X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Probably one of the most anticipated movies to top the list for this year’s movie list; Wolverine: Origins doesn’t disappoint. Marvel comes back after the pause of three years since X-Men 3: The Last Stand to serve up the origin of everyone’s favourite X-Men: Wolverine.

The movie explores the origin of Wolverine right down from his childhood – skip a century – to perhaps some ten to seventeen years before the first X-Men movie. This fills in the gap of holes many question in the X-Men movies of Wolverine’s past such as how he got the adamantium claws being the most popular, and perhaps the relationship between Sabertooth and Wolverine which was lightly (if not even) touched in the first movie which actually runs deep and complex.

Character development for Wolverine was done well here and it is without doubt that Hugh Jackman’s acting really brings out the character to life. This can be said mainly for the other cast as well, Victor Creed/Liev Schreiber for one. Other than that, there isn’t much to be said of the rest of them since majority of the limelight is stolen by Hugh Jackman’s adept acting.

Plot-wise, it flows along smoothly – Keeping the viewers on a constant flow. The fights (for us men) and maybe the men actors (for women) are maybe an eye-candy we look forward to in this movie. I’ve only one complaint and it is how they changed the concept of Deadpool towards the end of the movie. Disappointing.

Other than that, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is well worth watching and is a great entry to 2009’s summer blockbusters.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Official Movie Page

Hancock

It’s a simple and true thing to say that 2008 is indeed a year of superhero movies, Starting the year of with the big bang was Iron Man from which followed The Incredible Hulk, the soon-to-be-released Batman: The Dark Knight and yes, Hancock.

For those who have chanced upon the trailer, you may have had a rough idea to whom Hancock (Will Smith) is in this movie: the sarcastic, alcholic and homeless superhero. One with the powers of Superman but has a different moral twist to it.

Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that Hancock, although doesn’t do much to satisfy the questions of his past which may arise halfway during the movie, is good enough as a movie if you intend to watch a different hero-genre movie.

Although the plot maybe somewhat flimsy and the script somewhat predictable (the jokes may seem funny at first, but eventually it’ll get predictable and boring), I must applaud the movie for its solid character development. We see Hancock, a misunderstood, destructive and irresponsible superhero turn into a better person as the plot unfolds throughout the movie.

I will not give this movie any more than three stars, but I’d reccomend Hancock for its different superhero-genre line. This is best watched without comparing it to other superhero movies.

Hancock Official Movie Page

Iron Man

Who wouldn’t know Iron Man? The leading character in Marvel’s Civil War series who played a major role in the Marvel superhero universe by bringing forth the Superhuman Registration Act and fought against former ally Captain America? Rewind back many years before this whole fiasco took place and you’ll find yourself in Iron Man’s origins.

And that, is what this movie is all about.

In this movie, we see Tony Stark, a successful and brilliant inventor and businessman who’s trip to the Middle East for a weapons test sets him down the path to become the golden avenger after being held captive by Middle Eastern terrorists.

Instead of the original stage, Vietnam which was present in the original comic, the movie plays toward the contemporary issues of the Middle Eastern terrorists. Talk about catching up with the times. Anyway, Robert Downey Jr. carries out his part as Tony Stark flawlessly, bringing forth the character from a comic book to the silver screen in full glory.

Though Tony Stark’s alcoholism issue is not brought up in this movie, directors have hinted towards sequels (most likely a trilogy) which will tackle the internal problems which Tony Stark faces in the comics. The chemistry between Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and  Virgina “Pepper” Potts, (Gwyneth Paltrow) can truly be seen between the two, complementing the movie well.

My only complaint is that the action comes late towards the later part of the movie when Tony Stark takes his first mission in his finalized Mark III Iron Man suit. Otherwise that, it is worth seeing the development of the suit and Tony Stark’s arrogant humor present throughout the movie.

There is without much doubt, that the success of this comic adaptation was mainly due to to Marvel’s Civil War series storyline which had Iron Man as one of the leading characters. And so, as an end-note, I would deeply recommend this to any Marvel Comics fan. For those who aren’t, this one is still worth your time.

Iron Man Official Movie Page

Cloverfield

 

While the release of this film speculated plenty of connections to the television series hit Lost (due to television series Lost director J.J.Adam’s hand in this movie), of what I could make out, there were no instant connections which could be pieces up together. But this coming from someone who has never watched Lost, I could be fairly wrong.

Anyway, thinking about how Cloverfield fared, it could just be said that it is a monster flick similar to Godzilla, but shot in a Blair Witch Project style. This has probably been said one too many times though. However, the clear difference between Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield is that the former did not bring much motion sickness symptoms.

But in all levels, I could say that Cloverfield had carried the monster flick genre to a higher level. As commented by a fellow reviewer, “The movie follows the Jaws rule that monsters are usually more intimidating when they are shown infrequently and only in brief glimpses.”. In the case of Cloverfield, this is a fact.

What makes this movie exceptional is that because it was filmed with a camcorder, which gives to it an air of realism and actual fear, because it makes you feel as though you are just right behind the eye-viewer, watching every real event unfolding before your eyes. Symbolic to the state of terrorism the World is facing these days, this movie no doubt speaks in volumes of its symbolism.

Other than the occasional bad camera shakes, this is a much recommended movie which will leave you leaving the theater room for more questions, opening an oportunity for a possible sequel. Just get ready to be dizzy.

Cloverfield Official Movie Page

Stardust

While a majority of reviews may have stubbed Stardust as an unimaginative mix of fantasy elements of witches, magic and kingdoms and the like, along with a wrong casting, I may object rightly to those reviews saying that it is a new bold, but successful attempt. Stardust offers an absolute synergy of story elements of which provide a fresh and new view to how we see fantasy movies these days.

Adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same title (of which I have recently finished reading), I particularly enjoyed the movie adaptation better seeing that it had a more concise and stronger (and less complicating) plot. Talking about plot – The movie’s modified plot was somewhat predictable, but even so, it sustained well and managed to keep myself to the seat’s edge.

A difference as seen from the novel and the movie is the extended role of Captain Shakespeare, which (in the book) was an different-named captain who appeared for only 9 pages and did not do much to flavor the story. Robert De Niro did a fine job in this role (despite other reviewers saying otherwise), playing as the funny and charismatic Captain Shakespeare. In terms of CGI and movie sequences (action in particular), Stardust did a very well job at that, and I’m happy enough to say that I was very impressed.

For those who feed on fantasy movies, this is a movie you cannot pass!

Stardust Official Movie Page