Wolfman Jackman is back and bad-ass as ever!

Rating: 7/10 (4 May 2009)

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (2009) *** Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Will.i.Am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Ryan Reynolds. Jackman's charismatic turn as the lupine mutant coasts through this rather predictable yet entertaining action prequel to the Marvel Comics' iconic character, showing how Logan became Wolverine, including his ongoing sibling rivalry with half-bro Victor AKA Sabretooth (Schreiber having a blast as the baddie) and the nefarious military ops mechanist Stryker (Huston gleefully chomping at the bit as the villain) attempting to harness their powers for his own use. Decent enough screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods and some tightly sequenced set pieces by director Gavin Hood (case in point: Wolfie's attack on a chopper is a dilly) keep the adrenaline pumping despite the histrionic plottings.