What's up with 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' and 'Terminator: Salvation?'

I asked my friend last night "what's up with that Wolverine?" he said "nothing, I'm still waiting on the next issue of Wolverine:Old Man Logan ."  I meant to ask if he's seen the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine,  and that would be his way of saying "heck no."

The reviews haven't been kind, but audiences have.  Box office estimates have X-Men Origins: Wolverine earning $85.1 million for its opening weekend. A monetary success by some standards. The currency of the X-Men movie franchise fares well due to the big take this weekend but not because Wolverine was particularly great. 

I watched it last night and while it is not fair to compare every film in the superhero genre to each other it has to be said that this film would have been completely acceptable two years ago, but today?  Just when I think more comic-based movies were turning the corner in quality of storytelling, we take a few steps back.  Don't get me wrong -- I have no illusions about who X-Men Origins: Wolverine is made for, but a scene that ends with a slow motion walk away from an explosion? 

Even music videos don't do that anymore.

All in all It was OK. The character cameos from other parts of the Marvel mutant universe were fun.  The performance standouts for me were Hugh Jackman in the title role of course, and the criminally under-utilized Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed.


Slashfilm visits the Terminator: Salvation set

Peter Sciretta of Slashfilm invites readers along for his visit to the set of Terminator: Salvation and offers story background along with behind-the-scenes designs and pictures.

This primer is sorely needed by myself and fans alike who either did not see the last film or haven't seen anything Terminator in so long they have forgotten what the big deal with John Connor is anyway.

You know he's the savior of humankind and the leader of the resistance against the machines, but not at the point we catch him in this film.  All that stuff is going to happen, but the story behind it is the one I'm interested in seeing and I suspect you are too.  Especially we few fans of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Some may just see this flick because Christian Bale is in it and I guess that's a good enough reason for most.

Sciretta will have posts over the next several days with video interviews from Salvation cast and crew.