*** WARNING SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW***
Mangold brings us a completely different Wolverine, a Logan we've never seen before. A man who's so lost he's OK to die and throw everything away. THE WOLVERINE is more than just your typical popcorn muncher. This one's a class act on its own. I'm going out on a limb to say that Marvel and 20th Century Fox has created something that can go the distance (not necessarily beat) The Dark Knight.
There's a lot of great action sequences here in the flick. Given that it's not flying under the X-Men banner of films also frees up Wolverine from some baggage. We don't see a lot of mutants in the film to keep it packed tightly. We don't barely see the whole "humans versus mutants" angle. In fact, the mutant element is dialed down a notch by way of introducing a new element into the story, Wolverine's healing factor isn't working.
Being a Wolverine fan, I've read a dozen or so stories which used this plot point. It's a tired old plot but Mangold and his screenplay team Christopher McQuarrie with writers Mark Bomback and Scott Frank, spun it like cotton candy. I just love it.
There's a classic saying that goes "the most dangerous men are the ones that have nothing to lose". In this case, it gets magnified by making the world's most dangerous man, a man with nothing left to lose. It's got this brilliant cathartic effect where we empathize with Logan's doom and gloom in the opening and go through this grim and gritty adventure which ultimately shows us that there really is still something worth fighting for. Great stuff.
The cast were adept with their roles. Like I said, this isn't your typical Wolverine movie so we're seeing a different kind of Hugh Jackman here. It's a Wolverine that's been given a little blood transfusion from Les Miserables' Jean Valjean. He's not emo but he's wracked with death over what he did to Jean Grey during X3 aka X-Men: The Last Stand. He's so guilt stricken that he even sees Jean (Famke Janssen) whenever he needs taunting.
Tao Okamoto is the perfect Mariko Yashida for the 21st century. The actress/ model not only looks good but also does justice to Wolverine's one-time lover. She looks and 'registers' like a princess but at the same time you know that she's an independent woman. Too bad there's only a small spark, a small ounce of chemistry between her and Jackman.
First timer Rila Fukushima is a funky, bubbly warrior named Yukio. Her character is based on an assassin and thief of the same name who also happens to be an ally of Wolverine.
The villains aren't so shabby either. We've got Mariko's crazed father Shingen Yashida, Oldman Yashida, and Viper who makes the leap from comics to the big screen. The real Silver Samurai, Kenuichio Harada is also present although some liberties were taken with the portrayal for the character. Oh and you got to love the lifting of the Logan vs Shingen fight stratight from the comic book.
The action comes in dribs and drabs here. If the plot was based on something else that would've sucked but this is a new territory for Wolverine so it's perfectly fine. Also, by the time the third act rolls in wildly, you'll have lots of action to be thankful for.
Believe it or not, there's a lot of LOL moments here in the Wolverine. It's clever and witty and doesn't dumb down the character. Oh and it's not contrived or forced either. It gives a lighter side to an already grim story. I applaud the movie for that.
The Wolverine is a superhero movie through and through but thanks to some quite thinking and reflection, it found how to balance everything in a 2 hour film.
Overall, the film has claws (pardon the pun). It's on a caliber of it's own. It's also a way for Jackman and the rest of his film team to apologize for the mess they did a few years ago. This might just be the first 'true' Wolverine movie that's not corny and sappy. Oh and this also proves to us viewers why Logan is called "The Wolverine"
Do standby for the after credits feature which leads to something even bigger. I really want to spoil it but you know what, just catch it on opening day and see for yourself.
THE WOLVERINE NOW SHOWING!
(Special thanks nga pala to 20th Century Fox)
