OK for kids 13+
More brutal action than in earlier X-Men films.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this comic book prequel isn't as tween-friendly as the earlier X-Men movies. Although many of the mutants are pretty indestructible, the action is still bloodier than in the previous films, thanks to the fact that much of it is carried out with the slashing edge of a claw, talon, or blade. There's also war violence, gunplay, a decapitated animal, and scary/grisly images of medical experiments, as well as kids being taken captive. Also expect mild male nudity (non-sexual shot of bare buttocks), and some drinking and swearing ("s--t" is as strong as it gets).
- Families can talk about whether the violence in this movie has more impact than that of the earlier X-Men movies. Why or why not?
- How are Wolverine's fights different than those of characters with different powers/abilities? Is he comfortable with his strength? How does he control it?
- The film seems to be saying that you can make the choice to not kill an enemy -- but is that message clear amid the high body count?
- Discuss the appeal of comic book movies. Why do audiences like them so much?
The good stuff
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Messages: The messages are a little mixed. Although the film's ultimate message is that mercy is better than vengeance and that human beings and mutants can make the choice not to kill, this realization comes after a lot of people (and mutants) are killed. Teens are taken captive to participate in medical experiments.
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Role models: Wolverine steps up and becomes a leader.
What to watch for
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Violence: Frequent, brutal comic-book violence, as well as real-world shootings, stabbings, and more. There's not a whole lot of blood (most of the mutants are indestructible), but characters are beaten, blown up, shot in the head, slashed with swords/claws, and impaled with blades/claws. There are human casualties, including characters who are close to Wolverine. A decapitated animal is seen, and there's another bloodless, special-effects decapitation. There's also war violence (from the Civil War to the Vietnam era) and vivid, graphic medical/experimentation imagery.
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Sex: A committed couple cuddles and makes out. A young woman is seen being abducted by a soldier, presumably for sexual purposes, but he's interrupted. Nude male buttocks are shown in an action-scene context.
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Language: Occasional strong language includes "screwed," "s--t," "bulls--t," "damn, "a--hole," "hell," "ass," "oh my God," and "goddamn."
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Consumerism: A few minimally visible brands, including Everlast, Budweiser, and Chevrolet. The film is being extensively cross-marketed, including a "Got Milk?" ad.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: An unlit cigar is chewed on and then shot out of a character's mouth. Characters drink beer and hard liquor.
Fan Reviews provided by
3
WOLVERINE - all claws, hype and very little bite. GRADE: C by MOVIES REVIEWER
4/30 Thurs - I just attended the advance press preview of this 107minute action-flick on Wolverine's origin - starring Hugh Jackman - although you'll feel little/no empathy for Wolverine's character.
Because I'm familiar with Marvel Ent.'s products/characters, I was perplexed by many Marvel comics characters that appeared so briefly with little/no character development - as if the producers/screenwriters/director were trying to cram as many characters as they can into the movie at the expense of a stronger better developed plot.
I hated how they twisted/perverted the Emma Frost character since she is nothing like as portrayed in Marvel comics.
WOLVERINE delivered lots of action but director Gavin Hood exercised restraint on scenes of gore/blood just to earn the movie's PG-13 rating - totally watered-down. UNSATISFYING ending.
BONUS scene AFTER the credits.
ALERT!!!
SPOILER:
Prof. Charles Xavier appears at the end.
VERDICT:
MEDIOCRE 'action' movie - a rental.
3
The Good, The Bad, and The Wolverine by Kyle_Adkins
The Good:
At the beginning of the movie, Deadpool was played perfectly. Smart ***, Bad *** character, slicing and dicing his way through 20+ men. All of the comments just spiced up and brung him to life. Perfect portrayal (In the beginning of the movie.. that is..).
The Bad:
I entered this movie with really high hopes (Specifically because Dead pool is being played by Ryan Reynolds, whom they could have picked no better part for!) for a highly entertaining movie, but I was too pissed off about the direction this film took to really care. Being a fan of X-men for a long time, I was rather horrified as they butchered the storyline so mercilessly to try to spin off a new thing. Look Hollywood, I get it. You like to "Jazz things up", but honestly there is only so far you can take things.
The Wolverine:
Your claws look like crap. I've never seen worse CGI. It's almost like they were done in MS Paint. Please fire the guy who did it.
4
Wolverine:Origins by marcsanti
Overall I thought this movie was pretty good, one of the better Marvel movies. It has it's usual downers, for instance not following the original story, but that's just how the movies are. I thought Liev Shreiver (sp?) did an awesome job as Sabertooth, definately better than the one in X-men, especially since this time we got more background on his character. Hugh did a great job as Wolverine, as always. Ryan Renolds as Wade Wilson (Deadpool) did an awesome job. He may have had limited screen time (this is about Wolverine after all), but for the times he was in it, I thought he did an awesome job. Bad *** fight scene, mixed with witty humor, made Wade Wilson a great addition to the movie. Gambit was really cool to see finally, did a great job with his character and the use of his ability. Besides those 2, it was nice to see some new mutants (Blob, Spectre, Young Cyclops). Although the reviews of this movie are mixed, I still think its a movie to see in theatres.
1
This movie isn't even worth seeing on DVD! by collinst
My friends and I should have known how bad this movie was when we arrived at a packed 14 screen theater just to discover that no one was going to see it. The girl who sold us the tickets told us that we could sit anywhere bc the movie was pretty empty (why didn't we catch the hint?) I like X-Men, but this movie sucks. They should've stopped with the last one. The plot is stupid. The movie has violent scenes that make no sense, and sitting through it was cruel and unusual punishment. If you want to see an action flick, rent Taken instead.
5
More Insight by Must_I
More insight to Wolverine's (Jimmy Logan) history is revealed. And what surprises are in store!
As always, NEVER, NEVER leave the theater until the last credit has rolled.
I do wish they would have expanded the roll of Gambit more. Maybe in the next film.
Enjoy!
5
X-Men Origins: Wolverine by bmanning
For those of you who are X-Men fans, this is a must-see. It isn't necessarily consistent with the original plot presented in X-Men comics from a few years ago, but it is driiving and compelling none the less. The action is bellieveable and I loved the fact that they took pains to include some (gratuitous but fun) diversity by introducing Will-I-Am as a Night Crawler-type character. I'm not certain the scene depicting how Wolverine lost his memeory was all that convincing, but the constant action and unexpected plot twists make up for weaknesses in the plot. Even if you haven't been following the X-Men movie sereis, this is a great action/fantasy/adventure that has enough guts to stand on its own. I wish the movie had more time for character development; I would have liked to become better acquainted with the members of the team of mutants whose leader was responsible for gifting Wolverine with his adamantium-clad skeleton. By the way, Mom chose this movie as her Mother's Day gift-deep!
3
Couldn't believe my eyes... by thehumanspider
I can't believe I'm saying this but bear with me and I'll tell you why Wolverine was the biggest letdown of the year so far. First of all, I can't believe the level of ignorance and low standards that runs through the average movie goer. If this was awesome to you, then you haven't seen much. If you're a diehard x-men fan then of course you must see it, and then again you'll probably be disappointed- but you'll have to see it. The main redeeming qualities to go for are hugh jackman(as he plays the perfectly casted ultimate bad___ wolverine for the fourth time), and the action sequences. Even with these, there isn't much you haven't seen, unless you haven't seen much. The biggest problem is the screenwriting/script. The material and plot choices are sometimes just bad and can't stand on three feet. The one and a half hour timeframe in which they attempt to cram an ORIGIN??? is ridiculous. There is no time for the story to develop or you to even care about what is going on....
5
Origins by richie-chaos
This movie could have been great if they followed the original story line. Overall a great movie worth the ten dollars and I recommend it to anyone that want's to enjoy a good movie.
5
Perfect...totally fun by WCinLV
Wolverine indeed!!!! The backstory from his tragic childhood, to a life of living through war after war, to a romantic life in Canada, and finally to fighting for his life on Three Mile Island, an abandoned nuclear plant site that has been turned into a containment center for mutants is perfectly unfolded and give a clear picture of how Logan becomes Wolverine.
The supporting cast is wonderful. Liev Schreiber is awsome as Logan/Wolverine's brother. I hope we see him in this role in the future.
If you read a bad review of this movie, ingnore it, it came from a person who doesn't know how to have fun at the movies.
3
Meh...... by flyinwhole
Ok, so as a Wolverine fan for years, I would have loved nothing more than to see 2 hours of Barry Windsor Smith's Weapon X translated to the big screen, and I could understand the "Origin" story being meshed into that Weapon X story, but WHY smash so many side stories into one New, contrived story??? The original stories were successful...The original stories are what developed the fan's LOVE for Wolverine/ Logan...NOT the lame model from the X-Men 3 movie!!!!!!!!!!!! Stick to the roots...Maybe Marvel will take another stab at the Wolverine franchise in 5 years (a la Hulk...) And do it right...I guess the movie was entertaining, but Spider-Man as a movie franchise is successful due to the emphasis on story, and not just taking characters from the comics and throwing them all into a free for all mish-mash of a film, like this Wolverine flick. Wolverine is the darker face of Marvel, and I think this film did not meet up to the potential.