X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) is a riveting superhero flick inspired by the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Serving as the first installment of the Wolverine trilogy and a prequel to X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003), it takes us back to 1845 where we meet James Howlett, a young boy living in the Northwest Territories. Tragically, he witnesses his father’s murder at the hands of groundskeeper Thomas Logan, which triggers his anxiety and activates his mutation. With bone claws protruding from his knuckles, James defends himself and discovers that Thomas was actually his biological father all along. After fleeing with Thomas’ son Victor Creed, who happens to be James’ half-brother and shares similar mutations, the two embark on a century-long journey as soldiers fighting in major wars like the American Civil War and both World Wars, before ending up in Vietnam in 1973. When James reunites with Victor unaware of his true intentions, he quickly jumps to his defense.

After surviving execution by firing squad, the pair is approached by Major William Stryker to join Team X, a group of mutant operatives such as Agent Zero, Wade Wilson, John Wraith, Fred Dukes, and Chris Bradley. They accept the offer and operate under aliases for a short time until Logan becomes disillusioned with their lack of discipline and compassion. Six years later, Logan has settled into a peaceful life in Canada with his girlfriend Kayla Silverfox. However, when Stryker informs him of Wade and Bradley’s deaths and someone targeting the team, Logan initially refuses to return to his old ways. But after finding Kayla’s brutalized body in the woods, he realizes that Victor is responsible and confronts him at a bar where he is defeated. Stryker reveals that Victor has turned against them and offers Logan a chance to become more powerful in order to seek vengeance.