Review of The Wolverine (2013) by Paul S — 25 Feb 2015

This isn't like most Superhero movies these days, the emphasis was on character more so than spectacle.

Logan starts as a man crippled by his having to kill Jean grey in X3. He has dreams of her and is haunted by his loss and inability to forgive himself.

He has taken a vow not to kill anymore, much like in Old Man Logan. Of course it doesn't last long and he reluctantly ends up in Tokyo meeting a man who offers him mortality to end his suffering and re-join Jean.

Events take hold and soon things become a chase across Japan with Logan having taken up the role as protector.

His character takes the forefront and he develops and transitions well to where he ends up at the end. Mariko and Logans relationship is pretty good, it's the basic princess becomes simtten with her white knight protector, it's a dynamic that plays well if not predictable.

There was a fair bit of humour, but didn't contrast with the tone which was was rather personal and bleak.

Action was great, this isn't the big huge destruction of Man of Steel or the sci-fi spectacle of Iron Man 3 but personal engagements of swordplay and fisiticuffs. Even at the end the scale grows but the core fight remains the same. It is different than the released clips, it's longer and editted right.

The supporting characters are pretty good.

Mariko plays the angelic and naive love interest well.

Yukio was great, best sidekick in any movie i've seen and her action was awesome.

Harada was cool as the loyal bodyguard to the Yashida clan but not too explored.

Shingen and Yashida played their roles well but didn't stand out much.

Viper wasn't bad for the most part, her presence was in small doses and this was for the best as toward the end her character stepped to the front and she became the typcial venemous female with no soul.

Enjoyed it very much. Not quite as good as X2 or XFC but much much better than X3 and Origins.

4/5.