The Wolverine

****
Release Date: July 16th 2013

When Wolverine is summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance, he is embroiled in a conflict that forces him to confront his own demons.


Director: James Mangold (Knight and Day, 3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Famke Janssen

The latest offering in the X-Men series, and the sixth to date, finds Hugh Jackman's Logan/Wolverine in a film with only two mutants in it, the second being the villian. Some may find the lack of mutants disconcerting, but I do not find this the case. It stays true to it's 80's comics, and the title of this film suggests the focus of the most popular of the X-Men characters.

Reading other reviews meant I had little expectation of The Wolverine. I'm glad this was so because it is highly entertaining. James Mangold's attention to detail of Logan/Wolverine has allowed us more than ever to relate to him rather than see his as an incredible entity that cannot be harmed due to his mutant powers. Instead we see him suffer from past trauma, with Jean Grey constantly riddling his dreams.

Amongst Logan's personal burdens, comes the main story, which takes us all the way to Japan. The opening scene see's Logan imprisoned in an encampment of the Japanese army in WWII (which just shows you how old he really is). He saves the life of an army officer when the infamous atomic bomb hits Nagasaki. The recreation is phenomenal, the CGI totally making up for the poor outcome of Origins.

Fast forward in time and the events stand some time after The Last Stand, and Logan has become a hermit wondering the woods somewhere in the USA. After an action-packed scrap with some locals (who anger him a treat), Logan is asked by katana wielding Yukio (Fukushima) to meet up with the officer he saved for reasons other than saying goodbye. So off he flies to Japan, and soon enough Logan finds himself involved in a family crisis.

Taking the location to Japan is a little risky, but the countries' culture and scenery adds to the overall feel of the film. The choreography comes with immense finesse. A scene with Logan running away from pursuers on rooftops, shooting arrows with ropes to hold him back like they're performing some kind of acupuncture treatment on him would have been awesome to see in 3D.

The Wolverine should be a great watch for most X-Men fans, and will hopefully keep the interest going until Days of Future Past is released in the summer.

Overview: Remember to wait for the initial end credits, like most Marvel films, a scene comes that will make you come over with giddy excitement.