The root of it all

The recent internet leak of X-Men Origins: Wolverine shows just how eagerly anticipated it is - even without the benefits of post-production.

With his retractable claws and healing powers, Logan, aka Wolverine, is one of the coolest superheroes in comic history. But it's his sarcasm, antisocial attitude and rage that make the otherwise cold killing machine so human and captivating.

The flawed mutant has always been the most prominent and loved X-Man. Indeed, it was the popularity of the role that catapulted Australian heart-throb Hugh Jackman to worldwide fame.

Jackman so loves the character that he not only reprises the role in this first X-Men prequel, but also produces the film.

'Wolverine has certain qualities that are sacred, and number one is that he's a badass,' Jackman says. 'We now get to see Logan's journey and the battle within, as he owns up to the events of his past.'

The action-packed movie fills us in on Logan's life before he lost his memory and joined the X-Men team. The young Logan is reunited with his brother Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber) who, like Logan, possesses acute senses and inhumanly quick reflexes. The brothers vow to look out for each other and together they join the army.

They meet Colonel Stryker (Danny Huston) who recruits them to a special force of mutants with special abilities. Hoping to put their power to good use, they agree but soon come to blows over their beliefs. The headstrong Logan leaves the unit and seeks peace in a village where he meets the love of his life Kayla (Lynn Collins).

The couple spend six blissful years together until Stryker shows up and asks Logan to be part of the new Weapon X project. Logan refuses, but his refusal brings about Kayla's murder by his own brother, now known as Sabretooth. Devastated, he asks Stryker to make him indestructible so he might seek revenge.

And so Wolverine is born.

Although the familiar entourage of Professor Xavier, Storm and Cyclops is absent, Wolverine meets an equally fascinating group including sword expert Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), tracker Agent Zero (Daniel Henney) and teleporter Wraith (will.i.am in his major film debut).

All X-Men fans know how good the saga's special effects and fight scenes are, but the underlying depth may come as a surprise. The film examines what 'being normal' is, and the consequences and risks of love.

The internet leak may have cost the movie company tens of millions dollar in box office revenue, but X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner says Wolverine would find a way of dealing with such an issue.

'Logan's got attitude, humour and a way about him,' she says. 'He just doesn't give a damn - and that's fun for an audience to experience.'