Review of The Wolverine (2013) by Matt G — 11 Sep 2015

9/12/15.

After giving a character like Wolverine his first solo film, you might question why the hell they'd give him a second one. Well after going into hiding for four years (emerging for one shot in one sequence in 2011's X-Men: First Class to tell Professor Xavier and Erik Lensherr to do something I will not put into writing) Hugh Jackman returns as the guy who's the best at what he does, and what he does is try to be very nice for the memory of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen in hallucination form). After a Nagasaki flashback where Wolverine saves a Japanese soldier named Ichir? Yashida (Ken Yamamura), who goes on to build a corporate empire in Japan. In the present, we see Wolverine living in the wilderness after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, and is eventually dragged off to Japan by Yukio (Rila Fukishima) to let a dying Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi as the elderly version) say good-bye and offer to take Wolverine's healing factor for himself. This and the Japanese mob's desire to kill Yashida send Logan on a journey of finding meaning in a never-ending life, to find meaning as a ronan (Immortal soldier). However, to protect Yashida's granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamoto), he has to do stuff that, in the character's words from the comics "Ain't very nice," opposite what fantasy Jean Grey wanted him to do. However, you do not get much reason to care about these characters, beyond Logan if you've seen the other X-Men films (or not) but they show every family has some struggles. The visuals are better than Wolverine's first film (Which shall not be named here), but the bullet train fight and the last act have too much CGI that is way too obvious it's fake. Marco Beltrami brings a score that brings the emotion, but at times, feels Japanese, with Japanese instruments finding their way in like toxins from a certain Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova). One last note is that The Wolverine really feels like it's Wolverine's story, with brief and vague allusions to other X-Men in one scene or two. Overall, James Mangold proves he's the best there is at what he does: and what he does ain't very perfect, but memorable for being its own thing.

5/17/14.

20th Century Fox continues its marvelous streak of Marvel characters after X-Men: First Class. While last time we saw the titular character, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), tell Charles Xaveier and Erik Lensherr to go (censored), this time we see him post-The-Last-Stand trying to escape it. The only familiar character we're getting is Wolverine himself, while we are introduced to new characters like the senior Yashida, his family, and the Japanese mob, as well as Yashida's granddaughter Mariko, and her "sister" Yukio. They are all developed to their needed capacity, and you grow to care about Mariko and Yukio most out of the Japanese character, and it's a nice tough when you think about how you won't really blame the villain for what he's trying to do but still shouldn't do. The plot moves pretty rapidly, opening with an extremely action full scene. The picture however, while clear and great-looking, is a little shaky with the camera in early action sequences, worsened by some rather disturbing images, that while exciting, may upset the squeemish ones. Marco Beltrami does a marvelous job with the soundtrack. We also get the hardcore nature of Wolverine on the more minor level with profanities. More than First Class, so parents beware. The only reason I don't dock the stars off is because it's used in acceptable context and I don't blame them. It's also, again, the nature of Wolverine to swear. In the end, when you look at The Wolverine, you'll think two things: "Wow that was hardcore," and "Better than X-Men Origins: Wolverine.".

7/27/13.

Wolverine redeems himself on screen with the help of James Mangold and the nation of Japan. After the cruel excuse of an X-Men movie, Origins: Wolverine, and after the events of The Last Stand, we find Logan struggling with the guilt of what he's done. The visuals were brilliant, and thankfully not as disturbing as Origins (But it's X-Men, so what do you expect, rainbows, sunshine, flowers, and unicorns?) the score was brilliant with Marco Beltrami's Japanese tones and bells. The only familiar character you'll find here is Logan/Wolverine. However, the newcomers are layred and explained. The storytelling is what really gets this moving: We get Japanese action with little dull time, but it's usually interesting (It was fun seeing Logan learn the ways of the Japanese.) The 3D effect actually worked well, considering I didn't learn for a while it was in 3D. I now have confidence in Days of Future Past's 3D effect. Stick around for the credits a little, you may find more than a list of names and dedications.