Review of The Wolverine (2013) by Foe — 26 Jul 2013

This film is largely well done in terms of the acting and the setting. The script, however, is where it progressively unravels.

As a casual comic book reader since the 1970's, the prospect of a Wolverine film set in Japan, and based on the seminal Claremont/Miller storyline, was a geek's dream come true. Apparently, dreams are meant to be shattered.

Consider: All that was really required here was to stick closely to the source material. Or failing that, take another well done film like The Last Samurai and simply plop Hugh Jackman's portrayal of Wolverine into it. Simple, right? One would think...

Instead, we are treated to another poorly written Wolverine film where the character motivations are flimsy throughout, the villainy lacks any focus, and the action scenes are tame.

While not as laughably bad as Origins, this outing is only marginally better; especially when one considers how low the bar was set.

Until and unless Marvel Studios reclaims the rights their ultimate and penultimate characters (Spider-man & Wolverine), neither will receive the film treatment both deserves.

All in all, a rental. Nothing more.