'Nuff Said: DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE

‘Nuff Said, the brand new editorial where we delve into everything comic book related. Here we'll give a thorough insight into new and upcoming products, breaking it down and discussing what was good, what was great, and what was bad about it, as well as our expectations on future releases. And what a better place to kick start this journey than with the release of Marvel's latest blockbuster film, Deapool and Wolverine.

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!

It’s been six years since we’ve seen the Merc with a Mouth on the silver screen, and a further year since Logan graced our screens. What’s happened since then? Disney bought 20th Century Fox, thus regaining the intellectual rights to both characters, grasping on the opportunity at giving us the team-up that we’ve been wanting since the god awful X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In traditional Deadpool fashion, the film has no problem in bringing all these topics up, with our comic anti-hero breaking the fourth wall countless times throughout this flick to bridge the gap between the Disney/Fox merger.

But what's the film about? Having retired from his chaotic anti-hero life, Wade Wilson plans to settle down, trying to find a way of winning back the love of his life, Vanessa. Whilst celebrating his birthday, however, he is abducted by the Time Variance Authority, who give him the opportunity to live his dream life as an Avenger. But this comes at the cost of his entire universe. In an attempt to save his universe from premature annihilation, Wade travels through the multiverse in search for a new Wolverine, the only being that can bring salvation and a stop to the TVAs plans.

Buddy Hero Team-Up

The big selling point for this film is obviously seeing Deadpool and Wolverine teaming up in a major motion picture. Being synonymous with each other throughout their comic book history, it is something that fans have wanted to see for a long time (Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds included). Yes, we got it to a degree during the god awful X-Men Origins: Wolverine film, but that wasn’t quite what fans were looking for. 

The chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman is nothing short of astonishing, with the natural charisma and flair of both actors bouncing off one another. This not only helps craft a much more enthralling cinema experience, but it also emphasises both the dramatic and comedic moments. Whether it's the duo's natural distaste for one another or Wolverine’s comical reaction to Deadpool's idiotic antics, the actors do an exemplary job of captivating the audience. They also bring their own unique flair to the situation, acting as each other's yang to their yin.

Now despite this being built as a buddy comedy, one thing that is made abundantly clear is that these two don't get along. What comes from this is some truly epic fight scenes, as whether together or against one another these merciless Canadians don't hold back on the violence. Whether it's the elegant choreography or the comical overtones, these fight sequences bring monumental joy and entertainment. Our duo even have a fight inside a Honda Odyssey, constantly changing the radio station and allowing for a subtle reference to Jackman's The Greatest Showman.

A New Wolverine

Last time we saw our claw cladden hero was back in 2017, with the dramatically charged Logan seeing him make the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of X-23. The film wastes no time in utilising this tear jerking moment to draw in fans, before comically turning it on its head in good old Deadpool fashion. In doing so, the film doesn’t try to undo the events of Logan, only emphasising the fact that the Fox version of Wolverine is indeed dead. But the film is called Deadpool and Wolverine, so we need a Wolverine, and what we get is a similar, yet vastly different version of Logan than we’ve seen before. 

Still played by Hugh Jackman, this version of Wolverine retains a lot of the characteristics we’ve grown accustomed to, whilst utilising his alternative backstory to flesh out a new demeanour. What we get from this is a less patient and grittier character, that has no intention of holding back. This allows Jackman to bring new life to the role, with the comical overtones and frequent use of adult language bringing a more dynamic twist to the character. As we progress through the film's plot, we learn what exactly has made this version of Logan the way he is, whilst also highlighting the similarities to the version we’ve known for the last twenty years. This leads to a familiar tale of redemption, with the narrative allowing Wolverine to make up for the mistakes of his universe and once again become a hero and more so an X-Man.

Another big change to the character this time around, is that we finally get to see him in the yellow and blue suit that he was famous for in the comics. Despite being teased in an alternative ending to 2013’s The Wolverine, Fox never pulled the trigger on putting Jackman in the suit, with it looking like we’d never see a classic depiction of the comic book hero. On a personal level, this addition made me extremely happy. The transition into this was made much smoother, with the fact that Jackman would be maskless for the majority of the film, allowing his charm, charisma and dramatic flair to ooze out the screen. Once the mask went on, however, we got the complete package, and I have no shame in saying that I fanned out during this moment, with the character looking better than ever and perfectly suited next to Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool.

Cameos Galore

Now it wouldn't be a Deadpool film exploring the multiverse if we didn't get a cavalcade of cameos, with Deadpool and Wolverine being chock full of them. Not only do we get the return of various X-Men characters, such as Pyro (Aaron Stanford), Juggernaut (this time played by Aaron W. Reed), Azazel (Eduardo Gago Muñoz) and the original Sabertooth (Tyler Mane), but we also get the return of forgotten character portrayals and a couple that didn't quite see the light of day.

The first major appearance was Chris Evans, but not in the familiar role of Captain America that fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are accustomed to (to Deadpool's chagrin). No, instead Evans returns to the role of Johnny Storm/Human Torch from Fox's first attempt at adapting the Fantastic Four. This proves to be a fantastic twist, with the comedic nature of the character fitting perfectly into the world of Deadpool. The film also does a brilliant job in setting up this bait and switch, With Deadpool's reaction to Johnny's famous “flame on” line being simply poetic.

Other familiar faces that we see return from obscurity are Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Wesley Snipes as Blade and Dafne Keen as Laura/X-23. Each of these extended cameos prove to be amazing for the film's plot, with X-23 in particular being a driving catalyst for this version of Wolverine finding his path. The interaction of Reynolds’ Deadpool alongside both Snipes’ Blade and Garner's Elektra also proves entertaining, with the dialogue being expertly written during these scenes.

As for character portrayals that didn't quite see the light of day, the main talking point is Channing Tatum finally getting to play Gambit. Having been attached to the role for numerous years whilst the character licence was still with Fox, many fans would have been excited to see this version of Remy LeBeau. Personally I was never sold on the idea of Tatum in the role, but after seeing his portrayal here, I kinda wish we got a feature length film starring the Magic Mike star. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't sold on every part of Tatum’s performance, but the way he looked in the classic comic style suit and the cajun accent worked wonders for someone that's a fan of the character. The only thing I'd change if he's ever given a solo outing, is toning down the comical overtones, as I personally felt they clashed massively with the accent, making the character look rather stupid at times (something that kinda works in a Deadpool film).

The Deadpool Corps

One of the more popular additions to Deadpool's comic book lore over the last decade has been the Deadpool Corps, with it only being a matter of time before they graced the silver screen. Featuring the likes of Lady Deadpool, Headpool, Kidpool and Dogpool, this popular conglomeration of Mercs with Mouths all bring unique twists on the beloved character.

The film does a fabulous, albeit condensed, job of translating this energy onto the big screen, with the comical quips practically writing themselves. Attached to these Deadpool variants are some familiar names, with Ryan Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, providing the voice of Lady Deadpool, whilst Mathew McConaughey and Nathan Fillion voice Cowboypool and Headpool respectively. The dynamic and overall comic tones that these actors bring to the roles, bounces off Reynolds and Jackman perfectly, with Fillion's portrayal of Headpool in particular being a joy to watch.

The most adorable addition to the Deadpool Corps came in the form of Mary Puppins, better known as Dogpool, played by winner of the Britain's ugliest dog title, Peggy. This little ball of fur brought so much joy to the film, with Reynolds adoration for the ugly pup being perfectly depicted during these scenes. Additionally, Dogpool also allows Reynolds to play another variant of the Merc with a Mouth, Nicepool, with his long hair, and rugged good looks polarising the scared up anti-hero that we've grown used to over the three films. The naive and trusting nature of this variant also makes for a polarising dynamic, with Nicepool making Deadpool look slightly clever at times.

A Different Kind of Villain

Something that I’ve loved about the Deadpool franchise is its use of lesser known villains, showcasing Ajax in the first outing and Firefist in the second. This trend continues in Deadpool and Wolverine, with it featuring TVA agent Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) as the driving force behind the potential annihilation of Wade Wilson’s universe. Bringing a more maniacal, yet satirical tone to the TVA, Macfadyen does a wonderful job of putting our protagonists in danger, with his lack of empathy and power hungry attitude being portrayed perfectly by the actor.

Mr. Paradox isn’t the only villainous force in this flick, with Cassandra Nova, the twin sister of Charles Xavier, finally making her big screen debut. Played by Emma Corrin, this megalomaniac mutant proves to be the main antagonist of this film, with her telekinetic and telepathic powers proving to be a major asset against our plucky heroes. What we get from this is a complex character with a troubled backstory, that is hellbent on obtaining power and achieving her goals, any means necessary. Despite never quite taking the time to delve into her past, the film does an amazing job of building her into a formidable foe, showing that there are indeed levels to her thought process. Corrin’s portrayal only goes to strengthen all this, with the chemistry between her and both Reynolds and Jackman being brilliant for the plot's progression.

‘Nuff Said

When all is said and done, Deadpool and Wolverine is an astonishing addition to the franchise, that fans will eat up and want seconds. Despite its overarching plot being a little on the mundane side, the character development and traditional Deadpool humour catapults this film into must see territory, being entertaining from start to finish. Finally giving us the Deadpool and Wolverine team-up that fans have craved for so many years, along with a plethora of cameos and unique villains, the film definitely proves to be a highlight of the year so far, with it not coming to Blu-ray and DVD soon enough.

X-Men: The Last Stand Review

After recently seeing The Wolverine at the cinemas the other day I decided to go through the X-Men film collection, but this time in chronological order (though I accidentally watched X-Men Origins: Wolverine first thinking it was set earlier), continuing with this.

Plot

SPOILER FREE

When Jean Grey comes back from the dead as the Phoenix, all the X-Men, as well as the Brotherhood of Mutants want her, with the X-Men wanting to help her, and the Brotherhood wanting her with them to help stop the mutant cure from going public.

Review

Now I would't say that this was a terrible film, but it is by far the worst from the X-Men franchise so far, with the series going from it's best film to it's worst. The problem I feel this movie had was that it was trying to do too much, by having two different storylines going on, without enough time to properly develop both. Also due to trying to develop both so as the view could understand the story, it made the film slow, and poorly paced. The film also had a few problems, with the writers of X2: X-Men United leaving along with Bryan Singer in favour of Superman Returns, as well as the later signed director Matthew Vaughn (who would later direct X-Men: First Class) also having to leave before filming, but none the less it should have waited, making sure that they produced the best possible movie that they could. Due to this I can't really blame director, Brett Ratner too much, as he was jumping onto someone else's project, but I still can't commend him for his work, as it wasn't that good.

Once again most of the cast from the previous two X-Men films returned in their respective roles, with Hugh Jackman once again doing a phenomenal job as Wolverine, Patrick Stewart playing Professor X perfectly, as well as the other returning cast members, including Ian McKellen as Magneto, Halle Berry as Storm, James Marsden as Cyclops, Anna Paquin as Rogue, Shawn Ashmore as Iceman, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and Aaron Stanford as Pyro continuing to play their roles brilliantly. I was however not as happy with Famke Jannsen's performance as Jean Grey in this film, as although it was good it wasn't great (though I'll talk more on that later). New cast members included Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde, Ben Foster as Angel, Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut, Eric Dane as Multiple Man, Dania Ramirez as Callisto, Meiling Melançon as Psylocke, Omahyra Mota as Arclight, and Ken Leung as Kid Omega (though he looked more like Quill). Honestly I was happy with most of these portrayals, though Juggernaut, Psylocke, Arclight, Kid Omega, and even possibly Callisto were horribly changed.

This movie wasn't just an adaptation of one X-Men story, but two, though I will first focus on the main story it was based on, the Dark Phoenix Saga. Now although I'm not as big a fan on this story as some people, I still really enjoyed the story, and was upset when I saw it adapted here, as to be fair it was very poorly done. Now I will start with props on the main change, having the Phoenix as a split personality, rather than an entity, as although it didn't quite feel right, it fitted with the more realistic tone that they wanted. I also however didn't like how they made Jannsen look, as although I wasn't a fan of her as Jean prior to this movie, she looked terrible in it, with the changes actually making her look slightly haggard, as although it added effect, not quite the right type. I also didn't like how they had here sitting on the fence a bit, as although it gave suspense, and drama, it once again didn't feel right, and slowed the film down even more than it already was.

Didn't Really Work

The other storyline that this film was adapted from was Gifted, which had a mutant cure as the focus point. Now that is all that this film takes from this story, and that is in a way both a good thing, and a bad thing, as it could have been better if it took more from the story, but at the same time it could have ruined that story too. I did however like the idea, as I did in the original story, but I also felt that also having another big story along with that was a little much, and the time it took to develop both landed up making the film drag on. I also however liked how it was a mutant that was a cure, also finding it interesting that it was this that would have Magneto's Brotherhood go to war, being very appropriate. I do however overall still feel that it was too much to add to an already risky story, and that it didn't do too much to help things, but besides the pace also didn't do much to hurt it.

This film would see a whole bunch of new villains, as Magneto's Brotherhood would grow adding, Juggernaut, and Multiple Man to their ranks, as well as a group of mutant outcasts called the Omegas, consisting of Callisto, Psylocke, Arclight, and Kid Omega. Now to be honest besides Multiple Man (and possibly Callisto) I wasn't happy with how these characters were portrayed, as although I don't mind change for film, they didn't do these characters justice. I'll start with the worst hit, Juggernaut, as although Vinnie Jones may look the part of Juggernaut, with his overall acting ability being questionable (he's only good in certain roles), he didn't suit the Juggernaut, making him look like a joke, with silly lines trying to be humorous (Juggernaut's not a funny character). The rest weren't much better, as Psylocke did next to nothing, not even having her proper powers, and Kid Omega neither looked like the comic book equivalent, nor have similar powers, and they shouldn't have given the character that name (as I said earlier it'd be more fitting for him to be Quill). The one good thing I can say about Callisto though was that the actress did a good job of having screen presence, giving a good performance (even if she didn't quite look the part).

Juggernaut and the Omegas

Now it wasn't just new villains that this film would see, as it would also introduce some new heroes, as well as put the spotlight on characters that were in the background prior. The main new introductions would be Angel, and Beast, both who in the comics were members of the original X-Men, but were now just getting shown in the films. I liked both characters in this movie, and especially Beast, as although he wasn't as good as the Beast that would feature in X-Men: First Class, being a little too tame looking in my opinion, I still loved seeing him, and Kelsey Grammer did a wonderful job. I was however a bit on the fence when it came to Angel, as I felt that Ben Foster did a decent job of the character, but that he felt like an extra, only there for show, and not being used as much as he could have. The returning characters that have have moved into the spotlight in this film were Colossus, who was once again played by Daniel Cudmore, and Kitty Pryde who this time round was played by Ellen Page. I was so happy that both characters got a chance to shine as they are characters that I love in the comics, and after seeing Colossus' small role in X2 I was glad that it was expanded in this. Kitty was also portrayed well, as although she wasn't used as well as she could have during this film, she was still interesting.

The start of this film would show a younger Professor X, and Magneto visiting a young Jean Grey, and here parents. Now before I talk about the scene itself I found the technique they used to make both Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen look younger to be phenomenal, and although I'm glad that they wouldn't use this technique too much in the future (only using it again to show a young Professor X in X-Men Origins: Wolverine), it was nice in this film, and showed just how much special effects have progressed over the years. The scene itself I wasn't entirely fond of, as although it made sense, and was a good set-up, I just felt that it added to the slowness of the film, not giving much to the film bar a decent set-up.

A Young Xavier and Lehnsherr

The action in this film was in general very good, as although there wasn't a great deal of it, when there was action it was mostly very good. I really enjoyed seeing Magneto's Brotherhood fighting the military, and X-Men during this film, and it made for a great fight, that was exciting, and entertaining. I was however not a fan of the whole Phoenix disintegrating people, as it just didn't look right to me, but was at times cool. My favourite piece of action however came at the start, with a Danger Room session that hinted at Days of Future Past, and I hope that the upcoming film based on that will be just as good.

Final Verdict

This was a very disappointing film, and easily the worst in the franchise to date. It attempted to do too much, being over half an hour shorter than the previous film, whilst wanting to do more, landing up having slow pacing, and poor development. It did however have some good action, as well as great acting, as although there were some terrible actors in this film, most were brilliant. I would recommend at least watching this film once, but otherwise unless you'll only try the series as a whole I wouldn't recommend rushing to buy it, as you wouldn't be missing much.

Rating: 2/5