Perspectives and Expectations

With a production budget of $150 million and a total domestic gross of $90,509,026 and an additional $73,106,413 in the foreign box office in its first week, X-Men Origins:Wolverine has earned it place on the lists of “Summer Blockbusters.” It is interesting to note that the movie received a “rotten” rating from Rottentomatoes.com which stated that “Though Hugh Jackman gives his all, he can't help X-Men Origins: Wolverine overcome a cliché-ridden script and familiar narrative.” The editorial staff at Precistreatis decided to investigate this disparity of information. The critics overwhelming trashed the movie, but what did the average movie goer think? We surveyed a diverse group that attended the movie on opening night. Mockette & McSmartAss Smurf, Scornette & spouse, Sister & Niece, Son & Friend.

Here is how the 4 couples broke it down (Warning - here there be spoilers!)

Mockette & McSAS
We very much enjoyed the movie. The idea of the learning the back-story of this favorite character was enticing and we were not disappointed in any way. The evolution of the morals of Logan –vs- the increased animalistic tendencies of Victor was portrayed efficiently allowing for the development of the story. Although we are not “comic book” geeks (don’t get me wrong…we are geeky we just don’t read X-Men comics) we were familiar with Wolverine from the previous movies. We knew he was going to get injected with adamandium and would at some point lose his memory but we had no idea as to the details of the story. I found the new mutants entertaining, I Especially liked Wade Wilson and Remy LeBeau and look forward to the possibility of future appearances by these characters. I thought the second or third time they did the overhead shot of Logan holding a dead body and screaming that it was getting to be a bit melodramatic (I also thought – WOW Hugh Jackman really worked out for this movie – he’s huge!). The special effects were amazing and overall – we agreed that it was a great movie.
Verdict: The movie was very entertaining and exciting, we loved it. I did not regret the $15 I spent on tickets (or the $10 for the popcorn and soda) which is always a good sign.

Scornette & Spouse
From the opening scene, the movie offered a nice balance of pathos and action. Granted, Wolverine’s epic journey toward a moral center could’ve been more subtle, but this was a comic book movie, not an art house film. The paternity revelation / patricide in the opening scene may have been a bit heavy-handed, but it certainly laid the foundation for the connection between Wolverine and Saber Tooth which would otherwise have confused an anti-purist such as myself. So, my husband didn’t find that fraternal relationship accurate, nor did he feel that Saber Tooth really had the longevity of Wolverine, but once I got him to shut up and just let me watch the movie, I had a rockin good time. And I think ultimately, he was not entirely displeased either.
Verdict: To a fan of the comic, there were some bothersome inaccuracies. To me, I would never have noticed and even once informed of them, those inaccuracies didn’t bother me in the slightest.

Sister & Niece
Sister and Niece are both comic book fans. While they enjoyed the movie and the pretty that is Hugh Jackman, they were not completely satisfied with some of the liberties taken by the movie makers. The part that stood out the most for them was the atrocity of the adamandium bullets. Seems Wolverine (in the comics) lost his memory during the adamandium process, leapt from the tank and killed everyone in sight. Sister and Niece understood that the adamandium process needed to come earlier in the movie and it was nice that he had his memories until the end…but still…adamandium bullets??? Please.
Verdit: Great movie, but bothered by the inaccuracies in relation to the comics.

Son & Friend
Son & Friend are the prime audience for this film. They fit that special magical demographic perfectly – 21 year old males who like comics and buy stuff. Their official statement on the movie was: Fantastic movie – Didn’t like what they did with Deadpool – Got Gambit’s powers and accent wrong. Son elaborated that Deadpool and Gambit are his favorite X-men. How could they make Deadpool a mute and where was Gambit’s thick Cajun accent? There was also something about Gambits gloves and his powers but I had kinda zoned out at that point in the conversation.
Verdit: They thought the movie was fantastic, but as comic fans they couldn’t help but be critical of the liberties taken by the makers of the movie.

While everyone agreed that the movie was rollicking good fun. Those who came with preconceived notions and expectations regarding the comics were more critical of the final product. However, to the “professional critic” who wrote “It is Hugh Jackman's misfortune that when they were handing out superheroes, he got Wolverine, who is for my money low on the charisma list. He never says anything witty, insightful or very intelligent; his utterances are limited to the vocalization of primitive forces: anger, hurt, vengeance, love, hate, determination. There isn't a speck of ambiguity. That Wolverine has been voted the No. 1 comic hero of all time must be the result of a stuffed ballot box.” (Rogerebert.com) we point out that we stopped listening to professional critics when we realized they went to movies for completely different reasons than we do. I find it difficult to see Wolverine as Jackman’s “misfortune” as he was largely unknown in the US before that role, plus I saw film of him at a recent Comic-Con where he showed a trailer for X-Men Origins, no one could fake being that excited about a project.

Yes, we want an interesting story and good characters. Sometimes we want pretty people doing funny things. Sometimes we want action and many of us prefer to see the “good guys” win, we are looking to escape from real life were we can’t magically solve our problems in 2 hours and where karma doesn’t always catch up with the bad guys. The idea that all movies must be deep, completely intellectual, and tragically socially relevant to be of any value is a fallacy that needs to be shattered now. Although X-Men Origins: Wolverine is no “Babette’s Feast” (yea…I’m talking to you Ebert) it is a very entertaining and satisfying movie experience.