X-MEN ORIGINS - WOLVERINE: THE REVIEW
When you are making the fourth movie in a series, you essentially have two choices: you can take the pragmatists view, preparing yourself for the inevitable sceptical response and shrugging off any hint of ridicule as you count the guaranteed takings from die-hard fans of the franchise. Or you can try to pull something fresh out of the hat that exceeds expectations and destroys negative preconceptions.
The producers of X-Men Origins: Wolverine (among them Hugh Jackman, a.k.a. Wolverine) have managed to successfully pursue the last option.
Their intriguing choice of both director and writer has proved to be inspired. South African director, Gavin Hood (of Oscar-winning Tsotsi fame) has managed the considerable shift in genre with impressive aplomb, somehow managing to bring a gritty sense of realism to the movie without sacrificing the larger-than-life quality that is essential to every true sci-fi flick.
And no doubt the quality of David Benioffs screenplay, who also wrote the screenplays for movies such as The Kite Runner and Spike Lee's 25th Hour, made Hoods task significantly easier.
The result of their efforts (as well as that of the rest of the cast and crew whose enthusiasm seems not to have waned at all) is a very rare thing: a sequel to a sequel to a sequel that manages to be hugely entertaining, refreshingly original and leaves you holding thumbs for a Number 5.