They Got It Wrong???!!! Or Did They?!?!?????

X-men, X2: X-men United, and now X3: The Last Stand have something very much in common...Wolverine.

X-men: He is believed until the end to be the "weapon" Magneto is after. He is in virtually every action scene, and it is through HIS eyes that we meet the X-men and experience these fantastic events. In my opinion this was a terrific approach. It worked because he was able to be as shocked as we would be to find ourselves in the same situation. Had it been through, say, Cyclops' or Storms eyes it would not have had the same effect. Plus, with Wolverine, you could already have the X-men an established entity...a big plus for a story with already so many odds and ends. Singer worked this to perfection. Balanced enough of the other characters in, with it centering around Wolverine...who despite what fans what, is what people think of when they think of X-men.

X2: X-men United: The story from the first film continues. The registration act was shot down, so what happens? An Anti-Mutant activist goes off on his own to eliminate the mutants in question. This is a great story, and draws HEAVILY on the terrific graphic novel, GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS. In a near stroke of genius Harris, Dougherty, Penn, and Hayter decided to add one other thing. The intriguing and virtually untold story of Wolverine's past. No one can say that this idea didn't light a little fire in their bellies. It's an interesting one, and it was told well- ambiguously, but thoroughly. Again, there is a good job done by Singer to balance stories. Wolverine's quest for his past, Jean's transformation to the Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Pyro, Rogue and Bobby's romance, and various others. Sure, Cyclops and Professor X took a bit of a back seat, but in GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS, they did as well.

X3: The Last Stand: Wolverine becomes the leader of the X-men. Well, more like second in command, to Storm. We also see Wolverine have a lot of trouble trying to take this role. This isn't out of character for him in the movies or the comics. He isn't all "berserker fury"...he can lead, just not always the way Xavier would want...that's where Storm would come in as his conscious.
Scott is seen and viewed by others as having too much emotional stress, understandably, from loosing the love of his life; his mind is unfit to lead. Storm is ready. She is a great character, despite people's distaste for Halle, Storm has always been somewhat of a leader of the X-men, and even was when Cyclops would be absent. Jean's story as the Phoenix (from all clips I've seen) is awesome. I also love that they made her the "straw that broke the camel’s back" in Eric and Charles' relationship. Beast seems great. Pyro and Iceman are finally full on players. And the Juggernaut and Shadow Cat are great additions. The only concerns I have are that Colossus (my second favorite mutant behind Cyclops), Rogue, and Angel seem underused. But in a movie like this there will always be under developed characters.

Yes, I just recapped six years and three movies. Why? Because of all of the complaining. I am not a "big-time" X-men poster, but I read here daily, and have been around here for a little while...and I don't think people understand that with an X-men movie...there will be a LOT of Wolverine. But to put it in perspective:

If there were an AVENGERS (live action) movie, who would be the lead? Captain America, right? No brainier. Would Iron Man fans get pissed? Would Thor fans? Probably a little, but they would realize that Captain America is the figure head of the group, not just the leader.
And while Wolverine is NOT the leader of the X-men, he is the figure head.

If there were a live action TEEN TITANS movie...who would take the lead? Starfire? No. Cyborg? No. Superboy? eh...No. Robin would. Because he is the figure head of the group. The movie would have all of these characters, but he would be the big "money" hero of the film.

We really have to accept that this is the way things are going to happen. Not just put butts in the seats and sell toys, but because to the general public, Wolverine is the most interesting character, because he has that "bad ass" edge. Why they hold him in higher regard to say, Beast, Colossus, Cyclops, etc I don't know. But since his debut in the 70's he has. It's just smart writing to build the movie AROUND him, which is what they've done...all THREE times. It's not like Ratner made this idea up, because the comics and Singer have done it too.

So I really just hope, and this is wishful thinking, that this can make people pause before they make the "X-MAN" comments, because it's really not necessary. All movies need a central character...for these movies it is Wolverine.

-R

 

Yeah, in the words of Jonny "Every team needs a mascot".

-R

 

First thing is:
Consistancy. Both movies thus far built around Wolverine while incorporating a LOT of great story. Why mess with a winning formula?

Second is the fact that Phoenix is still a pretty main character. It seems to be that the two main stories are: The Cure and the mutant battle to stop it, and the Phoenix. Also, while Scott isn't a main character, his death is pivitol, and will resonate through the film. His presense and ghost will haunt the mansion (not literally of course) and motivate the X-men (as well as Wolverine) to act as he would and be heroes.

Wolverine is going to be a very reluctant leader in the film. He is going to just be doing what needs to be done. He, in the comics is an anti-hero. Key word being "hero". A hero will save the world and do what is right when it has to be done.

-R

 

For the the first movie I think it was genius to tell the story through his eyes. The second wasn't through his eyes, but did center around him.

As far as the fans go, I'd say that the big five fan favorites would look something like: (no order)
Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Gambit, and Rogue. I don't know, something like that. But we are really only a drop in the bucket. These movies are made to portray the characters that we know and love and show them off to the main public. And Wolverine appeals, literally, to the animal in all of us. He is everything we can't be. Invulnerable, but troubled. Bad ass, but with a soft spot. Dangerous but caring. He is the ultimate warrior and the ultimate tough guy. He is who the public wants...he's what they got, and they ate it up.

-R

 

I realize that there are people, like yourself who don't like him. But I mean, there are people who hate...say, Batman. And yet his movies will always be huge. Because the film-makers won't cater to the minority.

I don't not like Wolverine, I DO think he is over-rated, but he is a good enough character and Jackman plays him so well it brings him to another level.

Told you I'm not on here that often, lol . But yeah, I was just kind of going on feeling, of posts I've seen, the movies, 90's show, X-men Evolution (which I loved), comics, etc.

-R