100 Great Scenes In Not So Great Films - 14 - Sabretooth At The End of "Wolverine: Origins"
The case for the prosecution:
Wolverine: Origins's main flaw is that it did not get its main character. They kept making him generic action hero, when he isn't. He's loner with a heart of gold (something which "Wolverine in Japan" understood, that and Wolverine + teenage girl in a non-romantic way = good story). He doesn't do big speeches, or big 'noooooos', especially not horribly over-dramatic ones like he gets in this. Hugh Jackman does his best, he really does, and no blame should be attached to him because the role is both badly written and bares little resemblance to the character I know and love.
There is a general generic-ness over the whole film. Also it has Ryan Reynolds in, and as we know, I consider that a demerit against any film.
The scene itself:
Notice I've not gone for Gambit throwing playing cards (although that made me flip my lid, because squeeee! Gambit), or the opening credits (which were good, but would have been more effective if Watchmen hadn't done the same thing but better just before).
Instead I've gone for this:
Although one of the deleted scenes would also have done for similar reasons (although, really, Wolverine, you shouldn't be trusting Stryker at this point. It makes you look dumb.)
Why the scene is so good:
Liev Schreiber looks nothing like Sabretooth. But he gets him.
The thing about Sabretooth is that, unlike a lot of bad guys, knows he's the bad guy. He doesn't think he's right, or justified, he just is, and is happy with that. And Liev Schrieber conveys that brilliantly. And also the fact that Sabretooth really does only want to watch the world burn, and doesn't care overmuch if he burns with it, on one condition, which is that Logan is burning right there with him. And just, yes.
Wolverine: Origins's main flaw is that it did not get its main character. They kept making him generic action hero, when he isn't. He's loner with a heart of gold (something which "Wolverine in Japan" understood, that and Wolverine + teenage girl in a non-romantic way = good story). He doesn't do big speeches, or big 'noooooos', especially not horribly over-dramatic ones like he gets in this. Hugh Jackman does his best, he really does, and no blame should be attached to him because the role is both badly written and bares little resemblance to the character I know and love.
There is a general generic-ness over the whole film. Also it has Ryan Reynolds in, and as we know, I consider that a demerit against any film.
The scene itself:
Notice I've not gone for Gambit throwing playing cards (although that made me flip my lid, because squeeee! Gambit), or the opening credits (which were good, but would have been more effective if Watchmen hadn't done the same thing but better just before).
Instead I've gone for this:
Click to viewAlthough one of the deleted scenes would also have done for similar reasons (although, really, Wolverine, you shouldn't be trusting Stryker at this point. It makes you look dumb.)
Why the scene is so good:
Liev Schreiber looks nothing like Sabretooth. But he gets him.
The thing about Sabretooth is that, unlike a lot of bad guys, knows he's the bad guy. He doesn't think he's right, or justified, he just is, and is happy with that. And Liev Schrieber conveys that brilliantly. And also the fact that Sabretooth really does only want to watch the world burn, and doesn't care overmuch if he burns with it, on one condition, which is that Logan is burning right there with him. And just, yes.