X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The X-Men series takes a new turn with this prequel to the three original movies. For those who might not remember in the first X-Men film Wolverine was taken in by Professor Xavier and his school having lived on the road for 15 years with no recollection of who he was or where he came from.

Bits and pieces of his history were plugged in during the sequel X2 (2003) but left a lot of questions unanswered. This time around the broody Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) entire history is revealed.

The movie begins with Logan (Wolverine) and his brother Victor Creed (Sabretooth) on the run during the 1850's after Logan murders his blood father in revenge for killing his adopted father.

Years later the two brothers are recruited by William Stryker (Danny Huston) to join a team of mutants to carry out top-secret missions. After many missions serving with the unit Wolverine leaves when it becomes apparent that Stryker is using him just for his own evil ends.

Logan retires to the Canadian Rockies with his girlfriend to live out the rest of his days in peace. But six years later his old commander William Stryker returns to ask him to resume his mantle and help him undertake a new experiment. He refuses Stryker's offer only to return home and find his girlfriend murdered by his brother Victor.

Hell-bent on revenge, Logan takes up Stryker's original offer and agrees to go under the knife and have his skeleton fused with adamantium -- a procedure to create Stryker's mysterious Project X.

But Logan's revenge is put on hold when it becomes apparent that Stryker and his brother have other intentions to use him for...

When the X-Men franchise was looking like it was running low on steam after three multi-million blockbusters this prequel breathes new life into the successful real-life adapations of the popular comic book series.

Hugh Jackman reprises his role of the brooding, three-clawed mutant with the same energy as in the first three films and also succeeds in adding an extra dimension to the character's sensitive side.

Several of the characters from the previous films make cameos, including Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Professor Xavier giving the film a familiar feel to it whilst it indulges in its nostalga tour of Wolverine's younger life.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is in cinemas now.