Hugh Jackman is great returning as Wolverine, the character that put him on the movie map, but “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is not  the best movie in this franchise.

I waited to write this review, because as a fairly die hard fan of X-Men, I have to say this prequel has me going back and forth on how great it is… or isn’t, mostly because some of the things I thought I knew about the characters in the X-Men universe were quite different in this movie.

After walking out of the theater when the end credit clip was finished (you should stay to the very end), I had the movie rated an 8.5… but I’ve decided that’s too high.

The action is great, the fighting sequences are solid, the story is well crafted, the special effects and editing and photography are good and most of the casting is spot-on.

For the fanboys: Ryan Reynolds was a great choice as the wisecracking Wade Wilson (Deadpool), Liev Schreiber is good as Victor Creed (Sabretooth), Danny Huston does well as the younger Col. William Stryker, Daniel Henney was good as David North (Agent Zero), Kevin Durand does well as Frederick J. Dukes (The Blob), and Will i Am does well as John Wraith.

I’m not saying Taylor Kitsch was bad as Remy LeBeau (Gambit), he just wasn’t the loner with a cajun accent and rebel attitude that I’m used to.

There’s a lot of creative licenses the filmmakers took with several storylines (and obviously timelines) that had me puzzled… and will have other fans scratching their heads.  For example the relationship between Wolverine and Sabretooth, the progression of Wade Wilson’s character, the physical difference between Sabretooth in this movie and the less intelligent, more feral one played by Tyler Mane in the original “X-Men”, etc.

It was cool to see some fun cameos by characters from the other “X-Men” movies.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

(more…)

The Associated Press Reports two different clips in the end credits of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

UPDATE 5/2/09: The version I saw at Celebration! North in Grand Rapids included Col. Stryker and Deadpool in the end credits… anybody in West Michigan see a different version?

this is straight from AP:

LOS ANGELES — Fans of “Wolverine” who watched the online leak of the film won’t miss one thing by skipping the theatre — they’ll miss at least two.

Director Gavin Hood says the theatrical version of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” due out Friday, features two different “Easter egg” endings. The short bits of footage play after the credits and reveal important information about key characters. Hood says the two endings play on separate prints, so different theatres may show different footage.

The full-length work print leaked last month has a different ending than the one recently screened for reporters.

I haven’t seen a screening yet, so I’ll be right there waiting to the end like everyone else this weekend!!

Follow my updates on twitter: http://twitter.com/aaronlafferty

Add to your RSS feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/woodtv8-blogs-laff-at-the-movies?format=html

YouTube Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=WOODTV8&view=videos&query=laff+at+the+movies

Tempe, Arizona wins the world premiere of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

Thousands voted to win the premiere for Tempe.    The red carpet premiere on Monday, April 27th will include cast members:  Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Will.i.am, Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins and director Gavin Hood.

The rest of the country will have to wait until Friday, May 1st.

–

Posted April 15, 2009: (more…)

 This is the first of planned prequels to the X-Men movies focused on popular characters.  Hugh Jackman returns to play Wolverine for a fourth time as we see his life before the events of the X-Men movies from childhood to adult.  We’ll also get to see a variety of X-Men characters that never made it in the three movies (like Gambit, Deadpool, the Blob, and Emma Frost).

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” the first chapter in the X-Men saga, unites Wolverine with several other legends of the X-Men universe, in an epic revolution that pits the mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them. 

Nationwide release is May 1st.

CHECK OUT THE TRAILER THROUGH THIS LINK

Cast of characters:
Hugh Jackman (Wolverine)
Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)
Liev Schreiber (Sabretooth)
Dominic Monaghan (Beak)
Lynn Collins (Silver Fox),
Danny Huston (William Stryker)
Daniel Henney (Agent Zero)

(more…)

 West Michigan joins the country with an Official Oscar Party

West Michigan wants you to be able to walk the red carpet…. well, sort of thanks to a high-end watch party.

The Waterfront Film Festival¹s Oscar Night America Party will be the first party of its kind in West Michigan sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the only official party in the West Michigan media market.

The event will be held at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (41 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids), Sunday February 22nd, starting at 6:30p.m., tickets are $125 per person and include food and an open bar.  You can get tickets at West Michigan Schuler Books & Music locations or online: at the Waterfront Film Festival’s site or contact Kristin Salerno with any questions 616-340-1086 or kristinsalerno@yahoo.com.   The event is a fundraiser for the Waterfront Film Festival, a portion of each ticket price is tax deductible.

Attire for the event is elegant, artistic, black-tie optional.

For more info on Academy Award winners in attendance, how the West Michigan Film industry is involved, check out this press release.  Grand Rapids’ Oscar Night America Party mentioned on the official Academy Awards website.

Follow along with an Official Oscar Ballot

Whether you’re going to the big party or hosting your own watch party, here’s an official Oscar Ballot to print out for this year’s awards.

 Hugh Jackman will host

If you’re watching at home, stage and screen actor Hugh Jackman will be a first time host of the 81st Annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2009 on ABC (airs on WOTV in West Michigan).

The 40 year old Australian native has appeared in (more…)

Australia is a new modern epic, that is very good, but its no Gone with the Wind

The nearly 3 hour run time of Australia is noticeable, but the movie’s plot didn’t drag – there’s just a lot of story to tell

With its sweeping scenes, set pieces, costumes and great cinematography, Australia could get some Academy Awards – Nicole Kidman could get a nomination, but Hugh Jackman probably won’t – there’s just too many strong performances from male leads already this year – and more to come in the next few weeks

 “Australia”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for some violence, a scene of sensuality, and brief strong language) (2 hr, 45 min)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Tony Barry, David Gulpilil, Brandon Walters, David Wenham, Jack Thompson

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Genre: Period Adventure/Drama/War/Western/Epic

The Plot: Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand.

MY TAKE (spoiler-free): I’ve always wanted to go to Australia, in middle school I even had a pen pal from Australia and was jealous when my grandparents went to Australia and literally – all I got was a t-shirt.  The scenery and the sweeping landscapes in this movie may be enough to hold me over for a few more years.

While other modern epics like Lord of the Rings (2001), Gladiator (2000), Empire of the Sun (1987), are better, Australia is a dramatic look back at a time in history when most Americans were focused on the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the U.S. involvement in World War II.

In Australia, the film’s smart casting of native Australians Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman pays off – as they grab the accent and effortlessly breathe life into their characters.   Their chemistry is great – going from prickly to passionate over the movie’s nearly 3 hours.  

(more…)