#18
X Men Origins: Wolverine (dir. Gavin Hood)
Expected Release Date: 1st May 2009
Starring: Hugh Jackman
Studio: 20th Century Fox
As with Sam Raimi’s Spiderman trilogy, X-Men: The Last Stand continued the cinematic trend of ‘three-quelitis’ in that it could not reach the heights aspired to in X-Men and reached in X2 by Bryan Singer.
The first problem was created in hiring Brett Ratner, director of the cringe-worthy ‘Rush Hour’ trilogy. Now I know there are fans of that particular series (like hermits hiding under rocks…), but even they will recognise that the only debatable positive was the incessant energy of the two leads, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.
Secondly, Ratner was a natural fit to produce a mindless blockbuster. The visual effects of the third X-Men film were at times, spectacular, however they lacked an intense screenplay in which they could operate. Ultimately, quantity was favoured over quality, with far too many ineffectual characters being introduced with previously developed storylines being hastily sidelined.
X Men Origins: Wolverine therefore qualifies as the franchise reboot. Of course, there are key differences to its parents. Although Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was the driving force and real beacon of humanity in the first two films, he became less pivotal (although still at the fore) in that lumpy custard of a third film.
What I love (although reservedly until I have seen more footage), is what director Gavin Hood can potentially bring to the crapshoot. It’s an off-centre choice as Hood is known for his more dramatic films such as Rendition and the fantastic Tsotsi. For Jackman, it’s a chance to further his credentials only a few months after hosting the brand-spanking-new-be-sure-to-watch ™ Oscars ®.
The project can be classed as a substantial risk with a production budget of around $110 million (not too dissimilar to Bond rebirth Casino Royale), not to mention the marketing costs which will accumulate over the next few months, but hopefully the quirky gambles taken by the studio will prove fruitful for you,me and your neighbour.
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