'Wolverine' brings X-Men action to DVD

Few comic book characters have made more impact within an ensemble production than Wolverine. His presence in early films about the Marvel comics band of mutants known as The X-Men were always crowd pleasers, so there were big expectations for the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

While the film did respectably at the box office, it was nowhere near the blockbuster levels of an Iron Man or Spider-Man. Hugh Jackman’s portrayal was well received, but the overall movie was viewed as a disappointment.

This week X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy (20th Century Fox), makes its debut on DVD.

The best elements involved the clashes and interaction between Jackman’s Wolverine character and his half-brother Victor (Liev Schreiber). Both are recruited for an elite mutant squad by William Stryker (Danny Huston). But James Logan AKA Wolverine only wants a life of peace and solitude with his girl friend Kayla (Lynn Collins).

But when Victor reappears and murders Kayla as part of a vendetta, James Logan ceases to exist. He undergoes a procedure that turns him into Wolverine, a killing machine with a skeleton made of adamatium and a body that heals immediately from injury.

Eventually Wolverine finds himself battling not only his brother but also the man who recruited him, and the film turns from a super-hero saga into part fugitive narrative and part revenge chronicle.

Also in the cast are Ryan Reynolds (playing Deadpool), Taylor Kitsch (as Gambit) and Daniel Henney (Agent Zero), better known for multiple roles in various Korean films and making his American movie debut.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a decent action flick, but nothing particularly memorable. The DVD package will include plenty of extras in the second disc, from deleted footage to featurettes and other bonus items. It’s also available in Blu-Ray.

Find 'Fame' before new version hits theaters

Just as a new version is set to appear in theaters, the DVD of the original Fame (Warner), a two-disc set, appears this week on DVD. The 1980 film turned Irene Cara, Gene Anthony Ray, and Debbie Allen into household names, and also brought national attention to the New York High school of Performing Arts (now the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts).

Alan Parker’s Fame follows the exploits of both students and teachers, taking the audience from the audition phase on through the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. It divided the action between the problems faced by aspiring performers and the difficulties of the faculty in teaching them both academic lessons and providing professional tips. The film’s score won an Oscar and its success spawned a television show that had both a network and syndicated run.

While Cara, Ray and Allen are the personalities most people remember from the film (and Ray and Allen also later were part of the TV ensemble), the movie’s strengths were its portrayal of the difficulties of the show business world and the problems inherent in trying to mix becoming an entertainer with still being a high school kid.

Fame was both critically and commercial successful, and the forthcoming release of the 2009 version may well stimulate renewed interest in the original production.

TV on DVD
There are two shows that rank at the top among western fans. One is Gunsmoke, the other Bonanza. While the latter didn’t last as long (14 years to 20 for Gunsmoke), in its prime it may have been more beloved. The series focused on the adventures of the Cartwrights, four men banding together on a family ranch that was among the richest in Nevada. Ben (Lorne Greene), Adam (Pernell Roberts), Hoss (Dan Blocker) and Little Joe (Michael Landon) sometimes fought each other, but always were ready to join forces against whatever enemies or difficulties threatened them.

For various reasons, while there have always been knockoff DVD copies available of various Bonanza episodes, until this week there wasn’t an organized reissue campaign like the one that usually accompanies such celebrated shows. But now Bonanza: The Official First Season, Vols. 1 & 2 (Paramount), an eight-disc set, will hopefully begin a regular stream of releases spotlighting the great western.

This package covers every episode (32) from the first year (1959) and comes as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary. There’s also a separate Best of Bonanza boxed set available that contains 34 handpicked episodes, but The Official First Season, Vols. 1 & 2 are the first package designed to offer the shows in chronological order and uncut.