In 2009, X-Men fans were frustrated (if not downright pissed) when the half-hearted X-Men Origins: Wolverine hit theaters. Boasting an impressive cast and a mountain of buzz, the film was panned by critics and fans alike, leaving much to be desired from the franchise's most lucrative member. When word came that there would be another Wolverine film, doubt spread like wildfire as fans feared that this was the end of star Hugh Jackman's turn as the famed mutant. Well guys, I can't vouch for Jackman's continued involvement, but I can say that though there are numerous plot holes and quite a bit of ridiculousness, James Mangold's The Wolverine is the Wolverine film you have been waiting for.
Picking up some time after the conclusion of X-Men: The Last Stand, the film follows Logan to Japan where he has been lured by a former friend. But when an attack forces him to go on the run with a powerful industrialist's daughter, Logan finds himself confronted, for the first time, with the prospect of death. Now, as war wages with a powerful enemy, Wolverine must rediscover the hero that lies within himself and understand that there is more to life than just himself.
Hugh Jackman brings a strong, sturdy, and slightly emotional Wolverine to the screen in this, his sixth portrayal of the iconic character. Featuring little (if any) true star power around him, The Wolverine rests solely on his shoulders, and for the first time, I felt he embraced the challenge, working with Mangold to give audiences the film they desperately wanted: dark, violent, sexy, and a bit geeky.
I was a bit disappointed with the villain featured. While I am nothing near a fan boy of the original material, Viper's heavy involvement within the Avengers world makes her place here a bit odd, and off putting to those who do follow the story closely. But origins aside, I was impressed with the dark and ruthless nature of the film. Gone are the gimmicks of the original X-Men trilogy as audiences are finally introduced to a Logan that is emotionally absent, socially distant, and all-together flawed. For the first time, he appears human, and for a man who has always struggled with him immortality, the situation offers up something new for viewers who never thought they could watch him die.
Though several small factors don't quite compute when piecing together the story, it is hard to ignore the entertainment value here. The film is much better when viewed in small doses and ultimately fails to pull everything together to make a truly masterful hole. That being said, it comes close to being the best superhero movie of the summer--merely for the fact that for much of it I didn't feel I was watching a superhero movie at all.
