be friends and fight side-by-side. Sure, after weapon-x and things, wolverine doesn’t remember much and actually does end up fighting with sabertooth as a comrade. But it’s not like they grew up together as blood brothers or something.
3. Deadpool was ridiclous
He barely resembles the real Deadpool at all! The beginning half of the movie he actually was a pretty cool Deadpool. After that it sucked. He has two katanas in each arm?? How does he bend his arm when they’re not extended?
4. Wolverine seemed weak
I understand this is his origin story. I understand he gets beat a lot by other people. But come on! He’s the quintessential rebel. Show us how much of animal he is, how he can channel that rage and become an unstoppable healing fighting machine. That’s what I wanted.
5. Plot was hard to follow at times
The whole Gambit sub-plot didn’t add to the progression of the movie at all. Sure, I was geeking out like everyone else when Gambit showed up. But really think about it – if he hadn’t been in the movie, and someone else told him where the island was, the plot wouldn’t have changed AT ALL. That’s gotta tell you something,
Why did Stryker send Silver Fox to live with Wolverine? For six years? So that he could trick him to be experimented on? Surely there’s a simpler way that that! Just kidnap him and drug him!
Why did Stryker let Wolverine go after they experimented on him? Why’d he let him go after he found out the truth about Silver Fox?Why did Gambit break up the fight between Wolverine and Sabertooth? Especially when he saw
Wolverine was about to kill Sabertooth? Why’d he even start the fight when Wolverine said he wanted to kill everyone on the island? Wouldn’t Gambit want that to?
Why would an adamantium bullet cause amnesia in Wolverine? What’s special about adamantium that he couldn’t heal back from that?
What exactly is the Blob’s powers?
I could go on…
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So, overall, I think the biggest problem was the plot. Not only did it have problems, but you didn’t really end up caring about many of the characters. Will.I.Am’s character? The blob? Billy Boyd? There’s no backstory. When those people died, you just ended up not caring that much.
So the best judge of a lot of comic book movies is to compare it to others.
Better than Spiderman? No.
Better than Superman? Maybe.
Better than Batman? No.
Better than Iron Man? Heck no.
Better than Fantastic Four? Yes.
Better than Punisher, Elektra, Daredevil, or Ghost Rider? Heck yes.
Better than X-Men? No.
There ya have it.
