Not bad overall, but lacking dimension

Rating: 6/10 (2 May 2009)

Not a bad story overall, but I do have some nit-picky items i'd like to list.
The Good: Jackman: Besides being pumped up visual eye candy, makes the character of Wolverine his own yet again. I thought he was fabulous in the X-Men movies, and he does a great job overall here too.
Schreiber: Made a great and convincing Sabretooth. The chemistry he shared with Jackman was spot on and they worked well together.
Reynolds, Kitsch, Monaghan, etc.: All the mutants who made an appearance in this film were great. I've no complaints as far as their depiction or who was assigned to play them.
The scenery (esp. in Canada) is gorgeous and scenes are well shot. The musical score is impressive, battles are well done and engaging. The Adamantium scene is awesome and everything it should be. The opening credit scene depicting his long lifetime involving all these different wars is great.
The Bad: Writing: was lacking and wooden in many spots, it left you wanting for something more, for the money and team they had invested in this, I honestly expected something better. Some of the dialog honestly had me wincing "Walk until your feet bleed.....then....keep on walking." Would be a good example.
Too many shots of Wolverine looking up and screaming at the camera. He does it like 4 times...how many are really needed to add a dramatic effect?! He does it as a child over the body of his "father", over the body of his girlfriend, etc.
Lots of great characters, yet fails to really flesh out any of them. I'm just really not convinced enough of anyone's emotions to motivate their situation. Characters just seem to "do" things, and with a "rushed" feeling. Stryker is really the only one who's drive for what he's doing seems deep and driven. Even Wolverine is a SLIGHT casualty to this.
I would have liked to have seen more of Deadpool (who could seriously have a whole movie devoted to him.), and Gambit.
Even the "death" of his girlfriend didn't convince me that was enough to drive Wolverine to the extreme and life altering decision to have that Adamantium grafted to his skeleton, it just seemed that there should have been more. Although I admit, I couldn't wait for the razor claws first appearance, or the metallic "ping" that accompanied something or someone hitting him.
Also, was Scott able to see through the visor device implanted on him by Stryker? I wasn't clear on that....if yes, than wouldn't he have recalled Wolverine later? It's not everyday that a buff, big haired, metal clawed guy frees you from a prison. My friend who went with me was pretty sure he couldn't see, but I think if he was safe wearing a $5 pair of ray bans to high school and was OK, then he was able to see through that special "visor."
I know some people have complained about the beginning story, but it's pretty accurate to the "Origin" comic. The bone claws, the killing, etc. So I don't have much complain about on that end other than, it's never explicitly stated that Wolverine and Sabretooth are brothers, it's implied, also they left out the "Rose" character, who turns out, even after her death, to play an important role in Wolverine's psyche throughout his life. I think it would have been nice to include her.
Overall though, it's not a horrible movie, the effects are great, and are never too over the top. Jackman is great, but what it's lacking does show through in areas. 6/10