Ryan Reynolds

Blu-Ray Review: Predictable ‘The Proposal’ Elevated By Fine Cast

BrianTT — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:26:49 -0600

CHICAGO – Just as “My Best Friend’s Wedding” existed solely to provide Julia Roberts with a career comeback, “The Proposal” aimed to prove that Sandra Bullock still has what it takes to headline a romantic comedy. In that regard, it succeeded admirably.

Blu-Ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

Audiences flocked to it, though Bullock may have lost some returning fans with her other summer release, the disastrous “All About Steve.” What often makes her screen presence so endearing is the earthiness and self-deprecation that brings texture to her good looks. As silly as her “Miss Congeniality” films were, they presented a female protagonist who chose her individuality over the stereotypical feminine qualities that often win trophies at beauty pageants. In “The Proposal,” Bullock plays another woman unwilling to compromise her strong personality…that is, until the plot kicks in.

The Proposal was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 13th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

As Margaret, the hard-nosed executive editor-in-chief of a book publishing company, Bullock charges into her office like Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada,” while her secretary (Ryan Reynolds) gawks and frets like Anne Hathaway. Will this be a subversive “battle of the sexes” comedy with Bullock in the dominant male role, while Reynolds exudes Michael Cera-like vulnerability? Not a chance. Once the Canadian Bullock finds her job threatened by an expired Visa, she forces Reynolds into marrying her. This leads them on an awkward trip to meet his family in Sitka, Alaska, where their relationship develops a familiar “Taming of the Shrew” dynamic.

The Proposal was released on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 13th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

Peter Chiarelli’s screenplay reads like a “Spot That Movie” game for scholars of movie formulas. Bullock’s attempts to please Reynolds’ eccentric family are blatantly reminiscent of her past hit, “While You Were Sleeping,” where she duped similar relatives into thinking she was engaged to a handsome (if comatose) member of their family. Reynolds even has a tart-tongued granny with heart problems, played by Betty White, who’s a shameless rip-off of the Glynis Johns character in “Sleeping.” Bullock must also endure a series of humiliations on the order of Ben Stiller in “Meet the Parents,” including her accidental endangerment of a beloved family pet.

All moviegoers need to do is look at the cast list, and they’ll know exactly what to expect: cuddly neuroses from Bullock, deadpan quips from Reynolds, disarmingly blunt zingers from White, maternal beaming from Mary Steenburgen and tough-love lectures from Craig T. Nelson (as Reynolds’ parents). These actors are all comfortable in their familiar roles, but they aren’t just coasting. Their performances are uniformly strong, and director Anne Fletcher allows them to spark off each other.

Bullock and Reynolds generate real chemistry in their scenes together, particularly when they must improvise the story of their engagement for Reynolds’ demanding family. And White earns her belly-laughs with the same sublime comic timing she’s mastered over the last half-century. Her best line actually comes in the film’s outtakes, when Reynolds suggestively jokes, “One more [take], and then Betty gets it.” White, without missing a mischievous beat, says, “I haven’t had it in so long.”

In the end, “The Proposal” is all about manipulation. Bullock manipulates Reynolds into marrying her, Reynolds manipulates Bullock into promoting him, Reynolds’ family manipulates the couple into getting a quickie marriage before granny croaks, and the filmmakers manipulate the audience into thinking any actual love could develop between such cutthroat individuals. Viewers may not buy the plot, but they can easily enjoy the intrinsic pleasure provided by such harmless escapism.

“The Proposal” is presented in 1080p High Definition (with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio), which brings the images a spectacular clarity that fails to obscure the fake Alaskan backgrounds superimposed on green screen (much of the film was shot in Massachusetts). It is accompanied by English, French and Spanish audio tracks, and includes an additional disk containing the film’s digital copy. Special features include back-slapping commentary from Fletcher and Chiarelli, brief deleted scenes and outtakes, and an even more formulaic alternate ending.

‘The Proposal’ is released by Touchstone Home Entertainment and it stars Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen and Craig T. Nelson. It was written by Peter Chiarelli and directed by Anne Fletcher. It was released on October 13th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Devolves Into Self-Parody

BrianTT — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0600

CHICAGO – Hugh Jackman is an awfully likable guy. He oozes the kind of effortless photogenic charisma most movie stars would kill for. He’s also comfortable in his masculinity, and unafraid to expose his inner vulnerabilities and self-deprecation. But his considerable charms have been consistently wasted by the limited imaginations of Hollywood, which would rather objectify him as a muscular meathead. Most of his films have flopped primarily because the characters he was assigned to play were so one-note that Vin Diesel would’ve turned them down.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0

At last year’s Oscar ceremony, Jackman exuberantly threw himself into the night’s opening musical number while struggling to keep a straight face. That’s the guy viewers want to see onscreen, not the trembling, humorless sourpuss on display in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox Home Video

It’s a wonder that Jackman didn’t break down laughing after every take of this picture, which is easily the silliest in many a moon. It takes the one role in Jackman’s film career that audiences have positively responded to, and proceeds to hammer it into the ground.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox Home Video

Though he easily stole the previous “X-Men” installments, Wolverine had outstayed his welcome by the time this prequel went into production. That may explain why he’s constantly surrounded by a host of equally colorful and shallow characters. Wolverine simply isn’t interesting enough to be the star of his own movie.

This film’s “plot” reads like a parody of every superhero origin story ever brought to the screen. It starts in 1845, with our young mutant hero witnessing the murder of his father, and then slicing the attacker, only to hear him utter, “He’s not your father…son!” (insert soap opera sound cue here).

He escapes with his brother, and they partake in a montage of various battle scenes recycled from Hollywood’s war movie arsenal. By Vietnam, the 200-year-old “adults” are recruited by Major Stryker (Danny Huston) to join an elite group of mutants on secret government missions. But when Wolverine abandons them and falls for a sexy schoolteacher (Lynn Collins, in a truly bad performance), his brother gets pissed and hunts them down.

With his girlfriend dead, Wolverine swears revenge and undergoes Stryker’s procedure to metallicize his bones. But when Stryker orders his memory to be erased, the naked hero escapes to the Superman farm, but then…oh, who am I kidding? This story is just an excuse to see two guys clawing at each other. The phallic symbolism is practically another character in the film, as opponents eye the length of each other’s “knuckle blades”. (They suffer from serious fingernail envy).

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 15th, 2009.
Photo credit: Fox Home Video

Since there’s only so many ways to photograph a superhero whose soul power is sprouting blades from his knuckles, the film spins him through a cycle of increasingly ludicrous action set pieces. Some of them are quite funny (particularly the one involving the helicopter), though the laughter they produce is purely incredulous.

It’s a little astonishing how “Tsotsi” director Gavin Hood’s gift for creating meticulously nuanced human drama has all but evaporated in big studio projects. “Wolverine” is dramatically inert from the get-go because its protagonist can’t die regardless of how many explosions are hurled in his direction. This makes the film’s action inherently pointless, not to mention tedious. But the real kicker comes at the end when Wolverine’s memory is erased, thus making the entire movie pointless, not to mention maddening! It’s enough to make you howl.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” sure looks spectacular on Blu-Ray in 1080p High Definition with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. It is accompanied by English, Spanish, French and Portuguese 5.1 tracks. Every speck of exploding debris can be witnessed with pitch-perfect clarity, but Wolverine’s blades begin to look like an appendage better suited for Judge Doom in “Roger Rabbit.” Special features include two commentary tracks, various featurettes on the production and adaptation, deleted scenes, four BONUSVIEW tracks, Live Lookup via IMDb and BD Live, and a bonus disc carrying the film’s digital copy.

‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ is released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and stars Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Lynn Collins and Ryan Reynolds. It was written by David Benioff & Skip Woods and directed by Gavin Hood. The Blu-Ray and DVD were released on September 15th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By MATT FAGERHOLM
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com

Blu-Ray Review: Great Coming-of-Age Story in ‘Adventureland’

BrianTT — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:19:29 -0600

CHICAGO – Jesse Eisenberg (“The Squid and the Whale”) and Kristen Stewart (“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”) star in the delightful and expertly written “Adventureland,” a slice of ’80s coming-of-age that truly delivers with clever dialogue, well-rounded characters, and excellent performances. One of the best comedies of the year is now available on Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

Eisenberg stars as James Brennan, a guy stuck in that period between college graduation and adulthood. When the money falls through for a planned European vacation, he finds himself at the only job in his hometown, working games at the local theme park called Adventureland. It seems like a dead-end job, but he meets the people who will push him into the next phase of his life - the lovely-but-damaged Em (Kristen Stewart), good friend Joel (Martin Starr), and the kinda sleazy Connell (Ryan Reynolds).

Adventureland will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

“Adventureland” is a film that could have easily been a cavalcade of small-town caricatures (and managers Bill Hader & Kristen Wiig sometimes approach that) but what separates the film is how lovingly and thoroughly writer/director Greg Mottola (“Superbad”) has drawn these characters. It’s easy to completely believe James, Em, Joel, and Connell, and those of you of the right age to appreciate the killer ’80s soundtrack and fashion will likely see some of your own young-adulthood in the emotional rollercoaster of “Adventureland”.

Adventureland will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on August 25th, 2009.
Photo credit: Buena Vista Home Video

To be blunt, I could have spent hours with the characters of “Adventureland” (a feeling enhanced by the best soundtrack of the year and a great score from the excellent Yo La Tengo). Eisenberg is good but Stewart gives the best performance of her career (sorry “Twilight” fans) as a girl who feels both like an archetype but also completely realized. We all knew an “Em”. And we all knew a “Connell,” the older guy who hangs out and claims to have “jammed” with a famous musician just to get in girl’s pants.

“Adventureland” works because it feels both believable and yet also completely familiar. There are millions of people having summers of weed, sex, and drama like the one in “Adventureland,” and yet Mottola’s excellent script never feels generic. It feels real.

It doesn’t hurt that Miramax has released a perfect Blu-Ray edition of the film with excellent technical specs and a wealth of special features.

“Adventureland” is pristinely presented in 1080p High Definition with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by an English 5.1 DTS-HD track. The audio is good but the video is truly remarkable with one of the most expertly balanced HD pictures of the season.

The copious special features on both the Blu-Ray and DVD include a commentary by Mottola and Eisenberg, a digital copy, “Picture Music Selection” (which allows the viewer to jump to their favorite song in the film), “Just My Life: The Making of Adventureland,” and deleted scenes. Blu-Ray exclusive features include “Frigo’s Taps - A Satiric “How To” On Inflicting Unexpected Pain,” “Lisa P’S Guide to Style,” and “Welcome to Adventureland - Adventureland Commercials, Orientation Training Video, Drug Policy”.

“Adventureland” had a very disappointing take in theaters (just over $16 million domestically) but I have rarely been more confident about how a film will be viewed in years to come than I am about this underrated gem. It’s one of the best coming-of-age films in years and will become a word-of-mouth hit on the home market. Don’t miss it.

‘Adventureland’ is released by Buena Vista Home Video and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, and Ryan Reynolds. It was written and directed by Greg Mottola. The Blu-Ray and DVD will be released on August 25th, 2009. It is rated R.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Proposal’ a Marriage of Talents From Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock

Ebeth — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:05:20 -0600

CHICAGO – At some point in our lives, most of us have had to reach slightly above our job descriptions to appease a demanding boss. Common themes from making coffee to picking up dry cleaning are familiar and often tolerated as one strives to “get ahead”.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

But what would happen if you arrived at work to find that your boss was requesting… marriage? What then?

Such a demand is placed on Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds of “Definitely, Maybe” and “Van Wilder”) as his Canadian uber-boss Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock of “Miss Congeniality” and “Speed”) is informed that she will be deported lest her status quickly changes.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “The Proposal” in our reviews section.

Though not without protest, Andrew agrees to her “proposal” of marriage and the two embark on the adventure of pulling off faux love and a sham engagement.

The film has an “uh-oh” start as Bullock plays a unidimensional, too-frigid and too-forced Margaret. Her supporting office workers scurry about Bullock in silly ways and overplay reactions to their mega-menacing boss.

However, an amusing and snarky chemistry begins to develop between the “happy couple”. One forgets Reynolds is acting as he creates the pressured yet charming Andrew. Bullock soon catches up with a multi-layered, all-too-relatable Margaret.

“The Proposal” from director Ann Fletcher stars Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman (of “Watchmen”), Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O’Hare, Oscar Nuñez and Aasif Mandvi. “The Proposal,” which opened on June 19, 2009 nationwide, is rated “PG-13” for sexual content, nudity and language.

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “The Proposal” in our reviews section.

Ryan Reynolds (left) and Sandra Bullock in “The Proposal”.
Photo credit: Kerry Hayes, SMPSP, Touchstone Pictures

Read Elizabeth Oppriecht’s full review of “The Proposal” in our reviews section.

Video Game Review: ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ a Mix of Fun, Frustration

BrianTT — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:32:35 -0600

Video Game Rating: 3.0/5.0

CHICAGO – The first hour of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is a total blast, a great blend of above-average graphics, interesting story elements, and clever fighting moves that hint at an enjoyable gaming experience to come. The hint is never quite fulfilled, as “Wolverine” becomes as repetitive and frustrating as the blockbuster film that inspired it.

Judged on the scale of movie tie-in games, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” has to be considered a success, but that’s simply due to the fact that we’ve become so accustomed to summer films coming with poorly developed tie-ins and “Wolverine” is not a complete disaster.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Photo credit: Activision

One of the most interesting things about the game tie-in for the Gavin Hood - Hugh Jackman film is the complete non-compliance with the film’s PG-13 rating. The game based on the relatively tame movie is anything but. It’s one of the most extremely violent titles of the year, one that wouldn’t even get an R based on the MPAA system.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is all about violent, bloody, decapitating destruction. Honestly, if I was thirteen again and still buying “X-Men” comics every week and wishing Logan would unleash his berserker rage a little more violently, this game would totally deliver the goods.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Photo credit: Activision

The problems with this intermittently amusing game start for those of us past puberty and not easily amused by slow-motion disemboweling in 720p.

The structure of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is (too) simple. You play the title character on a plot that loosely follows the bare-bones structure of the film with a few other details thrown in. So, yes, you will get to fight Victor/Sabretooth, The Blob, Agent Zero, and the final villain in the film in a similar over-the-top style as the summer hit.

The player has a basic arsenal of moves that can be combined into deadly adamantium blade destruction but the highlight of the game is the development, upgrading, and personalization of each player’s combat. As you progress through the game, you will earn experience and upgrade points that allow you to hone different elements of your game. For example, you can spend all your skill points on more destructive claws or choose to live longer and spend them on more regenerative abilities.

And the combat customization doesn’t end there. As you progress through the game, different “mutagens” can be found that make for a customizable experience and the gameplay wisely opens new fighting abilities for you to incorporate into your wave of mutilation. By the end of the game, you’ll be slicing and dicing enemies by the baker’s dozen.

The regeneration of Wolverine has always been a major part of the character and, naturally, needed to be a part of the game and its design allows for some interesting strategy. Basically, if you’re a bloody mess, all you need to do is run and dodge for a few seconds and you’ll be back in fighting mode. The effects - you can see the physical deterioration of Wolvie and his recovery - are one of the most notable elements of the game overall. It’s fun to see yourself on the edge of death and evade or block long enough to come back to form.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Photo credit: Activision

The problem with Wolverine is clearly not in the combat or the graphics. The flaws shine through in the enemy design, the repetitive levels, and the non-ending. Most of the enemies are frustratingly repetitive, which isn’t a big problem when they’re almost instantly killable, but when you’re fighting a mid-boss for the fifteenth time and slicing away at his mutant back like you’re a programmed robot yourself, it gets more than a little dull.

And the storytelling in “Wolverine” starts strong but gets boring enough that you’ll wish you could skip through the cut scenes (kind of like the movie itself). The opening act is interesting, but how they tie Sabretooth, Gambit, and Deadpool back into the story is ridiculous. And the final acts are woefully underdeveloped, as if the game was rushed out for release. Everything after a huge Sentinel battle feels like an afterthought, something needed to tie the game more closely to the film, but something that will leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Your enjoyment of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” comes down to how damaging repetition is to your gaming experience. Being a critic, I had to play through the title relatively quickly, but I think if I had picked it up and put it down a few more times, I wouldn’t have been so numb to the experience by the disappointing final acts.

If you’re the kind of player who burns through a game as soon as you get it, I think it will be impossible NOT to be frustrated by the lack of follow-through once you’ve learned all the basic moves and been awed by the graphics in the first hour of the title. But if you’re a huge Wolverine fan and have longed to unleash his berserker rage for years, you are likely to be satisfied with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”.

For this player (and former comic junkie), just getting underneath Wolverine’s skin was a blast for at least an hour, but the thrill wore off well before the credits rolled.

Check out this cool trailer before you buy or rent “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”:

‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ was released by Activision and developed by Raven Software. It is rated M (Mature). The version reviewed was for the PS3, but the title is also available for the Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PSP, DS, and Wii. It was released on May 1st, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Sequel, Deadpool Spin-Off Announced

BrianTT — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:53:54 -0600

CHICAGO – It was pretty clear by the set-up of his character and his limited screen time in the actual movie that Ryan Reynolds was meant for bigger things with his turn as Deadpool in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. And when the Gavin Hood-directed and Hugh Jackman-starring blockbuster went on to make over $80 million domestically in its first three days, a spin-off was inevitable and the project was confirmed this week.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is itself a spin-off of the “X-Men Trilogy” - Bryan Singer’s “X-Men” & “X2: X-Men United” and Brett Ratner’s “X-Men: The Last Stand”. And the film is designed for more spin-offs, as it introduces the world to a variety of Marvel Universe characters. A Ryan Reynolds Deadpool movie has been in some stage of rumor or production for years. So a “Deadpool” film seemed nearly inevitable. (He mentioned the project to me personally years ago on the set of “The Amityville Horror” and long before the character’s inclusion in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”).

Ryan Reynolds is Wade Wilson, later to be known as Deadpool, a highly-efficient killing machine whose weapons of choice are katana swords.
Photo credit: Fox/James Fisher

But a worldwide gross of $158 million and counting after just one weekend demands more than just one sequel/spin-off. According to Variety, a straight-up sequel, likely to star Hugh Jackman, is also already in development.

According to Variety, the production company behind the film “have begun planning the sequel, which they are squarely focusing on the samurai storyline originated in the comic series, and whose Japanese locale was teased after the film’s final credits. A writer has yet to be hired.”

As for Deadpool, E! reports that Mr. Scarlett Johansson himself will again star as Wade Wilson, the man better known as the wise-cracking Deadpool, but there are no other details on the proposed film at this time.

Believe it or not, a Deadpool movie and Wolverine sequel are only half of the X-projects in the development. Fox has long been working on an “X-Men Origins: Magneto” spin-off and “The O.C.” creator Josh Schwartz is reportedly penning “X-Men: First Class,” a reboot with young mutants at the Xavier Institute of Higher Learning. It’s a Marvel world. We only live in it.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Hugh Jackman Rocks in ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ But Movie Falters

BrianTT — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:01:08 -0600

Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – How did Wolverine get to Northern Alberta, Canada, where he makes his first appearance in a bar cage match in Bryan Singer’s “X-Men”? And what about all those flashbacks to his dark past and the experiments that turned him into a legend? “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” with Hugh Jackman attempts to answer those questions and more but proves that perhaps some mysteries are better left unsolved.

The first big summer movie of 2009 has all of the ingredients of a buzz-worthy blockbuster - star power, a brand name, major CGI effects, a marketing budget that end world poverty, tie-in toys and games, etc. So why does the final film feel so anticlimactic?

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” in our reviews section.

Before I get too far, I should be blunt - “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is not that bad. But it’s also not good. It’s one of the most balanced-out, down-the-middle, apathetic shrugs of a summer tentpole that I’ve seen in the many years that I’ve been following the summer blockbuster. There’s just no life to it, no creative energy in either a positive or negative direction. The best word to describe it is unremarkable, negatively or positively.

The shockingly methodical and by-the-numbers screenplay by David Benioff and Skip Woods opens over a hundred years ago, where we meet the boys who would become Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Victor/Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber). Remember the Victor Creed who worked with Magneto in Singer’s first film? Yeah, forget that. The character and history have been reimagined from both that film and the comics, turning the two legendary characters into brothers.

‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ stars Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Dominic Monaghan, Lynn Collins, Danny Huston, Daniel Henney, and Taylor Kitsch. It was written by David Benioff and Skip Woods and directed by Gavin Hood. It opens on May 1st, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” review.

Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine Wolverine, who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage.
Photo credit: Fox/James Fisher

Video: Trailer For ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ Game From Activision

BrianTT — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:05:43 -0600

CHICAGO – To celebrate tomorrow’s release of the video game based on the first big movie of the season, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” Activision presents what they call the “Final Reveal” trailer for the highly anticipated tie-in game. Check it out for yourself and don’t miss “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” in theaters tomorrow, May 1st, 2009. The Gavin Hood-directed film stars Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Lynn Collins, Ryan Reynolds, and Dominic Monaghan.

Activision’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will be available for PS3, XBox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS, and PC tomorrow, May 1st, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 20-Image Gallery From Premiere of ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’

BrianTT — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:42:12 -0600

CHICAGO – This 20-image slideshow contains the official press images from the Tempe, Arizona premiere of Fox’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” starring Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Dominic Monaghan, and Ryan Reynolds. The film, written by David Benioff and Skip Woods and directed by Gavin Hood, opens on May 1st, 2009.

Synopsis:

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine,the first chapter in the X-Men saga, unites Wolverine with several other legends of the X-Men universe, in an epic revolution that pits the mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them. Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage. X-Men Origins: Wolverine stays true to the tone of the X-Men motion picture franchise, continuing the films’ balance between spectacle and reality, while heightening the emotions and relationships.

The film also introduces a team of mutants, including several whose appearances in the movie series have been long anticipated. Movie audiences will meet Team X, a covert military cadre comprised entirely of mutants. Its members are: Wolverine; his brother Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, a feral being of unimaginable power; Wade Wilson, later to be known as Deadpool, a high-tech mercenary skilled at swordplay; Agent Zero, an expert tracker and lethal marksman; Wraith, a teleporter; Fred J. Dukes, also known as The Blob, a morbidly obese and super-strong behemoth; and Bradley, who can manipulate electricity. Leading them is William Stryker, a figure introduced in “X2” but whose origins and motives are now fully explored, for it is Stryker’s complex relationship with Wolverine that defines much of Logan’s past …and future.”

Wolverine_Premiere_01: Actor Hugh Jackman.
Wolverine_Premiere_02: Actress Lynn Collins.
Wolverine_Premiere_03: Wolverine cast members Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Kitsch, Liev Schrieber, Lynn Collins and Will.i.am.
Wolverine_Premiere_04: Actor Ryan Reynolds.
Wolverine_Premiere_05: Actor Hugh Jackman, Actor Taylor Kitsch and Actor Liev Schreiber.
Wolverine_Premiere_06: Producer Lauren Schuler-Donner, Co-Chairman and CEO of FFE Tom Rothman, Director Gavin Hood and producer Ralph Winter.
Wolverine_Premiere_07: Actor Taylor Kitsch and Actor Liev Schreiber.
Wolverine_Premiere_08: Actor Hugh Jackman admires a fans wolverine tattoo.
Wolverine_Premiere_09: Musician Will.i.am.
Wolverine_Premiere_10: Actor Hugh Jackman arrives.
Wolverine_Premiere_11: Actress Lynn Collins.
Wolverine_Premiere_12: Actor Hugh Jackman signs autographs for the fans.
Wolverine_Premiere_13: Actor Hugh Jackman signs autographs for fans.
Wolverine_Premiere_14: Actor Taylor Kitsch.
Wolverine_Premiere_15: Actor Liev Schreiber.
Wolverine_Premiere_16: Musician Alice Cooper.
Wolverine_Premiere_17: Actor Hugh Jackman.
Wolverine_Premiere_18: Actor Ryan Reynolds and actor Taylor Kitsch.
Wolverine_Premiere_19: Director Gavin Hood.
Wolverine_Premiere_20: Actor Hugh Jackman.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 20-Image Gallery From ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ With Hugh Jackman

BrianTT — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:38:31 -0600

CHICAGO – This 20-image slideshow contains the official press images from “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” starring Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Dominic Monaghan, Lynn Collins, Danny Huston, Daniel Henney, and Taylor Kitsch. The film, written by David Benioff and Skip Woods and directed by Gavin Hood, opens on May 1st, 2009.

Synopsis:

“X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, the first chapter in the X-Men saga, unites Wolverine with several other legends of the X-Men universe, in an epic revolution that pits the mutants against powerful forces determined to eliminate them.

Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE stays true to the tone of the X-Men motion picture franchise, continuing the films’ balance between spectacle and reality, while heightening the emotions and relationships.

Wolverine_01: Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine Wolverine, who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage.
Wolverine_02: Agent Zero (Daniel Henney) in X-Men Orgins: Wolverine.
Wolverine_03: Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine Wolverine, who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage.
Wolverine_04: Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine Wolverine, who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage.
Wolverine_05: The berserker rage of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is unleashed in the Canadian backwoods.
Wolverine_06: Liev Schreiber is Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, a feral being of unimaginable power.
Wolverine_07: Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), who also goes by the name Remy LeBeau, has the ability to charge matter with volatile kinetic energy, causing the object in question to explosively release its charge on impact.
Wolverine_08: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Taylor Kitsch as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Wolverine_09: Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) face off for the ultimate battle against each other.
Wolverine_10: Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Victor (Liev Schreiber) are defiant as they face a firing squad.
Wolverine_11: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Will.i.am as John Wraith in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Wolverine_12: Having emerged unscathed from a date with a firing squad, Victor (Liev Schreiber)and Logan (Hugh Jackman) are visited by Col. Stryker (Danny Huston), who makes an intriguing offer to the two mutants.
Wolverine_13: Emma Frost (Tahyna Tozzi) and Cyclops (Tim Pocock) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Wolverine_14: Emma Frost (Tahyna Tozzi) and Silverfox (Lynn Collins) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Wolverine_15: (L to R) Taylor Kitsch (Gambit), Will.i.am (John Wraith), Liev Schreiber (Sabretooth), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Tim Pocock (Cyclops), Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson), Lynn Collins (Silverfox)
Wolverine_16: Hugh Jackman and Director Gavin Hood.
Wolverine_17: Gambit (Taylor Kitsch), who also goes by the name Remy LeBeau, has the ability to charge matter with volatile kinetic energy, causing the object in question to explosively release its charge on impact.
Wolverine_18: Hugh Jackman reprises the role that made him a superstar, as the fierce fighting machine Wolverine, who possesses amazing healing powers, adamantium claws, and a primal fury known as berserker rage.
Wolverine_19: Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) face off for the ultimate battle against each other.
Wolverine_20: Ryan Reynolds is Wade Wilson, later to be known as Deadpool, a highly-efficient killing machine whose weapons of choice are katana swords.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com