Tag: X-Men Origins

Is the X-MEN ORIGINS: MAGNETO Movie Dead?

Ian McKellen was almost as much a shoe-in for the role of Magneto as Patrick Stewart was for Professor Xavier, both of whom helped to mold the first two X-MEN films into memorable comic book adaptations to the big screen. (Notice I left out #3, and for good reason.) So, when however many years ago I first heard that Magneto was going to get his own origin film, I was cautiously stoked.

Now, here we are so many years later and it seems the film, written by David S. Goyer, is no further along than it was on that first fateful day of revelation. Unfortunately, some news has surfaced putting that speculation a bit closer to reality. According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Bryan Singer has divulged an implication that the project is dead, implying that his recent attachment to the prequel X-MEN: FIRST CLASS may likely incorporate some of the story elements from the X-MEN ORIGINS: MAGNETO script.

“This story would probably utilize some of the Magneto story because it deals with a young Magneto, so it might supersede that because this would explore that relationship between a young energetic professor and a disenfranchised victim of the Holocaust,” the director tells The Hollywood Reporter. “But no, I don’t see an exhaustion [of the franchise]. The X-Men universe is boundless. These are great characters. And as young characters, they are quite different than the characters we have seen in the contemporary movies.”

This seems to be a pretty telling piece of information, both placing doubt in the solo Magneto project and faith in the future of the X-Men franchise as a whole. While I’m slightly disappointed with the potential loss of Ian McKellen as Magneto (for the time being) I am also excited for the Marvel movie universe, whereas the time and money can now be reassigned to more exciting projects. Silver Surfer, Iron Fist, or Doctor Strange… anyone?

Source: ComicBookMovie.com

Christopher McQuarrie Writing ‘Wolverine’ Sequel

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After the lackluster reception for ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ it was going to take some pretty big players to come back on board the franchise to generate much buzz.   Well, one big player has signed on.   According to The Hollywood Reporter, screenwriter and sometimes director, Christopher McQuarrie, is officially on board to write the screenplay for ‘Wolverine 2.’

Hugh Jackman is already set to return for the sequel, which looks to relocate the indestructible Logan to Japan.   This would follow much the same storyline as a mini-series from the early ’80s written by Frank Miller and Chris Claremont.   The mini-series had Wolverine encountering a group of ninjas and had the superhero learning the strict code of the Samurai.

This notion of the story being set in Japan came about from one of the alternate endings for ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine.’   This featured Wolverine sitting in a Japanese bar pondering his next course of action.

McQuarrie previously worked with ‘X-Men’ director Bryan Singer on the first film in the franchise.   He helped write the screenplay, yet took his name off the final film when it was realized the film was more attuned to the screenplay written by David Hayter. McQuarrie has also collaborated with Singer on ‘Public Access,’ ‘The Usual Suspects,’ for which McQuarrie won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, ‘X-Men,’ and 2008’s ‘Valkyrie.’   There is no official word on a director for ‘Wolverine 2,’ but, with McQuarrie officially on board, you know rumblings of Singer returning to the franchise cannot be far behind.

Review: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ – Scott’s Thoughts

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So I am just going to lay it all on the line: I saw ‘Wolverine’ last night and although it isnt an epic revolution, it is fun and should be seen if for no other reason then to get the bad taste of ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ out of your mouth. With that being said, I did have some beef with things from the movie that were left very vague.

In my opinion the origin story of Wolverine comes across pretty well. Starting with him as a child and finding out who is real father is that also makes Victor his brother. One of the really great scenes in the film is the opening credits which show Logan and Victor fighting through 4 wars spanning the course of 100 years. They dont follow a lot of the comic books in the origin story but with Stan Lee serving as an Executive Producer on the film I can sleep easy knowing that the man himself signed off on it all(hopefully).

I am still a little confused as to how they are handing the Wade Wilson/Deadpool thing in the movie but that is definitely something you are going to need to see and gauge for yourself because anything I would say here will be riddled with spoilers.

A big complaint in the previous X-Men movies is that Gambit was missing from them, well worry not young children Taylor Kitsch is here and does a killer job portraying Remy LeBeau. In the movie he is an former prisoner of 3 mile island and is the only mutant to ever escape, thus he is also the only one that knows how to get back. When Logan catches up with him they are playing poker(texas hold em) on bourbon street with none other than Daniel Negraneau. After Logan does a great job of pissing him off, we get to see our first glimpse of the flaming playing cards which Gambit uses to readily handle him.

Even though they used a lot of makeup and some CGI to portray Fred Dukes(Kevin Durand) once he becomes The Blob, the scenes of him and Logan boxing are ridiculously awesome. He comes off exactly how I imagined a real life adaptation of him would be.

For me when I go to see a comic book movie I am looking for a fun and entertaining experience. It also helps if there is a lack of cheesiness, good effects, and great action. When I walked out of ‘Wolverine’ thats how I felt, and all in all I really enjoyed the movie, it isnt the greatest superhero movie of all time but it gets us back to an X-Men movie that isnt completely garbage.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Review: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ – Travis’ Thoughts

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Fox should be ashamed of themselves. Once again, Fox has gone and taken a big steaming pile of pooh on the floor and now, all I want to do is just rub Fox’s nose in it and yell, “Bad Fox, Bad! You’re a baaad Fox!”

In a spirit of full disclosure, I do have to confess up front that I am a bit biased towards this movie. I was a fan of Wolverine and the X-Men growing up and read the comic books. They were a large part of my childhood. So, when I say it feels like Fox went and took a big dump on my childhood, I actually do mean it from the bottom of my heart. With that said, I will attempt to speak my mind as clearly as possible and not rest solely on my past with the subject matter. However, it does and will factor heavily into my opinion of this movie.

As for the director, part of me wants to blame Gavin Hood and place a hex on his career, but I know that Mr. Hood has fought his own battles in the making of this movie. So, I am issuing a pardon to Mr. Hood and letting him slide on this one. On the other hand, I simply cannot allow myself to forgive the suits behind this debacle.

‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ at it’s core is not an entirely hopeless disaster. Even if I did not actually believe that, the overwhelming majority opinion of the audience exiting the movie last night was fair to positive. Considering this, I will admit that the movie had some cool scenes. I will also emphasize that I am NOT attempting to convince readers to pass on this movie. By all means, go see the film and decide for yourselves. All I’m saying is that there’s a good chance that ‘X-Men: Wolverine’ will end up on my Ten Worst Films of 2009 list.

The movie attempts to introduce Wolverine and his origins, beginning with him and Victor Creed as children. This portion is done well enough, as is the creative montage of the two characters fighting side by side through five wars during the opening credits. At this point, I still held hope for the movie being a success. After meeting Stryker, Wolverine and Victor join a special ops team and the story rolls along fine until Wolverine decides he has no interest in the killing of innocents and walks away. This is when the film gradually starts to fall apart.

Hugh Jackman is just fine as Logan/Wolverine, maintaining the same quality interpretation of my beloved superhero. Honestly, my only “minor issue” with Wolverine himself was that it seemed his claws were much more realistic looking in the X-Men movies than they are in this movie. Well, there’s that and then I wasn’t very pleased with how they chose to portray Wolverine’s initial adjustment to his new adamantium-laced claws. Wolverine comes off as a clumsy comic relief in the scene at the elderly couple’s home while fleeing Stryker.

Oh boy, now on to the rough stuff. I won’t bore the average reader by going as deep into the Wolverine lore as I would like to, but I’ll sum it up by saying this is a minimally accurate representation of Wolverine’s past and calling this an origin story is taking a huge creative license. Wolverine’s relationship with Silver Fox was done well enough, and I have to say the relationship and chemistry between Wolverine and Victor Creed (aka Sabretooth, even though he was never once referred to as such in this movie) was extremely well done. Liv Schreiber was actually great as Sabretooth (sorry, I can’t avoid using his true name) and captured the essence of what Sabretooth was becoming.

Let me give you a bit of advice… after seeing this movie, fast forward several years and realize Sabretooth has progressively become more of the animal, thriving on and craving the killing and losing his humanity at an exponential rate. Now, hit the pause button at the moment we are [re]introduced to Sabretooth in the ‘X-Men’ movies. Make more sense now?

Continue reading Review: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ – Travis’ Thoughts

New ‘Harry Potter’ & ‘Wolverine’ Character Posters

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A slew of new character posters came out recently. Above are four new character posters for ‘Harry Potter & the Half-Blood prince’. Below are five slightly less cool character posters for ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’. Enjoy…

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[source: IESB.net]

More ‘X-Men Origins’ On the Way

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If you are a fan of the idea of ‘X-Men Origins,’ prepare yourselves.   There is a whole lot more to come.

Lauren Shuler Donner, who has been behind the production of all three ‘X-Men’ films as well as the upcoming ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ noted on Fox Movie Channel’s Life After Film School that she wants to go back and show the origins of the entire X-Men team.   The film would be called ‘X-Men: First Class.’

“It is the first class of Xavier’s school, way back when, so it’s young Scott, young Jean, young Beast and that’ll be really fun,” Donner said. “I think (the plan) is to follow some of the characters into their own stories, and weave them back into the X-Men world.

“And hopefully First Class will become its own franchise and we can follow them as they grow up.”

Also on the show, Donner explained that the Magneto prequel film is still under development.

So, what does this mean?   Are we going to get a 90210-style ‘X-Men’ film filled with pretty people and flashy, new toys?   I’m sure that’s the way it’s going to go if they get someone like Ratner to direct it.   However, if they actually get a decent filmmaker like Bryan Singer or Gavin Hood behind it, it could be an interesting concept.

Source: Comics Continuum

Discuss: What is 20th Century Fox Doing Wrong?

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Just to start off this article, I’m going to reiterate my opening comments in my  review for ‘Max Payne’.

‘Aliens’, ‘Predator’, ‘Die Hard’, ‘Die Hard 2†², ‘Point Break’, ‘Speed’, ‘Die Hard With a Vengeance’.   What do all of these films have in common?   They are all action films released by 20th Century Fox between the mid-80s and the mid-90s.

‘Daredevil’, ‘I, Robot’, ‘Alien Vs. Predator’, ‘Transporter 2†², ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, ‘Hitman’, ‘Babylon A.D.’.   What do all of these films have in common?   They are all action films released by 20th Century Fox in the past five years.

See a drop-off there somewhere?

And that’s just in the action department.   This idea that every action film has to be a PG-13-rated, accessible motion picture is wrong, wrong, wrong.   But that has been Fox’s moniker when it comes to action for the better part of a decade. Continue reading Discuss: What is 20th Century Fox Doing Wrong?

Super Early ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Review! Updated with Spoilers

I got an email from someone claiming to have seen ‘Wolverine’ already, and I had my doubts but after reading this, I was convinced. Enjoy!

OK, so I’m not a movie reviewer, so forgive me if this is not as concise as a professional review might be. Having said that, I also don’t know how much of the plot and “ohhhh, holy shit!!!” moments you want to know, possibly spoiling it. But feel free to edit and take out anything you don’t want to have spoiled.

The movie itself looks amazing. Lots of cool sets and special effects, it’s edited very well, the pacing is perfect and the running time is right on. It actually leaves you wanting more, and really, isn’t that the “nirvana” that most action movies hope to arrive at for the audience?

The back story of Logan (aka Wolverine) is set up pretty good. It’s not too much and it explains Logan’s motivation from childhood. As a young boy, something terrible happens, his “mutant”power is revealed, and he and his brother must flee.

Fast forward to 1970-something Viet Nam. Logan and his brother Victor (aka Sabretooth) are soldiers and Victor has become an irrational bully who has no problem killing anyone that gets in his way. This leads to both of them being locked up in the brig for a very long time. Enter a higher up military officer (Stryker) who offers to get them out of there if they agree to join his special ops team. This elite team is made up of other mutants, all with various different, really cool “powers”.  Mission after mission goes by, with Victor really taking a liking to the violence and developing an appetite for killing. Logan, on the other hand, draws the line at being ordered to kill innocent people and decides to walk away. Off he goes to live a quiet life in the Canadian wilderness with his girlfriend/wife/whoever

Cut to various former members of the special ops team being killed. No reason is apparent. The former leader of the group (Stryker) finds Logan in his now lumberjack career and tells him about this. Logan says thanks for the warning but I can take care of myself. As he returns to his work, he senses something is not right and then notices bloody claw marks on a tree. He runs to find his girlfriend/wife/whoever lying dead with gashes across her throat. Victor has killed her. Now its personal and Logan flies into a rage. He finds Victor and a battle ensues. But they basically have the same “powers” so it’s impossible for one to beat the other. Victor flees and Logan agrees to let Stryker help him become more powerful, and therefore able to go kill Victor. Cut to the “lab” scene from the trailer, new steel blades ready to do some serious damage. I don’t want to give it away, but one of my favorite parts of the movie is when we find out where the name “Wolverine” comes from… oooh I just got goosebumps thinking about it haha. HUGE SPOILER: “the crazy mad scientist, Stryker, is kidnapping them all (mutants) and keeping them prisoners because he is takin their DNA to make a Super Mutant…one guy with ALL the powers…IT’S RYAN REYNOLD’S CHARACTER, Wade Wilson / Deadpool….its so creepy when you see him at the end!!”

This is where I will just say that the movie gets more awesome than it already is. The fight sequences are great, the story takes twists and turns, and the “holy shit!” moments make you want to cheer. I will see this movie again on opening weekend with a full audience of fans. It is THAT kind of movie. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

And one more thing…there are things after the credits..so stick around, for those of you who jump up right at the fade out.

UPDATE:

I got another email from my source and he wants to add more stuff to this so that everyone knows he really has seen the movie. This DOES INCLUDE SPOILERS!

“for anyone doubting my review: (highlight the text below to read:)

Deadpool/Wade is part of the elite team that they, Logan and Victor,‚  joined and he’s kind of the comic relief. When they’re traveling on missions together, he never shuts up and everyone is always telling him to SHUT UP…a real know-it-all. He gets into it with Wolverine and Sabretooth and they almost come to blows‚   and he takes out his weapon ,a big silver sword, saber. Logan, who’s not yet called Woverine, diffuses the situation and calms everyone down-Victor and Wade. (This is so we establish what Wade’s weapon is for later on in the movie). Beak, (Dominic Monaghan) who uses electricity, is the first one TO DIE. Victor kills him
At the end of the movie, when Wolverine finds out that Stryker and the scientists have been taking out the DNA from the mutants, who they all now have in cages, he goes to free them all. The other member of the team, “Wraith” (played by Will.I.Am)‚  keeps telling him the mutants are‚  being held‚  captive‚  in the lab which is on‚  the island – but Wraith doesn’t know where this Island is…The only mutant to know is the one person who’s ever escaped – which is Gambit. Gambit then agrees to take Wolverine there and as they’re flying in Gambit’s plane….the wide shot reveals!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
ITS THE FAMED THREE-MILE ISLAND….THE NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wolverine is also now indestructable because of all the modifications that Stryker made on him back when‚  Stryker convinced‚  Wolverine to go after Sabretooth – all because‚  S.T. killed Logan’s girlfriend.
When Wolverine shows up and starts kickin ass…the SuperMutant is not ready yet, but Stryker has no choice, he has to release him….and that’s when you figure out its Ryan Reynold’s character…Wade/Deadpool/SuperMutant. ITS ALL CRAZY…He has no hair, bald, his eyes are red and sunken in so he can shoot the fire outta his eyes….HE HAS EVERY MUTANT POWER…..AND….HIS MOUTH IS SEWN SHUT!!! Wolverine says, “Well Wade, looks like somebody finally shut you up” This is the reference back to the beginning when all the other mutants would tell Wade to shut up.
SO when Wolverine goes after him, SuperMutant/Deadpool/Wade’s trusty sword automatically comes outta his fist much like Wolverine’s blade. Now its a fight…..Deadpool has ALL the powers in this epic battle…he can disappear like The Wraith, he can shoot fire outta his eyes – pretty much indestructable. Wolverine is basically getting his ass kicked.
SO then, they’ve gone from inside the lab … and moved the fight to on top of the reactor. Deadpool is destroying everything…reactors, the everything is going down cuz he’s shooting everything with his eyes.‚  Then, Deadpool punches him so hard Wolverine goes over the side of the reactor and in a SPLIT second, a hand reaches down to save him….AND ITS SABRETOOTH….TO SAVE THE DAY……AND YELLS, “NOBODY KILLS YOU BUT ME, BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
(Sabretooth has been there the whole time, but wasn’t fighting – he was just rounding up all the mutants for Stryker). After he pulls him up to the roof, Sabretooth says to Wolverine “Back-to-back” and they position themselves back to back so they can have eyes on both sides. Since they’re both attacking Deadpool, Wolverine, with one swipe, cuts Deadpool’s head clean off. Sabretooth then turns and says, “You know this doesn’t mean we’re still not enemies” and takes off…
Then, Wolverine, has to go after Stryker and free the other mutants. But unbeknownst to Wolverine, Stryker has a magic bullet and as he’s loading the gun with it, the other scientists in the lab say, “you can’t kill Wolverine with that”. Stryker then says “Yeah I know, but if I shoot him in the head, it will erase his memory.” (Remember, Wolverine never knew where he came from).
So as Wolverine is helping to free the mutants, Stryker goes up to him and shoots him in the head….Wolverine drops to the floor as if dead. Stryker then takes off. Cut back to Wolverine fluttering his eyes open…HE”S NOT DEAD…… The military, the shitstorm‚  is coming after what they saw what was happening at Three-Mile-Island. Gambit runs over to tell Wolverine “WE GOTTA GO!!!” and Wolverine looks up and says, “Who are you?!?!?! Where the hell am I?!?!??!” Gambit says “I’m a friend..you gotta trust me….We have to get outta here”
CUT TO:
A Dark forest…the escaped mutants are running for their lives…..and they all stop and you see the back of a bald head…and you hear‚  Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) voice only,‚  saying “You’re all safe…come with me”
FADE TO BLACK!!!”