The Wolverine

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
The Wolverine
Released 7/26/13, now in theaters

Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the fast-healing, feral mutant, Wolverine, this weekend in the aptly titled "The Wolverine."  This is Jackman's fifth time playing the role (sixth if you count the very brief cameo in X-Men First Class).  Many were disappointed by the last Wolverine solo effort,  X-Men Origins:  Wolverine, including me.  While I have liked Hugh Jackman's characterization of Logan, I don't think the X-Men movies have done justice to him completely.  So, I did come with some trepidation upon seeing The Wolverine.

Director, James Mangold, takes an introspective look at the mutant hero this time and explores the emotional scars of a man who desperately wants the pain that is his life to end.  But, it's hard to end the life of someone who has an unbreakable skeleton and a healing factor that closes most wounds instantly.  Add to that the angst Logan feels for killing the woman he loved, and he's just a wreck as the film begins.

We find Logan living alone in the Canadian wilderness in self exile after the events of X-Men:  The Last Stand.  Every time he sleeps, he dreams of his beloved Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) who he was forced to kill.  After a run-in with local hunters, he is confronted by Yukio, an assistant to Yashida, the CEO of the largest technology corporation in Asia.  Logan is familiar with the CEO as he saved him during World War II when the city of Nagasaki was destroyed. 

Yashida is dying of cancer.  Yukio brings Logan to Japan under the pretense that Yashida wants to thank his old friend one last time for his heroism.  However, he has an ulterior motive.  Yashida is fascinated by mutants and has studied them for decades (Wolverine in particular).  He claims that he can end Logan's suffering and grant him a normal life where he ages and dies by syphoning his healing factor.  Yashida believes he has the technology to draw Logan's power into himself.  Logan refuses and a chain of events is set off after Yashida's death that pushes him to his limits both mentally and physically.

The one thing that I haven't liked in the depiction of Wolverine on the big screen is the representation of his fighting skills.  Yes, he can more than take care of himself in a fight, but he is always portrayed as a mere brawler and not the skillful (if reckless) samurai that he should be.  The Wolverine, unfortunately, is no different.  He still plunges headlong into all altercations and takes a massive amount of damage.  It makes some sense to a degree since is body is nearly indestructible, but common things just shouldn't be able to touch him. He's not as fast as Spider-Man, but fast enough. 

The treat in The Wolverine is Hugh Jackman.  Since the release of X-Men, he has taken this role and made it his own.  He plays Logan perfectly as a loner with a tough exterior and tremendous heart.  Jackman won't play Wolverine forever and he will eventually age out of the role.  And, it's hard to fathom that 20th Century Fox or Marvel Studios (whoever owns the rights) won't continue cashing in on, well, the cash cow that is the X-Men franchise in the future.  It's just extremely difficult imagining anyone other than Jackman as Wolverine which is a testament to how much he has nailed the character and to how good of an actor he truly is.

For the comic geeks out there, The Wolverine introduces some important characters from Logan's history.  In addition to Yukio and Yashida, you're introduced to the father-daughter tandem of Shingen and Mariko Yashida.  Yes, the brother-sister combo has been made father-daughter here, but it still works for this storyline.  It will be interesting to see where the powers that be take the Logan/Mariko relationship in the future, or, if they even pursue it any further.  She is an important part of his history that should be explored.  There's even an appearance by the Silver Samurai though not in the way you might expect. 

The Wolverine introduces a cookie to the upcoming X-Men:  Days of Future Past during the post credits.  It involves Wolverine and two characters who were pretty much out of commission after The Last Stand ended.  Need I say, you should never leave a Marvel-inspired movie when the credits role?

While not a flawless movie, The Wolverine proves that a good solo movie about Logan can be made.  And I will go on to say this is a very good solo effort that should almost wipe the bad taste of X-Men Origins out of your mouth.  In fact, in a previous review I had mistakenly said that Thor was the next big comic book movie coming in 2013.  It was easy to forget Logan after the last solo effort.  While The Wolverine is a look into the character's damaged psyche, it still manages to provide enough thrills and claw ripping excitement for the action junkies out there.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars

Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.