The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
X-Men: Origins - Singer Wants Magneto; He Wants Magneto Badly (OP updated 06/01/09)
Shadowen
Snores in the morningLoserdomRegistered User regular
Snores in the morningLoserdomRegistered User regular
So Fox is making a couple of prequels to the X-Men movies. Who saw that coming? Really, it's a complete surprise.
Released May 1 2009 is X-Men Origins: Wolverine, or as some who weren't fond of the X-movie trilogy are calling it, the fourth Wolverine film. Zing!
Plot!
Spoilers. No, seriously.
Principal photography was completed May 23 2008, and took place in Australia, New Zealand, New Orleans, and Fox studios. A sequel has already been greenlit, and may be set in Japan. If a sequel is made, they intend for it to follow from this film, and not take place after X3.
There is also talk of Deadpool and Gambit getting their own spinoffs, probably as direct-to-DVD movies in my completely unfounded opinion but I wouldn't say no to a TV series or a film if they do well in this one.
The first official teaser/trailer was shown in front of The Day The Earth Stood Still when it premiered on December 12, and was by most accounts the best thing about that movie. Want a taste of sniktbub?
The Trailer, Bub
(Want a higher-quality version? Try the film's MySpace page. Yes, the Myspace page. What the balls?)
There is a second trailer.
The Second Trailer, Bub
Since this is a major motion picture featuring the most popular character of an already Large McHuge franchise, there will be a video game, produced by Activision and developed by Raven Software, the guys who did Jedi Outcast. Mark Guggenheim, currently a Marvel writer, did the story for the game.
My review? Why would you want that?
This just in: Wolverine, having a budget of $150 million and taking in at least $340m worldwide, has despite being mediocre (at best...) made $190m in profits. On one hand, this means more Wolverine. On the other, this means more Wolverine. On a third, perhaps horribly mutated hand with claws, this means more Wolverine in the style of this thoroughly shitballs-stupid movie.
X-Men Origins: Magneto is a bit of a misnomer since Magneto isn't really a member of the team, but we'll run with it. David S. Goyer is attached to write and direct, and Sheldon Turner is writing the original screenplay. It's hoped that shooting will begin in 2009. (The plan was to shoot for a 2009 release, but the writers' strike delayed that.) Producer Lauren Shuler Donner, who worked on a little project called X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is currently pushing to get production actually started after the busy year for her and the director that was 2008. However, Goyer is saying that the plan is to wait to see how Wolverine does, and that he has another project to do first anyway, though he also says he thinks the people in charge really like the script.
Recently, Bryan Singer, who as you may recall directed the two X-films that exceeded expectations, has expressed interest in directing XMOM.
Plot!
The fabulous Sir Ian McKellen wants to be in the film, but conflicting information is available as to whether they'll continue with the digital facelift used at the beginning of X3 or cast new actors and have him reflecting on the events of the film in flashback. The most recent information indicates they'll be using younger actors--"in their twenties", according to Wikipedia, and Wikipedia is never wrong--though McKellen still hopes to bookend the film.
Characters!
X-Men: First Class doesn't really fall under the purview of the X-Men Origins films. However, it seems to be intended as a prequel to the three core X-Men movies, so it fits with the theme. Zak Penn, set to direct, says he has an idea which is based on the comic book story X-Men: First Class, yet somehow is not a "young X-Men" story we'd expect. Josh Schwartz--yes, that Josh Schwartz--has been tapped as a writer. He accepted because "I love its mythology, and it comes with a pretty hefty paycheck..." As for what we can expect, "It's not like I'm adding new characters like Toaster Head, or anything like that." A shame. They're shooting for a 2010 release, according to IMDB. Information as it develops--the movie is apparently still in pre-pre-production--but presumably Wolverine won't be in it. Though you can never tell, because Wolverine is apparently the secret identity of fifty-some Skrulls. Lauren Shuler Donner, who as already mentioned worked on Wolverine and is working on Magneto, is attached to produce along with Simon Kinberg.
Plot!
Characters! Cast!
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Can't...move...so...beautiful...
Can't...move...so...beautiful...
Released May 1 2009 is X-Men Origins: Wolverine, or as some who weren't fond of the X-movie trilogy are calling it, the fourth Wolverine film. Zing!
Cast! Characters!
Announced roles, including supporting and cameos, include (spoilered for length, not spoilers...but there will be spoilers)...
Hugh Jackman as James "Logan" Howlett, a.k.a. Wolverine, a.k.a. Weapon X. Young Logan is played by Troye Mellet
Who Is He?: What, are you serious? Are you sure you're in the right thread? ...okay.
Victor Creed, as played by Liev Schrieber
Who Is He?:
Danny Huston is William Stryker
Who Is He?:
Lynn Collins plays Kayla Silver Fox
Who Is She?:
Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson.
Who Is He?:
Taylor Kitsch as Remy "Gambit" LeBeau.
Who Is He?:
Daniel Henney plays Agent Zero
Who Is He?:
will.i.am is Wraith
Who Is He?:
Chris "Bolt" Bradley played by Dominic Monaghan
Who Is He?:
Scott Adkins takes the part of [strike]Deadpool[/strike] [strike]Dudepeel?[/strike] Weapon XI
Who Is He?:
Frederick J Dukes done by Kevin Durand
Who Is He?:
Cyclops is played by Tim Pocock
Who Is He?:
Emma Frost, played by Tahyna Tozzi.
Who Is She?:
Who else, who else...oh, yeah!
Stan Lee supposedly had a cameo, but I couldn't see it when I watched. I suppose I'm blind or something.
Who Is He?: What, are you serious? Are you sure you're in the right thread? ...okay.
He's, well, he's Wolverine. Sniktbub. Probably the most famous Marvel character around, after Spider-Man. ...you're gonna make me do the whole thing, aren't you?
Fiiiiine, gaaawd. James Howlett is a very sickly young boy. ...no, I said sickly, not sick. He's not...never mind. Anyway. One day, like many boys do, he killed his illegitimate father after his father killed James's mother's husband. Unlike many boys, he did it with claws that were growing out of the back of his hands. He runs away. His closest friend, now revealed to be his half-brother, Victor (see below) tags along, on the premise that brothers protect each other. So, able to shrug off bullet wounds and seemingly ageless once he reaches maturity, Jimmy and Victor fight together through numerous wars.
Then Victor had to go and kill the wrong dude and get them executed.
They get better.
What Did They Get Right?:
Fiiiiine, gaaawd. James Howlett is a very sickly young boy. ...no, I said sickly, not sick. He's not...never mind. Anyway. One day, like many boys do, he killed his illegitimate father after his father killed James's mother's husband. Unlike many boys, he did it with claws that were growing out of the back of his hands. He runs away. His closest friend, now revealed to be his half-brother, Victor (see below) tags along, on the premise that brothers protect each other. So, able to shrug off bullet wounds and seemingly ageless once he reaches maturity, Jimmy and Victor fight together through numerous wars.
Then Victor had to go and kill the wrong dude and get them executed.
They get better.
For a tall, handsome--no, pretty--and sexy--no, dreamy...sorry, I'll stop that now--Australian man, Hugh Jackman does quite well as a short, unhygienic, chain-smoking Canadian. He's a very good actor, and he sells the animal side (even if the plot doesn't, but more on that later).
What Did Fox Screw Up?:
The script doesn't allow him to be that truly savage, antisocial loner who happens to do good things because he has a conscience.
What Happens To Him?:
He gets shot. Twice. In the head. With Amnesia Bullets.
Victor Creed, as played by Liev Schrieber
Who Is He?:
Victor Creed will...probably?...go on to become the evil mutant Sabretooth. In this movie, though, he's James's somewhat psychotic older half-brother. Whereas "Jimmy" seems to lose himself in the fight, Victor revels in it. He seems to care about only two things: his little brother, and becoming a better killer. As it turns out, he only cares about one thing.
What Did They Get Right?:
Schrieber, who is surprisingly small ("only" 6'3"), is quite a fine actor himself, and tears it up as the gleefully bloodthirsty Creed. He looks appropriately hairy and savage and is wonderfully unrestrained in his brutality. Also, apparently it's not a question if he kills you, but when.
What Did Fox Fox Fuck Up?:
This being a movieverse where the 6'2" Jackman plays the 5'2" Wolverine, the size would not be a problem--perhaps they simply added their heights together and averaged them out--except we've already seen the near-seven-foot beefbus that is Tyler Mane (perhaps ironically, Canadian-born) playing Creed, so that leads to an interesting discontinuity. Oh, well. Schrieber is the better actor by far, and he's one of the highlights of the film.
What Happens To Him?:
He survives to grow ten inches, join Magneto, and make it to X1. Maybe.
Danny Huston is William Stryker
Who Is He?:
The man who, in the movieverse, brought Wolverine into the program. An Army Major (later Colonel), Stryker knows of the mutants' existence, and has plans for them. Big plans indeed.
What Did They Get Right?:
Stryker is--not to put too fine a point on it--creepy. You can see his obsession almost from the first scene, and the hint that there is far more going on than he's telling his team, and that he's willing to do anything to succeed. Balanced with the occasional sign of humanity, and you have a fascinating character.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Stryker seemed...worse in this film, as opposed to X2. Granted, we actually see the atrocities he commits, but the idea that he would murder not only a fellow officer but a superior officer, just for example, seems out of character somehow--even under the circumstances. Huston, however, compares Stryker's character to that of a racehorse breeder: he'll raise you and nurture you and train you and give you tasty carrots and if you fuck up you're history. This, it would seem, includes not just the racehorse, but the jockey, the person who owns the barn, and competing breeders... Also, Mr. Huston is a very capable actor, but there's simply no comparing him to Brian "mass murderers you find compelling" Cox, who kicked the role's ass in X2. (Cox wanted to reprise it for this film, noting the "digital facelift" used on Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart at the beginning.)
What Happens To Him?:
He walks 500 miles.
Lynn Collins plays Kayla Silver Fox
Who Is She?:
A very attractive young woman whom Wolverine shacks up with after he leaves the program. Creed kills her.
What Did They Get Right?:
He apparently didn't do a good job, though. She's a plant by Stryker to keep an eye on Wolverine, and a mutant who can implant suggestions through touch--though it doesn't work on Victor. She actually does fall in love with him, of course. And she's a good person. Why was she helping Stryker in the first place, then? They've got her sister, Emma...
Almost everything, actually. I don't know enough about the character, but her role is one of the most consistently-written.
What Did Fox (heh) Fuck Up?:
Y'know, just once, can female characters in Fox superhero films be treated as something other than a romantic interest or a goddamn plot device with tits?
What Happens To Her?:
She gets to be not just a dead-girlfriend-as-motivation but a betrayer who fell in love with his awesome and proceeded to unbetray him, and dies as redemption. Because that's so much fucking better.
Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson.
Who Is He?:
An endlessly chatty and snarky mercenary with a sword fetish, superhuman speed and reflexes, and enough skill to get him into the program.
What Did They Get Right?:
Reynolds is not, it should be noted, playing Deadpool. Deadpool does not appear in this film and anyone who says otherwise is a filthy liar. He is playing Wade Wilson, the smartmouth merc who, in the comics, became Deadpool. And at this task he is excellent. (Reynolds had been wanting to play the role since at least 2003, when he and David S. Goyer were planning to do a Deadpool movie with New Line. Originally a cameo, the role grew when Reynolds was cast...barely. He does the best he can with the little material he was given.)
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Well, he didn't get enough screen time, but that's it. You understand? That's it.
What Happens To Him?:
He vanishes and is never seen again.
Taylor Kitsch as Remy "Gambit" LeBeau.
Who Is He?:
Remy LeBeau was one of the mutants captured by Stryker's program, a hustler and card shark from New Orleans. However, being the consummate rogue he is, he's the only person to escape from The Island--and it took him almost two years. He has unspecificed kinetic energy powers; he seems to be able to transfer and absorb kinetic energy through objects so he can jump and fall great distances and hit people very hard with objects as small and light as a playing card.
What Did They Get Right?:
Kitsch actually looks the part, and his first scene up to the point where he comes out of the hole in the wall is note-perfect. He's also such a card shark he won a plane from somebody.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
After his initial appearance, zero Cajun accent--and barely a hint of a Southern drawl, for that matter. Only one use of the cards.
What Happens To Him?:
He escapes unharmed on his pontoon plane.
Daniel Henney plays Agent Zero
Who Is He?:
A dude who's very acrobatic and pretty good with guns. What? ...really good with guns?
What Did They Get Right?:
...pretty much nothing? From what I understand about the comic character this guy is exactly the opposite him. That being said, he did some cool gun tricks.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Pretty much everything. He was damn near pointless, to boot; padding to make Wolverine look more badass and lengthen the second act. Seriously, he'd shot Wolverine in the head before, and all he can think of before going after him again was...get a gun that shoots more bullets faster. Durr? And of course, after the only Asian character in the movie dies, then they unveil the weapon he would have been uniquely qualified to use and which would have worked against the target.
What Happens To Him?:
He dies like a chump.
will.i.am is Wraith
Who Is He?:
A member of the program with Wolverine, he got out a couple months after Logan did, for much the same reason (i.e. crisis of conscience). He's a mutant who can teleport, and retires to Vegas to run a boxing school, apparently.
What Did They Get Right?:
His character's pretty one-note, but it all tracks pretty clean.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Killing the only black dude in the film. I mean it. The only black dude in the film bites it. At least he got an awesome death.
What Happens To Him?:
He gets predictable. Oh, and his spine is yanked out in probably the coolest death scene in the film. Yay, disembodied spines.
Chris "Bolt" Bradley played by Dominic Monaghan
Who Is He?:
A young and rather naive (considering his line of work) technopath. He can manipulate electricity to the point where he can force an elevator in an emergency stop to keep ascending, keep an unscrewed light bulb lit, and even fly a plane by thought.
What Did They Get Right?:
Given the size of the role it would actually be hard to screw up--and they didn't.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
By killing off Dominic Monaghan at the beginning of the second act, they ensured all the pervy hobbit-fanciers would hate the film.
What Happens To Him?:
Creed...eats him? Maybe? I don't know.
Scott Adkins takes the part of [strike]Deadpool[/strike] [strike]Dudepeel?[/strike] Weapon XI
Who Is He?:
For those who are into the Roman Numerals, it should be obvious that Weapon XI is meant to be Weapon X's successor in the program. To that end, he seems designed to be the ultimate weapon, with a wide array of powers, as well as a partially-bonded adamantium skeleton like Wolverine's.
What Did They Get Right:
Weapon XI has no canon counterpart in the comics, so it's hard to say what they got right. Pretty cool fight scene, though.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Taking what could have been a great character, giving it to another actor entirely, and trying to call the mess Deadpool. Whaaa?
What Happens To Him?:
He gets shorter by about a foot.
If you stay to the end of the credits, you might find out that he gets better, depending on which secret ending they show you.
Frederick J Dukes done by Kevin Durand
Who Is He?:
The, er, tank of the team, Fred is big, superhumanly strong and tough, and not too bright. He seems to have a good heart, though. And an addiction to junk food.
What Did They Get Right?:
He's big, strong, tough, and not too bright. He's also not a bad guy deep down; he just has image issues.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Well, arguably, he should have been fat from the start. Also, despite what I said in a previous edition of this OP you don't need a stream of fat jokes when a guy's that monstrously huge; the visual alone is enough of a joke.
What Happens To Him?:
Sabretooth either scares him into giving up where Wolverine's going, or kills him. Or both. The latter two options make no sense, though. Even Wolverine had a hard time cutting Blob in the comics; Sabretooth would have no chance.
Cyclops is played by Tim Pocock
Who Is He?:
Fox's favorite buttmonkey, Scott Summers can shoot huge energy blasts out of his eyes uncontrollably. They're supposed to be stoppable only by the special glasses he wears, and certain very strong materials.
What Did They Get Right?:
Tim Pocock looks remarkably like James Marsden. He's also a fairly decent actor, good at playing the withdrawn kid convinced people don't know anything about his problems that even Scott Summers would have been as a teenager.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
You know, it seems that "cloth" counts among the "very strong materials" mentioned above. Good to know. Also, though they've been concussive in every past iteration, now they're heat beams? I guess? And since they're heat and not concussive, they can be absorbed by Wolverine's claws as opposed to blasting him half a mile? Because Scott hasn't been made to look like enough of a useless douche in Fox's movies yet?
What Happens To Him?:
He escapes Stryker's clutches, of course, and finds the waiting helicopter of
CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER
, who rescues him and the other mutants that escaped from Stryker's prison and takes them to
CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER'S SCHOOL FOR GIFTED YOUNGSTERS, MOTHERFUCKER (the motherfucker is part of the school name)
.Emma Frost, played by Tahyna Tozzi.
Who Is She?:
A young mutant held captive by Stryker, for obvious reasons: she can turn into diamond, which would be quite useful if it could be duplicated. She's held captive not just to learn her powers, though, but for her sister's good behavior.
What Did They Get Right?:
A cute young blonde lady who seems to have a strong developing personality. Not wicked-hot like she will be later in life, but hey, she's still young, and the comics all but outright state that Emma's had some work done.
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
I suppose another telepath would be boring--and nigh-impossible to keep contained without keeping Jason Stryker thawed--but she developed the diamond form after her telepathy, dammit. The only link to her first power is that her sister seems to possess a very weaksauce version of it.
What Happens To Her?:
She is rescued by
CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER
and is never seen again.Who else, who else...oh, yeah!
PATRICK (Hello, Ladies!) STEWART plays CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER
Who Is He?:
Who Is He?:
He's CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER, mothafuckas!
What Did They Get Right?:
They got PATRICK (Hello, Ladies!) STEWART to play him, bitches! He was like, "$Texas to show up for 30 seconds, say four lines, and save this whole film from stinkin' up the multiplex? No, bitches, we's talkin $n amounts here."
What Did Fox Fuck Up?:
Even Fox couldn't fuck up CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER played by PATRICK (Hello, Ladies!) STEWART.
What Happens To Him?:
He classes this sumbitch up, dawgs, then flies off into the sunset in his choppa with a small army of badass kids while Ride of the Valkyries plays over the choppa's PA (unfilmed).
Stan Lee supposedly had a cameo, but I couldn't see it when I watched. I suppose I'm blind or something.
Plot!
Spoilers. No, seriously.
The movie starts in 1845(!) with a very young Wolverine living in the as-yet-unformed Northwest Terrotories in the as-yet-unfederated Canada, and then quickly moves through the next century and change, where Logan and a certain other someone fight alongside each other in pretty much every major war the United States fought in. The montage comes to an end in Vietnam, where Logan and Victor kill the wrong guy and are executed by firing squad. (They get better.)
Then one Major William Stryker comes and offers them a job, as part of a "special team" with "special privileges". These privileges apparently include murder, which turns Logan off, even though it's his own half-brother doing the murdering.
He leaves and goes to work as a lumberjack in Canada, where's he's okay, he shags his smokin' hot ladyfriend all night and he works all day, and his healing factor takes care of the sleep thing. After about six years of this most excellent routine, Sabretooth shows up and apparently kills his woman, so Logan tracks him down and tries to kill him. This doesn't exactly work; Sabretooth's just as tough as Logan, but a lot meaner. He comes to in the hospital to find Stryker waiting for him, and again is offered a job, if he'll just participate in a little experiment.
This little experiment almost kills him. Emphasis on almost. But it makes him even more dangerous than before, because now his bones are unbreakable and his claws are shiny shiny shiny. (This contradicts both X1 and X2, which indicate that the Weapon X program actually implanted the adamantium claws in his body, but is in line with the comics.)
However, he overhears them plotting to wipe his memory, and so, newly indestructified, he escapes, cuts up some dudes, blows up some shit, and finally eludes his pursuers. Figuring he'll be back, Stryker pulls out to a base called The Island.
Wolverine, as he now calls himself, tracks down an old teammate, Wraith, and from him finds Fred Dukes, who knows about The Island...and someone who escaped from it. After some aggressive negotiations, he and Wraith go to track down said escapee, and find bloody claws and explosions.
After Wraith gets his spine yanked out like some sixteen-bit foe of Sub-Zero's, some more aggressive negotiations convince the escapee, a card shark who calls himself Gambit, to take him to The Island...which is revealed to be Three Mile Island. They go there by pontoon plane, and Wolverine jumps out to skip across the water like a furry, sexy stone.
Inside, Wolverine finds Stryker, Weapon XI (his successor)...and his not-so-dead lady, who is revealed to have been in Stryker's employ the whole time, and also to have the completely remarkable power of being a blazing-hot woman who can hypnotize a man with a mere touch. Where do they come up with these crazy ideas?
[strike]Stone-Cold[/strike] Silver Fox cries a bit and explains everything except that which would make her actually forgive him. She waits until he storms out to ask Stryker about her sister, currently being held for the usefulness of her power. Then Sabretooth comes out and threatens to make the play from before real, and it turns out her power doesn't work on him. (Gayyyyy...)
When she screams, Wolverine comes runnin', and he and the brother from [strike]another[/strike] the same mother hash things out like mature adult males, which is to say they try to rip each other apart. Wolverine decides not to kill his brofrosamo today, and instead gives him a friendly slap upside the head which probably cracked his skull, but he can heal, so no biggie. Then he helps his ex-but-maybe-again?-babe free a bunch of kids, because he's awesome like that, but they can't leave because of a mime from hell that calls itself (well, not really...mime and all) Weapon XI.
Weapon XI knows all the tricks. Walking Against The Wind, Blades Popping Out Of The Arm, Lasers From The Eyes, Moving When You're Too Lazy Too Actually Get Up, Good Thing You Can Heal, Semi-Unbreakable In The Bones Department, and of course Being A Puppet Of Some Old Bastard. It looks like the awfulness of his mime show is too much for Wolverine to both endure and maintain his balance above one of the towers on Three Mile Island at the same time, but then Sabretooth shows up because he wants to kill Wolverine, mommy, you said IIIII could kill Jimmyyyyyyyy and Weapon XI's gonna dooo iiiiit!
So anyway, they still almost get the crap kicked out of them, but then Wolverine convinces Weapon XI to do Alas Poor Yorick and then gives him a pat on the back. Sadly, Weapon XI experiences immediate rigor mortis and can't stop doing Lasers From The Eyes, which apparently causes the Three Mile Island Incident...about six years after it actually happened or something?
Sabretooth, now that he's won the right to kill Jimmy, doesn't. The Fakin' Cajun from earlier saves Wolverine's bacon from death by crumbly bits of cooling tower, which he should have been able to survive anyway...?
In the meantime, Wolverine's ex-but-no-but-ex has gotten her sister and all her little school friends out of detention, and then contracts a slight case of bullet in the gut. Wolverine is about to take her to a hospital when Stryker shows up and shoots him in the head with amnesia bullets. He forgets who she is while his brain replaces the perforated neurons, and then lingers over her corpse even though he doesn't know her. It's very sad.
The kids meet up with CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER.
The (nominal) end.
After the end of the film, if you wait about thirty seconds, you get to see Stryker's immediate fate (held in connection with the murder of his boss), which he will naturally wiggle out of, though it seems to kill any prospects for advancement as he's still a Colonel fifteen years on.
Depending on where and when you see the film, you'll apparently be treated to one of several special endings if you wait out the whole credits. Me, I saw, one of Weapon XI's swords retracting, the forearm it's attached to digging its way out of the rubble and finding his disembodied head, whose eyes open, focus on the audience, and his no-longer-sealed mouth whispers "Shhh." There is, however, at least one other ending: Wolverine in a Japanese bar, doing shots. He's asked if he's drinking to forget. No. He's drinking to remember.
Then one Major William Stryker comes and offers them a job, as part of a "special team" with "special privileges". These privileges apparently include murder, which turns Logan off, even though it's his own half-brother doing the murdering.
He leaves and goes to work as a lumberjack in Canada, where's he's okay, he shags his smokin' hot ladyfriend all night and he works all day, and his healing factor takes care of the sleep thing. After about six years of this most excellent routine, Sabretooth shows up and apparently kills his woman, so Logan tracks him down and tries to kill him. This doesn't exactly work; Sabretooth's just as tough as Logan, but a lot meaner. He comes to in the hospital to find Stryker waiting for him, and again is offered a job, if he'll just participate in a little experiment.
This little experiment almost kills him. Emphasis on almost. But it makes him even more dangerous than before, because now his bones are unbreakable and his claws are shiny shiny shiny. (This contradicts both X1 and X2, which indicate that the Weapon X program actually implanted the adamantium claws in his body, but is in line with the comics.)
However, he overhears them plotting to wipe his memory, and so, newly indestructified, he escapes, cuts up some dudes, blows up some shit, and finally eludes his pursuers. Figuring he'll be back, Stryker pulls out to a base called The Island.
Wolverine, as he now calls himself, tracks down an old teammate, Wraith, and from him finds Fred Dukes, who knows about The Island...and someone who escaped from it. After some aggressive negotiations, he and Wraith go to track down said escapee, and find bloody claws and explosions.
After Wraith gets his spine yanked out like some sixteen-bit foe of Sub-Zero's, some more aggressive negotiations convince the escapee, a card shark who calls himself Gambit, to take him to The Island...which is revealed to be Three Mile Island. They go there by pontoon plane, and Wolverine jumps out to skip across the water like a furry, sexy stone.
Inside, Wolverine finds Stryker, Weapon XI (his successor)...and his not-so-dead lady, who is revealed to have been in Stryker's employ the whole time, and also to have the completely remarkable power of being a blazing-hot woman who can hypnotize a man with a mere touch. Where do they come up with these crazy ideas?
[strike]Stone-Cold[/strike] Silver Fox cries a bit and explains everything except that which would make her actually forgive him. She waits until he storms out to ask Stryker about her sister, currently being held for the usefulness of her power. Then Sabretooth comes out and threatens to make the play from before real, and it turns out her power doesn't work on him. (Gayyyyy...)
When she screams, Wolverine comes runnin', and he and the brother from [strike]another[/strike] the same mother hash things out like mature adult males, which is to say they try to rip each other apart. Wolverine decides not to kill his brofrosamo today, and instead gives him a friendly slap upside the head which probably cracked his skull, but he can heal, so no biggie. Then he helps his ex-but-maybe-again?-babe free a bunch of kids, because he's awesome like that, but they can't leave because of a mime from hell that calls itself (well, not really...mime and all) Weapon XI.
Weapon XI knows all the tricks. Walking Against The Wind, Blades Popping Out Of The Arm, Lasers From The Eyes, Moving When You're Too Lazy Too Actually Get Up, Good Thing You Can Heal, Semi-Unbreakable In The Bones Department, and of course Being A Puppet Of Some Old Bastard. It looks like the awfulness of his mime show is too much for Wolverine to both endure and maintain his balance above one of the towers on Three Mile Island at the same time, but then Sabretooth shows up because he wants to kill Wolverine, mommy, you said IIIII could kill Jimmyyyyyyyy and Weapon XI's gonna dooo iiiiit!
So anyway, they still almost get the crap kicked out of them, but then Wolverine convinces Weapon XI to do Alas Poor Yorick and then gives him a pat on the back. Sadly, Weapon XI experiences immediate rigor mortis and can't stop doing Lasers From The Eyes, which apparently causes the Three Mile Island Incident...about six years after it actually happened or something?
Sabretooth, now that he's won the right to kill Jimmy, doesn't. The Fakin' Cajun from earlier saves Wolverine's bacon from death by crumbly bits of cooling tower, which he should have been able to survive anyway...?
In the meantime, Wolverine's ex-but-no-but-ex has gotten her sister and all her little school friends out of detention, and then contracts a slight case of bullet in the gut. Wolverine is about to take her to a hospital when Stryker shows up and shoots him in the head with amnesia bullets. He forgets who she is while his brain replaces the perforated neurons, and then lingers over her corpse even though he doesn't know her. It's very sad.
The kids meet up with CHARLES FUCKING XAVIER.
The (nominal) end.
After the end of the film, if you wait about thirty seconds, you get to see Stryker's immediate fate (held in connection with the murder of his boss), which he will naturally wiggle out of, though it seems to kill any prospects for advancement as he's still a Colonel fifteen years on.
Depending on where and when you see the film, you'll apparently be treated to one of several special endings if you wait out the whole credits. Me, I saw, one of Weapon XI's swords retracting, the forearm it's attached to digging its way out of the rubble and finding his disembodied head, whose eyes open, focus on the audience, and his no-longer-sealed mouth whispers "Shhh." There is, however, at least one other ending: Wolverine in a Japanese bar, doing shots. He's asked if he's drinking to forget. No. He's drinking to remember.
Principal photography was completed May 23 2008, and took place in Australia, New Zealand, New Orleans, and Fox studios. A sequel has already been greenlit, and may be set in Japan. If a sequel is made, they intend for it to follow from this film, and not take place after X3.
There is also talk of Deadpool and Gambit getting their own spinoffs, probably as direct-to-DVD movies in my completely unfounded opinion but I wouldn't say no to a TV series or a film if they do well in this one.
The first official teaser/trailer was shown in front of The Day The Earth Stood Still when it premiered on December 12, and was by most accounts the best thing about that movie. Want a taste of sniktbub?
The Trailer, Bub
(Want a higher-quality version? Try the film's MySpace page. Yes, the Myspace page. What the balls?)
There is a second trailer.
The Second Trailer, Bub
Since this is a major motion picture featuring the most popular character of an already Large McHuge franchise, there will be a video game, produced by Activision and developed by Raven Software, the guys who did Jedi Outcast. Mark Guggenheim, currently a Marvel writer, did the story for the game.
My review? Why would you want that?
I was actually looking forward to this movie. The last X-flick went off the rails from what I was interested in seeing almost from the start, but this film was looking awesome almost from the day it was announced, even if it is yet more Wolverine exposure and just a buch of mindless action. The numerous hints that suck invaded the production of the film dampened my enthusiasm, but I still saw it in a theater. And my verdict?
A decent mindless actioner. Not an X-Men movie by any stretch of the imagination. There was no addressing the themes of the films except for a couple of perfunctory lines. It was just smashy smashy all over the place. I can understand why--it seems mutants are relatively unknown at this point, so there's no real anti-mutant hysteria, just some covert action by certain people in government. But without even a single mutant really wondering "Am I really that different from humanity? Am I something special, or just like a dude who's wicked good with the clarinet?", it can't really be an X-film.
A decent mindless actioner. Not an X-Men movie by any stretch of the imagination. There was no addressing the themes of the films except for a couple of perfunctory lines. It was just smashy smashy all over the place. I can understand why--it seems mutants are relatively unknown at this point, so there's no real anti-mutant hysteria, just some covert action by certain people in government. But without even a single mutant really wondering "Am I really that different from humanity? Am I something special, or just like a dude who's wicked good with the clarinet?", it can't really be an X-film.
This just in: Wolverine, having a budget of $150 million and taking in at least $340m worldwide, has despite being mediocre (at best...) made $190m in profits. On one hand, this means more Wolverine. On the other, this means more Wolverine. On a third, perhaps horribly mutated hand with claws, this means more Wolverine in the style of this thoroughly shitballs-stupid movie.
X-Men Origins: Magneto
HEY! HEY YOU! C'MERE!
HEY! HEY YOU! C'MERE!
X-Men Origins: Magneto is a bit of a misnomer since Magneto isn't really a member of the team, but we'll run with it. David S. Goyer is attached to write and direct, and Sheldon Turner is writing the original screenplay. It's hoped that shooting will begin in 2009. (The plan was to shoot for a 2009 release, but the writers' strike delayed that.) Producer Lauren Shuler Donner, who worked on a little project called X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is currently pushing to get production actually started after the busy year for her and the director that was 2008. However, Goyer is saying that the plan is to wait to see how Wolverine does, and that he has another project to do first anyway, though he also says he thinks the people in charge really like the script.
Recently, Bryan Singer, who as you may recall directed the two X-films that exceeded expectations, has expressed interest in directing XMOM.
Plot!
According to Turner, the first script treatment is set from 1939 to 1955. The first act follows Magneto as he attempts to survive Auschwitz. When the camp is liberated, he meets and makes friends with one of the American soldiers, Charles Xavier. Hey, shouldn't that mean Xavier is even fucking older than Magneto in the later films? But nooooo; if anything Xavier looked like a more dignified version of himself as Patrick Stewart back in 1993. That man does not age. Anyhoo, In the following years, he hunts down the Nazi war criminals who tortured him, his desire for vengeance turning Charles against him.
Goyer has announced that the most recent script has the bulk of the film set in 1962 instead. HIPPIIIIESS!
What I want to see would be a short, almost arthouse film. You have the parts with Magneto's childhood at the beginning, and a lead-in to the first X-Men film at the end, and the rest of it is a story told almost entirely in dialogue. Erik and Charles at lecture halls, at cafes, at museums, at genetic laboratories, at libraries, talking energetically about deep conundrums of philosophy like the two friends in the prime of their life they're supposed to be, contrasted against a backdrop of historical periods. The conversations grow more ardent, their two sides more clearly defined and separable, as time marches on
Goyer has announced that the most recent script has the bulk of the film set in 1962 instead. HIPPIIIIESS!
What I want to see would be a short, almost arthouse film. You have the parts with Magneto's childhood at the beginning, and a lead-in to the first X-Men film at the end, and the rest of it is a story told almost entirely in dialogue. Erik and Charles at lecture halls, at cafes, at museums, at genetic laboratories, at libraries, talking energetically about deep conundrums of philosophy like the two friends in the prime of their life they're supposed to be, contrasted against a backdrop of historical periods. The conversations grow more ardent, their two sides more clearly defined and separable, as time marches on
The fabulous Sir Ian McKellen wants to be in the film, but conflicting information is available as to whether they'll continue with the digital facelift used at the beginning of X3 or cast new actors and have him reflecting on the events of the film in flashback. The most recent information indicates they'll be using younger actors--"in their twenties", according to Wikipedia, and Wikipedia is never wrong--though McKellen still hopes to bookend the film.
Characters!
Aside from Xavier's appearance, few other characters are known at this time. However, concept art of a young Beast has been designed... I'm really hoping for either a Captain America or Wolverine--or both!--cameo myself.
X-Men: First Class
You mean I'm gonna turn blue and stay that color?
You mean I'm gonna turn blue and stay that color?
X-Men: First Class doesn't really fall under the purview of the X-Men Origins films. However, it seems to be intended as a prequel to the three core X-Men movies, so it fits with the theme. Zak Penn, set to direct, says he has an idea which is based on the comic book story X-Men: First Class, yet somehow is not a "young X-Men" story we'd expect. Josh Schwartz--yes, that Josh Schwartz--has been tapped as a writer. He accepted because "I love its mythology, and it comes with a pretty hefty paycheck..." As for what we can expect, "It's not like I'm adding new characters like Toaster Head, or anything like that." A shame. They're shooting for a 2010 release, according to IMDB. Information as it develops--the movie is apparently still in pre-pre-production--but presumably Wolverine won't be in it. Though you can never tell, because Wolverine is apparently the secret identity of fifty-some Skrulls. Lauren Shuler Donner, who as already mentioned worked on Wolverine and is working on Magneto, is attached to produce along with Simon Kinberg.
Plot!
Bupkis.
Characters! Cast!
Zilch.
Shadowen on
0
Posts
Fuck yes, I now have my fave marvel character in movie form. It seems like they could pull it off.
3DS FC: 5343-7720-0490
That version makes me happier so I'll assume it's true.
The leaked Comic-Con trailer for the Wolverine one looked surprisingly OK.
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
In fact, all this information is the most recent I've seen, and it's been updated within the past couple of months.
Where is there a trailer?
It was shown at San Diego Comic Con, of course. And Hugh Jackman made a surprise appearance at the con to talk it up. He also showed real appreciation for Len Wein, who created the character. Classy dude. Here's a description. More description, with screenshots, here. There are spoilers.
EDIT: I'm no longer looking for the preview footage because Fox has been exercising copyright to get people to take it down.
He will be the best part of that movie.
He is the best part of every movie he's in.
Looking at some of the movies he's been in that's not saying much.
Choose Your Own Chat 1 Choose Your Own Chat 2 Choose Your Own Chat 3
But it's still true.
I like Ryan Reynolds, though. Deadpool is perfect for him, maybe even better than The Flash.
No way Magneto gets made. Even if Wolverine is a success, and I think it will be.
Geek: Remixed - A Decade's worth of ruined pop culture memories
Xbox Live - Fatboy PDX
I wish Glenn Danzig would play wolverine in the movies instead of Jackman. It would have been awesomely hillarious.
I tentatively agree.
Magneto as the film it should be? Unlikely to see the light of day. Magneto as a generic cheer-for-revenge film with superpowers thrown in, where we find out at the end we were cheering for the bad guy all along, except we also knew this all along? Quite likely to see the light of day.
In my opinion, Magneto should be like a higher-concept Kevin Smith movie. The real meat of the film would be conversations between the two main characters (who of course are in a sort of bromance) over a few decades. Of course, as they grow older, they start picking at the real differences in opinion between each other, rather than good-natured jibes at the superficial stuff, until they have a violent falling out and go their separate ways. Tack on an epilogue that leads in to the first film and a prologue that shows Magneto enduring the horrors of Auschwitz, and ta-daa! A true arthouse superhero flick.
But what do I know? Nothin', that's what.
So, as mentioned in the slightly revised OP, Magneto production is now being stepped up. Sauce. I guess there was a way, and that way was "the producer and director finally get done other projects and set their sights on the film".
Also, a question to the mods: given Fox's legal maneuverings, I will assume that any bootleg video of the Wolverine SDCC footage should not even be linked to from here? I ask only because I finally saw it, and even in shitty camera-phone-o-vision it was awesome.
PSN ID : DetectiveOlivaw | TWITTER | STEAM ID | NEVER FORGET
https://gofund.me/fa5990a5
That being said, I will fix that so it's clearer straightaway.
Wouldnt that make him like, a 10 year old soldier? Or are they going to ignore that opening scene from the movie completely and pretend Erik is 18 now?
Ugh, I hope Magneto never happens. It already sounds like a mess.
I would love to see a movie where Deadpool is constantly adressing the audience.
Seriously though, I think this movie is going to be saved by secondary characters, Wolverine is still too much of a pussy.
he fucking jumped from an exploding truck onto a moving helicopter
you couldn't be farther away from "pussy" if you tried
Jackman looked badass though, that ending bit was 8-)
They've ruined Deadpool. Ruined him.
I've... I've gotta go.
You see him for a whole second! RUINED
I'm not a big fan of Ryan Reynolds (in fact I can't stand him), but they are, apparently, making him scarred. Either way you can check out the new animated movie coming out early next year called Hulk Vs. It looks pretty good and has Deadpool in it.
RE: Origins
I'm still amazed that the Tsotsi guy is directing this. It actually gives me high hopes for it.
Actually I haven't seen the trailer yet, and I rather like Ryan Reynolds. He's what you'd likely get if you threw Matthew Perry and Jim Carrey into the blender, and sieved out the gurning.
Perhaps I wasn't clear? Erik is a kid. Xavior is a US soldier. Its not that complicated y'know.
https://gofund.me/fa5990a5
Our first game is now available for free on Google Play: Frontier: Isle of the Seven Gods
Geek: Remixed - A Decade's worth of ruined pop culture memories
Xbox Live - Fatboy PDX