X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Hugh Jackman is back—hunky and hirsute—as Wolverine. An interesting prologue, set in 1845, establishes Logan (the future Wolverine) and his brother, Victor Creed (Live Schreiber), as mutant siblings driven from their homes by ignorant countrymen. As both are virtually indestructible, they become professional warriors, fighting in the Civil War, both World Wars, and Vietnam before being drafted into a special mutant unit employed in covert operations. Eventually, Logan, his bloodlust slaked, goes AWOL and settles in the Canadian Rockies with his wife (Lynn Collins). Years later, her seemingly senseless murder drives him back into the hands of his old team leader, Colonel Stryker (Danny Huston), who enhances his powers with the adamantium injections that make him the Wolverine we all know and love. But Logan is betrayed by Stryker and his renegades, setting the stage for an explosive confrontation and a shocking surprise. As comic-book movies go, filmmaker Gavin Hood's X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a solid entry. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include two audio commentary tracks (the first by director Gavin Hood; the second by producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter), “The Roots of Wolverine” conversation with former Marvel Comics chairman Stan Lee and comic book editor Len Wein (17 min.), a “Wolverine Unleashed: The Complete Origins” featurette (12 min.), deleted and alternate scenes (10 min.), a bonus digital copy of the film, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are the “Weapon X Mutant Files” with character bios (54 min.), a Fox Movie Channel-produced “World Premiere” featurette (7 min.), “The Thrill of the Chase” segment on the helicopter sequence (6 min.), four “BonusView” picture-in-picture tracks—including “X Connect” with Donner and Hood, “The Director's Chair” with Hood, “Pre-Visualizing Wolverine” on artwork and storyboards, and an “X Facts” trivia track—and a BD-Live “Live Lookup” function that allows IMDb access to actor filmographies and more. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a fun comic-book action-adventure popcorn flick.] (E. Hulse)