[FILM] The Wolverine

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Or quite simply, the first actually mature Marvel Superhero film.

The word superhero is crossed out because it doesn't really feel like a superhero film, or an X-Men film.

Wolverine is this franchise's most loved character. The lone savage with, despite himself, a sense of honour, and a heart of gold.

The problem is that the character is virtually immortal, and indestructible. Which is handy in a fight, but quite boring for the movies.

Hugh Jackman always seems to have had a devotion to this character though, appearing in every X-Men film to date, and even starring in his own Origins film. Which I saw just a few months ago and honestly barely recall. (Jackman gave his all, the rest was completely average).

For The Wolverine, his resolve is rewarded with a film that finally gives the character the depth and texture that he was due,

The film is a direct sequel to X-Men 3, in that it deals with the aftermath of Logan killing the woman he loved, Jean Grey. He is hurt, bittered and isolated. And haunted by dreams of Jean, begging him to join her into death.

Cameo's are normal in X-Men films. Patrick Stewart did one for Origins, Rebecca Romein and Jackman himself did cameo work on First Class. Those were just throwaway winks for the fans. Famke Jansen's return is given substance, and a good reason.

Jansen does a brilliant job in just a few very short scenes of being both irresistible and nurturing, like a warm memory, and needy, and elusive, and ultimately painful. She doesn't play Jean Grey as much as she play's Logan's guilt.

The other needy and elusive women in the story is Mariko.

Played by Tao Okamoto, she first appears aloof, a bit of a drama queen and actually annoying. Slowly she opens up though. But it is to the credit of the script that he remains something of an enigma throughout.

Mariko and Logal fall in love of course. But it's not true love. It's love fueled by mutual need and loneliness. For Mariko, Logan is the near mythical protector her grandfather always told her about to make her feel better. For Logan Mariko is a chance at redemption, to finally save someone after failing to save Jean.

Again to the credit of the script, the acting and the direction, none of this is spoken out, yet it's perfectly apparent.

The Wolverine is directed by James Mangold, who made his name with character studies like Copland, Walk The Line and 3:10 to Yuma. He seems an unlikely choice for a Marvel franchise film, and that's what makes him just right for it. There is very little in this film that suggest franchise, superhero, or even X-Men.

X-Men 3 and X-Men: First Class suffered from cramped storylines filled with too many characters. Many of them mutants who were solely defined by their powers or abilities, but were not drawn as characters at all.

Apart from Logan, this film has 2 mutants. Both of them bring more to the table then just their gifts.

Svetlana Khodchenkova plays Viper. Who can emit poison from her mouth like a snake, but plays the role as a very alluring, but very dangerous femme fatale. Khodchenkova is both sensual and incredibly creepy, especially after shedding her skin.

The second mutant, Yukia is played by Rila Fukushima. An actress with one of those off-kilter, slightly alien faces. Her power is that she can see when a person is about to die. This is an ability that is used more to create the characters sadness rather then a plot point. In one instance she is actually wrong.

Fukushima is actually a delight in this film. Not just a comedy sidekick, she brings some life into scenes which would otherwise be overwhelmed by Logan sulking, and she looks very convincing in a fight. I certainly hope they bring her back for a follow up movie.

There are several more key characters good or bad in this film. And they are drawn as people with their own reasons and motivations rather then pawns for Wolverine to slice and dice.

Much of the movie plays in Japan. While in recent years many films have featured scenes in Asian countries, often to appeal to that ever growing market, The Wolverine is set their because the story would not make sense anywhere else. Instead of just an exotic backdrop for an action movie, it actually feels that the characters inhabit this place, that their personality, and circumstances and part of the culture they are from. Wolverine feels both like an outsider, which he always was, but also like their is something here that speaks to him.

This film has less action scenes then one might expect, but they are good ones. An elaborate chase from a cemetery leading to the fight on top op the bullet train is very well set up.

This chase also begins to show one of the films main strengths....Logan's vulnerability. Part of his recovering strength is gone, he can be wounded, stopped, he almost passes out a few times, takes some beatings, and has to actually defend himself. This makes for far more interesting fight scenes then the usual ones where Logan fights endlessly with some other near immortal mutant for minutes on end.

The fight scenes also have a degree of intelligence about them.

When Logan wants to save Mariko from her grandfather's fortress near the end of the film, the Black Clan tries to prevent this by taking him on in direct combat. Once their leader learns his healing power is restored, they actually change tactics and instead of continuing to fight him and just get cut up one by one, they retreat to the rooftops and fire arrows with ropes in an attempt to subdue him.

That's actually bloody brilliant!

The film looked good, but sadly I could not see it in 2D.

Beltramis' subdued score served the film well. His work also stayed away from any of the usual trademark superhero cliché's.

This is a deeply satisfying film. I've seen all the previous ones, which range from excellent to instantly forgettable, and this one is quite unlike any of them.

Again, the first Marvel movie for grown ups!

***1/2 out of ****

[Quintus 5,399]

Had no particular interest in this but I must say all the positive WOM I'm hearing is piquing my interest. Might see if I can arrange an afternoon out.

[Trent B 337]

Did you stay for the mid End Credits scene that is supposed to be a lead up to Days Of Future Past?

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Of course i did.

Really cool!

[JoeinAR 1,949]

Did you stay for the mid End Credits scene that is supposed to be a lead up to Days Of Future Past?

He's been properly coached.

Glad you enjoyed the film.

[Trent B 337]

Awesome. I wish I could see it in theaters. :-\

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

The films does have a (possible) continuity error if you put the other films nest to it.

It was well established Logan lost his memory, yet he remembers his experiences in the POW camp in Japan.

His memory loss isn't mentioned at all in the film actually.

To be honest, I don't care though. The continuity of the series was ruined 2 or 3 films ago anyway.

[Trent B 337]

Maybe after time he finally remembered everything. I mean ya the movie obviously takes place after X-Men 3 but question is how long after? For all we know it could have been a few years later.

[#SnowyVernalSpringsEternal 10,265]

Brian Singer has stated that Days Of Future Past will take place around 10 years after the events of X-Men 3. The teaser for that film, the middle credits scene of The Wolverine has a caption saying "Two Years Later" meaning it takes place two years after the events in The Wolverine, dating that some 8 years after X-Men 3.

I suppose there is nothing really wrong with this. apart from this:

It means that after 8 years Logan is still deeply traumatized from killing Jean Grey. Which seems a bit long.

Also, X-Men 3 had a caption "In The Not Too Distant Future" already placing that film outside of the "Present Day"

I believe no X-Men film has ever given an exact date though, so technically there is no continuity error.

The Wolverine also had a short snippet of Kayla Silverfox's voice when Logan is suffering from a black out or nightmare. Meaning that on some level he remembers her too.

If the next film still maintains Logan has amnesia then this is an error, but we will have too see.