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The Wolverine - Movie Review: Crisp, Imaginative
This film is a pure pulp fiction based on the 1982 limited series on the character's exploits in Japan. Though the film connects and refers to various past X-Men films, this one is no sequel. It has a consolidated story by itself and the past references beautifully merge with the present tale on its own.
The narration begins with two snippets. The first: Logan's act of protecting a Japanese soldier and their survival during the holocaust at a Japanese POW camp on the outskirts of Nagasaki, during World War II. And the second, his nightmares of having killed the love of his life, Jean Grey, and he swearing not to lead a violent life. After establishing the back story, the film rolls with an unkempt Logan leading a passive life in the Yukon wilds, occasionally losing his temper, when he sees sport hunters killing wild bears for amusement.
It
is
during
his
stay
at
the
Yukon
wilds
that
a
red-haired
mysterious
woman,
Yukio,
surfaces
to
inform
him
that
he
is
summoned
to
Japan
by
a
dying
millionaire,
Mr.
Yashida.
Ironically,
Mr.
Yashida
is
the
Japanese
soldier
whose
life
Logan
had
saved
in
Nagasaki.
Hence,
he
complies
with
the
request
and
travels
to
Japan.
Continue
to
read
the
story
and
movie
review
of
The
Wolverine
in
the
slideshow.
The Wolverine Story
Once in Japan, Mr. Yashida, who is on his deathbed, politely tries to seek Logan's secret of immortality, failing which he makes Logan promise to protect his granddaughter Mariko who he fears would be murdered soon after she inherits his empire. What follows is a series of insipid family politics within the Yashida clan together with high-on-action dramatic stunts that involves - henchmen fighting on top of the moving bullet train, a corrupt minister, an army of ninjas, fellow mutant enemies and weak ploy to rob the Wolverine of his super powers.
Score of Action For Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman as Logan expertly fits into the character, but unfortunately the script provides him with only limited scope to perform, which is way below the mark of an ace 'superhero'.
Female Leads' Performances
Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, the deceased love of Logan, injects guilt pangs into Logan through hackneyed dream sequences, is funny and expressive. Tao Okamota as the dynamic Mariko is beautiful and elegant, but the chemistry between Logan and her is sketchy and superficial. Rila Fukushima is decent as Yukio, but the "bodyguard" bit at the end is confusing and unwarranted.
James Mangold's Direction
Mangold is a brilliant director and he manages to unfurl the drama imaginatively with the help of production designer Francois Audouy and crisp editing. The production values of the film are overwhelming.
Ross Emery's Cinematography
The frames canned by director of photography Ross Emery too are worth a mention. He has captured Japan with all its aesthetic beauty. He has also combined the latest digital technology with images from traditional lenses to deliver a characteristic look and feel.
The Wolverine - Verdict
Deemed to be an action film, the script provides high voltage action sporadically. Unfortunately, the fights that keep you glued are synthetic and bloodless and the climax gravitates instead of surging to the zenith. The Wolverine is not a bad film at all.
The Wolverine Cast & Crew
Producers:
Lauren
Shuler
Donner,
Hugh
Jackman,
Hutch
Parker,
John
Palermo
Director:
James
Mangold
Cast:
Hugh
Jackman,
Hiroyuki
Sanada,
Famke
Janssen,
Will
Yun
Lee,
Rila
Fukushima,
Tao
Okamoto,
Svetlana
Khodchenkova
and
Hal
Yamanouchi
Music:
Marco
Beltrami
Cinematography:
Amir
Mokri
Release
date:
July
26,
2013
