Fans of the X-Men franchise will know Hugh Jackman as the knuckle-bladed Wolverine, a formidable fighting machine with sideburns the size of Wales.

This "X-Men origins" outing returns to the genesis of the series - all the way back to the late 19th century when Logan (aka Wolverine) discovered the novel fighting blade sheathed in his forearms.

Together with his brother Victor Creed (aka Sabretooth and played by Shreiber), we follow the two uniquely-gifted soldiers of fortune as they slice'n'dice their way through the American Civil War, the Great War, WWII and Vietnam.

Along the way it becomes clear that the feral Creed is a bit of a loose cannon, whose morality takes a back seat as the adrenalin of the battlefield pumps through his veins.

The feuding brothers go their separate ways when Logan is repulsed by the gratuitous bloodshed during a raid on a Nigerian conflict diamond merchant as part of a covert unit of mutants - Team X - marshalled by the morally murky Stryker (Huston).

Heading off to the Rockies to chop logs he settles down in what appears to be Canada's Centreparcs with a local teacher...but Stryker has no intention of letting such a prize specimen go.

The prequel concept can be a hit (the re-invigorating Batman Begins) or miss (all three dismal Star Wars scene-setters) and this falls somewhere in between.

Where it scores highly are the dynamically staged setpieces - particularly Wolverine's taking out of pursuing attack helicopters and Humvees - and the sympathetic performance of Jackman whose wisecracks prevent the character descending into humourless farce.

It's never less than a competent action pic and fans of the series will be happy at the prospect of more movie in the Origins series rolling off the production line.

First time round, X just about hits the spot.

Tim Evans