X-Men Origins: Wolverine Review

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.

Role models: Wolverine steps up and becomes a leader.

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.

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.

Language: Occasional strong language includes "screwed," "s--t," "bulls--t," "damn, "a--hole," "hell," "ass," "oh my God," and "goddamn."

Consumerism: Tie-in to vast quantities of related merchandise. A few minimally visible brands, including Everlast, Budweiser, and Chevrolet. The film is being extensively cross-marketed, including a "Got Milk?" ad.

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.