The Wolverine
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rila Fukushima, Tao Okamoto, and Will Yun Lee.
Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, some sexuality and language.
This is Hugh Jackman's sixth time (including his cameo in X-Men: First Class) portraying the clawed rage machine from the X-Men universe, and he has never been better. Fans, including myself, were beyond excited to see Wolverine get his own movie when X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released, but that proved to be the weakest of the X-Men films and not worthy of its character nor the actor portraying him. I am happy to say that Wolverine gets a stand-alone film that redeems this awesome character in James Mangold's The Wolverine.
Originally, this film was meant to be a direct follow-up to the first Wolverine film and still a prequel to the traditional X-Men trilogy; however, director James Mangold wisely made the decision to movie the story's timeline to take place after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand. Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) has left the X-Men and is living in solitude in the mountains. He is haunted by dreams and visions of his love, Jean Grey, whom he was forced to kill. He is soon visited by a mysterious Japanese woman, Yukio, who persuades Logan to come with her to Japan so that her master can properly thank Logan for saving his life during World War II. Upon arriving in Japan, Logan is almost immediately caught up in a war between two of Japan's most powerful organizations. In order to survive and protect his new friends, Logan must embrace who he is and once again become the Wolverine.
Recent superhero blockbusters (The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, Iron Man 3, Man of Steel) have placed their hero or heroes in situations where they must save an entire city or even the world. The Wolverine decides to do something a little bit different. Logan isn't expected to save a city or the country of Japan. This is a much more intimate story about a man at war with himself who gets caught up in a deadly game that could destroy him. Sure there is a damsel in distress, but this superhero movie is on a much smaller scale. I applaud director James Mangold, the screenwriters, and producers for deciding to tell a different kind of superhero tale. The tone of this movie is set up right from the opening scene when Wolverine saves a Japanese soldier from the destruction of Nagasaki during WWII. This is a serious and often intense film with some great action sequences. Despite its PG-13 rating, this is a superhero movie you may want to think twice about taking your kids to see. Though the more violent parts occur off-screen, there is no attempt to hide the blood on Wolverine's claws and body, and we've seen before that Wolverine is a character who is not afraid to tell someone off with some pretty strong profanity. This is very much an adult superhero film.
There is some great characterization among the principal cast, but there is a villain named Viper that is really under developed. We never fully learn what her motivations are. We are just expected to accept that she's evil with very little explanation as to why. That aside, this movie has very little flaws and is carried by Hugh Jackman's great performance as one of Marvel's favorite heroes. I would argue that there is no other actor who fully embodies their superhero counterpart the way that Hugh Jackman has as Wolverine. He's been great from the start and shows no signs of stopping. Age has not hindered him from being stronger than ever. Seriously, he's ripped! It will be a sad day when he is no longer able to play this great hero. I look forward to seeing this one again, and if you go then be sure to stick around for an additional teaser clip during the end credits. It's a fun one!
RATING: A-
No comments:
Post a Comment