Wolverine without any shadow of doubt is one of my all time favorite comic book character, one who has had probably the overall most affect upon me. What do I find so engaging and relatable to me about this particular comic book hero? I would say is the fact that he had some traumatic circumstances within his life through which definitely shaped his core personality and character, yet over time and through the help of those around him who care and have much love for him, he was able to overcome the pain and loss which he has suffered.
Ironically enough, it was the very loss, pain and trauma suffered that was the genesis of his mutant abilities. It was his mystifying past that enabled him to be a mentor and father figure to so many. So the character of Wolverine, or Logan as he is often called is one that while seemingly in some fashion one of a complex persona, where by he is often perceived as merely a bruiser and berserker, there is actually quite a lot underneath the character with which to dive into the heart and soul of this particular engaging hero.
I have to first begin my review by saying that I was quite leery of the film when I initially heard that Fox was going to make another Wolverine movie. Unfortunately, the last two previous films to my way of thinking were not very well made. though I loved seeing Gambit! With such a rich and appealing character, a writer and or director could really drill a home run out of the park, for there is be plenty of down and dirty, gritty fighting sequences, coupled with a brooding hero material to draw upon. Perhaps poor directing and or writing choices, or dare I say studio executive decisions, the previous Wolverine films just didn’t “do” it for me sadly, as much as I wanted to really love them.
So, it wasn’t until I happened to catch an interview of the director of the film James Mangold speak about how he wanted this Wolverine to be akin to the film The Outlaw Josey Wales that I began to get excited about this film.
Two things to mention here. First, James Mangold has directed some really excellent movies, such as Cop Land, Girl, Interrupted and Walk the Line. So my hopes were certainly raised by the fact that a good, solid director was attached to the film. Secondly, when Mangold referred to the The Outlaw Josey Wales (which is an excellent book if you can find a copy) in terms of the overall motif or style of the film, meaning there would be a certain gravity and grittiness of overall theme and stylization, I was fully on board!
So what is the verdict? Claws or no claws?
Claws it is!
I was really not only satisfied by the film, I was happily surprised by how much I really enjoyed myself! This is finally the Wolverine film I have waited for for years now. It was well directed, well written and well acted! Hugh Jackman is spot on as Wolverine/Logan. This is the sixth film in which he has played the role of Wolverine, so he certainly is intimately familiar within the character. He certainly should be commended for not taking the easy way out, as oftentimes is the case with certain actors/actresses who have played the same role over several incarnations. Not only can you clearly see the intense regimen that he took upon himself so as to be as authentically believable and faithful to the nature of this particular part, but also one can gleam the respect that he has for the integrity of the character and for the fans who cherish Wolverine. One last thing that I would like to add about the faults I have with the previous Wolverine films, none of it rests upon Mr. Jackman himself. He obviously puts everything he has into his films, regardless of the scope or type of film. For this he should be commended!
The story is what is one of the most critical elements of any film obviously and I can say without any reserve that this story delivers! What potentially can make a Wolverine story tricky (as well as Superman) is that for every practical purpose he is invulnerable by way of his rapid healing factor and adamantium infused skeleton. The interesting take that this film brings to light is Logan’s vulnerability is within his psyche, for having lived well over two hundred years through which he has seen and experienced personal tragedy and detrimental loss on a grand scale which has left scars upon his soul.
The film opens with an incredible and dare I say breathtaking imagery of the atomic bomb destroying Nagasaki. Watching silently as the American bomber was slowly, though inevitably making its way across the screen, the horror of knowing what was going to take place truly sunk in as I sat riveted to this initial imagery taking place before me. I even audibly caught myself saying out loud, “oh no” as the scene played itself out. It is within these inauspicious circumstances that the film places us, so right off the bat, I knew this was going to be a much different Wolverine film!
We see Logan imprisoned as a Japanese POW, who through an act of humanity is released from his “cell”, only to return the favor which saves the Japanese officer named Yashida. It is Yashida who thus witnesses the regenerative abilities of Logan, as he takes the brunt of the atomic blast in shielding him from harms way. Thus the story is set up from the events that transpired within Logan’s past. As a side note, I could not help but think how at the same time within the “Marvel Universe”, in another part of the world, Captain America was battle Nazi’s and the Red Skull.
Fast forwarding to our contemporary time, Logan is living within the wilderness of the Canadian woodlands. Interesting enough, I reckon that many within the audience never realized that Wolverine is actually a Canadian superhero, not an American one. It is there within the solitude of nature that he seeks the solace of being alone, where he attempt to leave behind the heavy weight upon his heart of having suffered lifetimes of pain and loss. Yet such is not to be the case, for he is sough out by Yashida’s “servants” Yukio in order to bring the Wolverine before her master so as to thank him for his saving his life one last time as his dying request.
Things obviously are not what they seem, for without giving away any plot points or spoilers, Wolverine finds himself weakened, so that his innate healing factor is not as responsive as it under normal circumstances. Coupled with the fact that there are enemies who threaten Yashida’s granddaughter Mariko, who Logan finds himself falling in love with, there are a lot of elements which blend all very nicely indeed so as to make for not only a great adventure in film, but a compelling one as well!
In terms of the characters present within the film, I very much enjoyed the character of Yukio, who over the course of the film becomes not only a protector of sorts to Logan, but also a cherished true friend. She was to me one of the most intriguing and riveting characters, for she was both deadly, but also deeply empathetic for she like Logan had her own past filled with loss and pain, to which they were able to respect and relate to one another.
In terms of the action, this film defiantly delivers, for the claws are out! There are great action sequences and visuals, one of the primary highlights is a fight between Logan and the “bad guys” all of which takes place on top of one of the bullet trains of Japan. It goes without saying that the bullet train also happens to be traveling at breathtaking speeds!
The character of Wolverine is all about action, thankfully there is plenty to be had, though it is thoughtfully accomplished by way of a well paced story. One of my own personal pet peeves of contemporary films these days is the rapid and breakneck pace or flow of a film, where by there is hardly any “breathing” time given to an audience in oder to be allowed to take in what is transpiring on the screen. Thankfully, this was not the case here, as it was in say Star Trek Into Darkness.
Overall, I could not be more pleased with the film. Finally, there is a Wolverine film worthy of the character. All who were involved in making this particular film a reality should be quite proud of their efforts and of the final product. I for one certainly hope that if there is another Wolverine film, one which is as well crafted and executed as this!
One final note, you must stay seated while the credits are on screen, for there is mid-credits scene involving Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. Both I and my buddy Mark where sitting upright in our seats, totally stoked as to what was transpiring before us!
This is what going to the movies is all about!
