By Jared Curtis jared@dmcityview.com
‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’
Directed by Gavin Hood
Rated PG-13, 107 minutes
Hoping to revamp the credibility the X-Men series had going after the second film was released (which was tarnished when the turd, I mean third installment, was released), the powers-to-be decided back stories would be the way. Too bad the idea fell flat. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is a ridiculous waste of time. We meet a young boy named James, who, after being enraged, unleashes his bone claws which forces the little boy and his brother to run away because of their special gifts. Sadly, the best part of the film was the opening credits. We see Logan (Hugh Jackman) and his brother Victor (Liev Schreiber) fighting side by side in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War. Because of their powers, bullet wounds heal and the two dismantle the enemy. I would have liked to have seen more war footage; instead, audiences get introduced to way too many characters. The love story is weak, Schreiber seems out of place and don’t even get me started on how Taylor Kitsch completely ruined the Gambit character. Watch it if you’re a fan of the X-Men series, otherwise don’t waste the dough. CV
‘The Fountain’
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
2006, Rated PG-13, 96 minutes
Darren Aronofsky (“The Wrestler”) is one of the premier directors working today. His second film, “Requiem for a Dream,” was a grimy masterpiece, following the highs and extremely lows of a handful of drug users and dealers. It’s so real and heartbreaking, parents should show the film to their kids to keep them off drugs. Riding high off the buzz of “Requiem for a Dream,” Aronofsky created a visually stunning love story called “The Fountain.” Panned by critics and misunderstood by most, “The Fountain” is Aronofsky’s most ambitious film. “The Fountain” follows three parallel stories (involving a conquistador, a doctor and a futuristic bubble dweller, all played by Hugh Jackman) that span more than a thousand years. Tom (Jackman) loves his wife, Izzi (Rachel Weisz), more than life and will protect her no matter what it takes. There is not another film like “The Fountain” — it’s original, the story is intriguing, the look is gorgeous and Jackman’s performance is a career best. If you want a film that will leave you puzzled with enjoyment, take a sip from “The Fountain.” CV
