The story begins 20 years before the rise of the X-Men, deep in the Canadian wilderness. Logan, a mutant with a violent past, is finding inner peace in the arms of a schoolteacher. The past has a way of catching up, however, and soon his half-brother Victor tracks him down, brutally murdering the woman he loves. Although this epic story spans 150 years' worth of flashbacks, at its core is the story of Logan's quest for revenge against Victor -- a quest that turns him from man to Wolverine. It's packed with nonstop action, has cutting-edge special effects and stunt work, terrific cinematography and beautiful locations. A super-buff Jackman gets to explore the character in more depth than previously and Liev Schreiber, as his brother, makes a dandy bad guy. But like most superhero origin stories, there's a certain predictability inherent in sketching in the back story of a well-established character like Wolverine. After an intriguing prologue set in 1845 that establishes our hero and Victor (later Sabretooth) as mutant brothers. By that point, they're in a covert cadre of military mutants known as Team X. But Wolverine lacks the blood lust of the others, particularly Victor, and walks away during a mission in Namibia. Six years later, settled with a wife and working as a lumberjack in the Canadian Rockies, they pull him back in again after tragedy strikes. Wolverine wants vengeance against his brother for an unspeakable act. But can he trust Colonel Stryker, the former commander of Team X, who offers to increase Wolverine's powers with Marvel Comics' signature super-strong alloy adamantium so he can triumph over Sabretooth?
