Other than a “DeadPool” movie (which Marvel fans have been screaming for ever since the first X-men movie came out), 20th Century Fox might as well hang up their hats and call it quits.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine needs to be the last X-men movie they make.

I am not saying this because they have run the series into the ground or because I am sick of the characters. I am a HUGE X-men fan. I have been collecting X-universe comics since I was a teenager. I (proudly) have the complete “Onslaught” and “Age of Apocalypse” story lines. I was there when Jubilee left the X-men and went to be on her own team, in Generation X. Yes, people I am an X geek.

So when I say they need to stop with this film it is because it was so freakin’ perfect!

No, it still does not follow the comics completely and faithfully. What it does do, however, is bridge the gap between the comics and the previous three movies’ glaring differences. It also takes those parts from the movies about Wolverine himself that those of us comic aficionados were screaming about and ties them in.

Now I’m just going to take the film on its own and talk about it – and it is plenty worthy all on its own!

Wolverine is a hero.

This movie takes that basic fact that we all grasped from the first moment when we saw Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman) take Rogue under his protection in X-Men and gives us all the background and foundation for what made him this way. As we quickly learn within the first few scenes, Wolverine has it within him to become an animal, but he chooses the path of right again, and again, and again. He chooses to be civilized, a man, decent and good despite all he goes through. Only when he is pushed into a corner does he fight. When he does fight, however – stay out of his way.

The beginning of the movie may be confusing to some. Wolverine and Sabretooth – brothers? But, they don’t know each other in the first movie!?! Don’t worry. I told you – they very neatly explain all of this. And by neatly, I don’t mean cheesy. It is done smoothly within character and plot context – so smoothly you might miss it if you aren’t paying attention. This movie has depth.

While we are mentioning Sabretooth, Liev Schreiber is amazing in this role. He is an absolute animal, which the previous actor, Tyler Mane was good at but just didn’t seem to pull off as naturally as Schreiber does. One of the first scenes has Jimmy (Wolverine’s real name) and Victor fighting back to back, and Victor snarls at his enemies. The teens in Twilight need to take lessons from Schreiber on how to snarl. This man could be a werewolf without ever turning furry. He also has a signature move where he pounces like a tiger running. Most people cannot make this look natural even with CG enhancement – he looks like he has been pouncing on people his entire life. The man oozes “beast”.

There is not a miscast character in this movie. From the moment I heard that Ryan Reynolds had the role of Wade Wilson AKA “DeadPool”, I was going – YES! Ryan’s quirky sense of humor in Blade: Trinity was a perfect match for the “Merc with the Mouth”. My only complaint was I didn’t see enough of Reynolds, but this really wasn’t a movie about him – and I do have that little spark of hope that they always leave us with at the end of an X-Men movie. (Yeah, you have to watch this one all the way through the credits, too!)

But enough supporting characters, what about our main man? Well, the supporting characters have a lot to do with our Wolverine. He is not the loner that we have become accustomed to. His heart has not been broken, yet. He has not put up the walls. Also – he still remembers everything, and there is a lot to remember.

If you have been following the X movies, then you might remember Jean Grey’s statement, “He could very well be older than you, Professor.” Well, he is older; much, much older. He has also done things that haunt him in his dreams. Yet the fact that these memories haunt him is what makes him redeemable, a good guy. He is torn when it becomes impossible for him to stay in his peaceful world on the sidelines watching, because he does not want to enter back into the world of violence he managed to escape. But there are those who will not give him a choice; he must fight or all those around him will die.

Compared to the other X movies, this one is more thought provoking and emotional. Of course it has the special effects, but it does not rely on them the way the last movie did. The helicopter chase scene is fantastic, Remy’s card tricks are cool (in the words of Will.I.Am) and the 3 way fight scene with Wolverine, Sabretooth, and Deadpool is a ballet of violence and sci-fi. Also, any scene where Schreiber is showing off the prowess of Sabretooth is pretty impressive. But this film could have almost gotten away without the special effects.

I know I am a movie reviewer, and I should really find something negative to say about this film for you guys – but I just can’t. I love it, I’m hooked, and as soon as I get this posted I’m going to go watch it again. So pardon any typos, because I’m in a bit of a hurry.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity. I had no problem at all letting my 12 year old daughter watch this one. I was a little leery of letting my 6 year old son see it. The violence does get pretty intense, mainly because there is so much emotion behind it.