The X-Men Masterclass - X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

linktr.ee/CatchingUpOnCinema This September is “Masterclass Month” at Catching Up On Cinema! Every September, Trevor and Kyle celebrate the anniversary of Catching Up On Cinema by doing a deep dive into one of cinemas most famous franchises. September 2022 marks the 4th year anniversary of the show, and to celebrate the occasion, Trevor and Kyle will be reviewing the first 4 films of the X-Men film series! This week, Trevor and Kyle review Gavin Hood's, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)! A troubled production in many regards, Gavin Hood's, X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) was to serve as the first in a new subseries of X-Men Origin films, however it's critical failure would result the subsequent cancellation and reworking of the proposed X-Men Origins: Magneto film into X-Men First Class (2011). The first of 3 solo Wolverine films to be headlined by Hugh Jackman as the title character, X-Men Origins is an odd duck of a film that goes to great lengths to draw attention to subtle elements connecting it to the previous X-Men films, while simultaneously completely bungling the same procedure in regards to major plot elements and characterizations. Produced nearly parallel to X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins is an incredibly expensive sequel that often feels like the result of the former films' creative table scraps. While not explicitly stated (publicly), it is heavily rumored that director Gavin Hood was strong-armed by 20th Century Fox into making a more a cheesier and more lighthearted film than he would have preferred. Hampered by a clunky and highly utilitarian script, as well as a hurried editing style and evidence of unfinished and/or rushed visual effects work, X-Men Origins bears many of the hallmarks signs of a troubled or creatively hamstrung production. A fine exhibition of Hugh Jackman and Liev Schrieber's screen presence and raw charisma, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is watchable and largely inoffensive, however in failing to impress on the action and effects front, and failing to fit cleanly into series continuity, Origins is likely remembered as a smear on the franchise to be wiped clean by later films in the series, or not remembered at all. Follow us on Instagram @catchinguponcinema Follow us on Twitter @CatchingCinema Like, share, subscribe, and we'll catch you next time!