Star Trek vs. X Men Origins: Wolverine; Who’s your choice?

At the outset, let me reiterate that this reviewer is not an avid treekiee or x men follower. In the past I have gone to sleep while watching many a movie with my friends, but during both these movies I did not feel sleepy and watched them right through. Although I did get a bit restless for sometime towards the end of Wolverine, I had no such feeling when it came to Star Trek. The movie was gripping and had a nice mix of romance, emotions, action and some typical star trekkie moments!!! Wolverine was all action and special moves that the mutants had….Interestingly both these movies are prequels….

Director Abrams (Star Trek) has been extremely successful in keeping his “almost cult like Star Trek” fans and new viewers alike enthralled.

Star Trek

The film is all about 2 main characters- Captain Spock and James T Kirk. The former someone who went to the Vulcan school, topped the classes but refused to join the esteemed institution in the name of maintaining his human emotions. The latter is a total maverick drinking his way into trouble and following women of all groups.

The movie starts with James father sacrificing his life to save 800 lives on the back of an attack from an evil Romulan- Nero. His father breathes his last while James is born.

The two come together on the back of several incidents that occur inside and outside the space ship, including James being thrown out of the space ship for being in-disciplined. He is thrown into the future where he meets an aging Captain Spock and Mathew, a specialist in beaming people across time zones and regions. There are some breath taking shots of a raging polar bear and a flying dinosaur that is a refreshing break away from space for a few minutes.

They fight Nero and his evil ambitions of creating black holes that consume planets. Captain Spock’s mother and the planet of over a billion or something is lost in the bargain as well.

Nero is finally killed by removing some of the elements Nero had locked in. They fight the monsters, who are delightfully decked up to look like one and end up releasing the previous Captain as well. The explosions and blasts that follow are truly mind-boggling and an amazing show-case of technical excellence and animation.

Two characters outside of the heroes that are worth mentioning is that of the Russian crew who talks with a Russian accent that many a times the computer does not pick up and in the end promises to transmit the heroes on to the cargo area of the enemies ship and ends up transmitting them right in front of Nero.

Zoe Saldana (Uhura) looks stunning and adds some much need glamour to the movie as well. It is a very good watch for one and all on a Friday or Saturday evening!!!

My Rating: 8/10

X Men Origins: Wolverine

Another piece of great art that kept us glued to the seat for most part of 2 hours. The movie is about 3 people- James Logan (Hugh Jackman), Victor (Liev Schrieber) & General Stryker (Danny Huston). However, I must admit for someone who is not too fond of special moves like shooting from the eye, there were moments when it did get a tad over-board. But, to the Director’s credit he was successful in over-riding these weaning moments and drawing us back into the movie.

James and Victor are mutants with special abilities and a part of the X Men force of mutants who all have special abilities. One of them has eyes that emit laser fire; another can control electricity, while an African American mutant can turn invisible at the drop of a hat. For both Victor and James (brothers) their wolves like claws which pop out when in need are their key weapon. James leaves the army on the back of some of its unscrupulous acts in Africa. He settles down to be a lumberjack with his dashing girlfriend. Meanwhile, his mutant friends are all killed one by one by Victor in the name of revenge. General Stryker asks James for his favour, which he refuses to, until his girlfriend is also killed. The fight sequence that ensues between James and Victor is a treat to the eye!!!

He agrees to be a part of General Stryker’s plans. He has his skeleton fortified by adamantine to make him even more powerful and an immortal. He however over-hears General Stryker’s plans and runs away from the scene just in time, before he is killed. His wolves like claws turn into iron claws and hence becomes more powerful and dangerous. The real villain is General Stryker whose aim is to build a super-hero with all the powers of the mutants and for the same he needed everyone’s DNA. Victor and James were tricked into being a part of this plan and also at logger-heads for a great part of the story.

The final action scenes with the new half-made super hero controlled by General Stryker, Victor and James is edge of the seat stuff. It’s gripping and provides for thorough entertainment.

Just a passing comment, Hugh Jackman left most woman at the theatre speechless and hence never ask for a movie review from a woman, for all they saw was People Magazine’s #1 among the sexiest men alive….

My Rating: 7.2/10