I have been reading comics since I was 6 (being almost 26 now) I don't know all the specs on Wolverine, but I do know enough to tell they didn't follow the actual origin of his past very well. That said, this is an interruption, and a different medium, so I don't expect it to be by the books, I'm pretty open when it comes to changes, even extreme ones like they did. So I'm not even going to compare the movie to the books, I'm just going to critique the movie as it is. By the way, I never watched the leaked version.
The cinematography was pretty spot on, I enjoyed the opening sequence of James getting his bone claws, killing his actual father, and the montage of Wolvie and Sabretooth going through battles. It was a nice pace, but this pace picked up a little too much as the movie continued.
It seemed makers of this movie spent more time trying to "wow" the audience then actually put into the story, Wolverine had a real psychological issues which I think they down played a little too much. And I had an issue with his sudden epiphany in Africa, I have a hard time believing all those hundreds of years of killing now he decides "Hmm, I quit, this is wrong." Just seems a little random, and after the entire team falls apart so easily, I find it hard to believe that Stryker would let all of his mutants just go like that.
The love story with Silver Fox and Logan was good, you can sense the relationship they had. Though I don't think they developed her character that well, when she died (twice) I didn't care, either time.
The fight scenes were eye candy, granted the CGI was alright, I'm a fan of the old school methods so I don't judge harshly on that. Though fights between Wolverine and Sabretooth I felt were a little too short, over all they were very entertaining.
Granted I did say I don't judge too harshly on CGI, but I do have one point to make, Professor X's cameo was by far creepy. They did such a terrible job touching up his face, not like they did in X-3, they pulled it off there. But in this movie he looked like a creepy ceramic doll.
The main villian, Deadpool, I may be castrated for this but I did like the idea of bringing all their abilities together into one man, though I don't understand why they even gave Wolverine adamantium bones, I guess maybe team him and Deadpool up to do some major whoop ass, but I don't seem to remember them ever stating why Stryker REALLY wanted to give him the metal laced bones. I know he said it was to take out Sabretooth (which was a lie) but if someone could enlighten me that would be great.
Wolverine's memory loss was...ok. I suppose getting shot in the head a few times point blank with a magnum would scramble your head a little, but it just seemed like a last minute decision, why even make the bullets if they obviously wont kill him? What would be the point, were they specifically made that hopefully out of six shots, you'll be able to shoot him in the head? I don't believe that for a second, it appears the writers just threw these ideas together in a weekend.
The editing of the movie was alight, was pretty choppy at times, enough that it hurt the development of the characters and make the audience even care for them.
The acting was mediocre at best. Liev Schreiber did a terrific job with Sabretooth. Hugh Jackman, can't go wrong with him, he is Wolverine. Everyone else did pretty well, I did have an issue with Gambit, he lost his accent towards the end of the movie, which annoyed me. I really liked Wraith, I wish he had more time along with the other mutants from Stryker's team, they all had like a five minute cameo and then were killed off, again no character development, did not care that they died, it's like the Star Trek red shirt characters.
Overall I give this movie a 3 1/2 out 5. Good action, bad character development, but at least entertaining.
The after credits special was hardly something worth waiting for, Deadpool whispering "Shh" and Logan at the bar in Japan was nothing to shake a stick at, it didn't give me the "Wow Factor" I just "meh" ok so what? Maybe handled differently but the execution of the extra scenes were boring.
Thanks for reading.
Always,
Stumblin