Wolverine: X-Men Origins

The marketing for this movie is going crazy and I know by now you've seen a trailer for the new "X-Men" spinoff "Wolverine".  I got my hands on an early draft of the script (c'mon its LA, everyone knows someone in the industry) and despite the marketing hype I was left with unmet expectations.

X1 was a great way to begin the franchise and was for the most part quite entertaining.  X2 was fantastic with great action and some back story on Wolverine.  We all know he is a bad ass and I couldn't help but cheer when I watched him pin a bad guy to the fridge with his claws.  This was the Wolverine I had always known and never seen in the animated series growing up.  It was the Wolverine filled with anger and rage, and willing to go all out to get anything done.  Lastly there is the pitiful X3; Brett Ratner's attempt at continuing the franchise and focused way to heavily on Halle Berry. 

So of the cash cow franchise that is X-Men, I speak for many when I say X2 reigns champion for it's telling of Wolverine's tale.  The bar is already set in my mind and when I read the script (no spoilers I promise) this simply felt like another attempt at Hollywood trying to get into my wallet.  Luring me in with familiar characters and stories that I already have enjoyed.  The story consists of Wolverine seeking revenge for the death of his lover (relax this is in the trailer) and chasing down her killer (Sabertooth) across the US.  Sabertooth plays a character, oddly reminiscent of Sylar in Heroes, who hunts down mutants and kills them.  There is a handful of other weak plot points but for the most part they are all kind of boring and lack luster.

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Let's also not forgot the myriad of X-Men characters all the fan boys have wanted to see since day one that will be included in the film.  The katana wielding Ryan Reynolds (see above), the disappearing "Will.I.Am", and a "Friday Night Light" (Taylor Kitsch) playing a very weak Gambit.  The folks over at io9 have several other clips offering background on the above mentioned characters. 

I'm hoping that much has changed since the earlier draft of the script I read, but my gut tells me it is going to be sub par and I'll still be visiting my local theater to see it.  Hollywood has us trapped...