Limitations of prequels

Rating: Null/10 (2 May 2009)

Those who have seen both the rise of the Lycans and the origin of Wolverine can't help noticing the common limitation the script writers face – the audience pretty well knows how the main character as well as some of the key characters end up. And yet, there are differences.
Lycans has all the indication of an afterthought, just something to milk the last penny out of a considerably successful franchise. Lician is not even the main character and I would venture a guess that an average audience of Underworld doesn't really care about his past. The story of Logan/Wolverine, on the other hand, is long-expected, and overdue. After seeing some tantalizing hint at the end of X-men 1 and the start of X-men 2 that something is coming, the audience almost feel cheated, especially when the subject is all but forgotten in X-men 3. The mystery still remains (note that with Lucian, there is no mystery). And after all, Logan is arguably the most important of the ensemble of characters.
With such lofty expectations, it is not surprising that Wolverine comes across a little disappointing, even though it has considerably more to offer than the painting-by-number Lycans. It is a question of what you are comparing and in the shadow of the preceding trilogy, the limitation of a prequel unfortunately shows.
The plot is decently put together and adequately serviceable in tying up the loose ends. While hard core X-men comic fans may lay a perpetual curse on those who make Sabretooth Wolverine's brother, it is only fair to say that this works well for the movie, taken as a separate entity. Casting character actor Liev Schreiber in that role also adds to the appeal of the movie. The story of pacifist heroism, love, betrayal and revenge is quite adequate for anchoring what people really come to see: the action and the special effects.
The set pieces and CGI are worth what you pay for although with the proliferation of offerings in the special effect genre, it has become exceedingly difficult to impress. (Just as an aside, I still cannot forget that one scene in "Knowing", a movie that does not impress – that one scene that really scared the hell out of me, despite so much that I have seen in the some 150 movies I watch each year in the last few years). Similarly, the action sequences are passing grade, but there is nothing you have not seen elsewhere before.
And believe it or not, people do come to see the X-men in X-men movies, even if this latest one focuses on a single agenda, Wolverine. Give the movie makers credit for attempting to deliver but with the pageantry that has come before, what can they hope to achieve - mild satisfaction, if that.
But in the end, there is Hugh Jackman. Wolverine has been voted the most popular character of all US comics, and Jackman has nothing to apologize for in claiming this larger-than-life role as his, as his alone. By the way, against all rumours, I do hope they'll invite him back for the next Oscar.