Score: 7/10
After the lackluster and disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I did not have any expectations for The Wolverine. Moreover, I had no intention to make any effort to watch this movie. However, I am pleasantly surprised to say I enjoyed this movie. While the first solo Wolverine movie is a prequel to the X-Men trilogy, The Wolverine is a sequel to trilogy. During X-Men: the Last Stand, we learn that Jean Grey is the only level 5 mutant, the strongest level of mutant with unlimited potential. In her level 5 form, she is her alter ego known as Phoenix. Unfortunately, Jean is unable to control Phoenix, who ends up killing Cyclops/ Scott Summer and Professor Xavier in her rage. At the end of the movie, Phoenix becomes angered during the final battle. Her power is unlimited and could destroy the world. As such, Logan/ Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) reluctantly kills Jean, who is the woman he loves, in order to neutralize the threat and save the world. I like that the movie links back to that traumatic event in the other X-Men movie. During The Wolverine, his guilt manifests itself in the form of hallucinations of Jean Grey that torment him throughout the movie. As such, it is an intelligent way to bring a dead character into a sequel as Famke Janssen does a solid job reprising the role. Overall, I like the idea of emotional consequences for Logan having to kill someone he loves for the greater good. While Logan’s mutant power is healing, some wounds are so severe that not even Logan’s healing factor can mend. Regardless of the justification, the death of the woman he loves by his own hands certainly qualifies as one of those wounds. I also like that this movie addresses the idea of immortality. While it is a gift and a blessing that Logan is seemingly unable to die or be killed, it is also a curse. While he may be immortal, his loved ones are not. As such, he is forced to watch people he cares for die time after time while he continues to live.
Unlike the first Wolverine movie, this film has a very interesting plot with unpredictable twists and includes characters that you actually care whether they live or die. The opening scene is at Nagasaki in 1945. As we know, Nagasaki is one of two Japanese cities that were hit by an atomic bomb at the end of World War II. A Japanese officer, Yashida, is freeing the prisoners of war in anticipation of a bombing. While the other officers commit suicide as the atomic bomb explodes, Logan prevents Yashida from killing himself, throws the officer into a well, and takes the brunt of the blast to save Yashida’s life. Logan is able to survive the blast due to his healing factor. Next, the movie flashes forward to the present. Logan is wandering the Canadian wilderness as he deals with the pain of killing Jean to save the world. Eventually, Yukio (Rila Fukushima) tracks down Logan. Yukio is a mutant with the power to see a person’s death and is also skilled with a sword. She is sent by an old and dying Yashida (Hiroyuki Sanada) who has requested that Logan visit him in Japan before he dies so he can repay Logan for saving his life years ago in Nagasaki. Yashida has become incredibly successful in life and is the CEO of Yashida Corporation, a technology company. While Logan is reluctant to accept the invitation, Yukio convinces him to make the trip to Japan.
When Logan comes face to face with Yashida at his home, he learns that Yashida is dying of cancer. Yashida knows Logan has been the burden of watching his loved ones continually die over the course of his long life. As a gift, Yashida offers to take away Logan’s mutant power to heal so he can be relieved of his immortality, live a normal life, then die. Of course, the offer is self serving as Yashida wants the power to save his own life. Of course, Wolverine refuses and plans to leave Japan the next day. While at Yashida’s home, Logan becomes aware of the assassination attempts on Yashida’s granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamato). While Yashida loves his granddaughter and she is his favorite, Logan notices that she is at odds with her father Shingen (Hiroyuki Sanada) as he slaps her. At night, Logan is attacked by Yashida’s doctor, Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova), in his sleep. As we learn later on in the movie, she attacks him as she has found a way to suppress his healing abilities. In the morning, Yashida dies and his body is carried away. Yukio is disturbed as she did not see Yashida’s death with her mutant power. At Yashida’s funeral, the Yakuza (Japanese gangsters) attacks in an attempt to kidnap Mariko. However, Logan is able to fight off the attackers. Unfortunately, he no longer has his powers and is severely injured by the gunshot wounds he takes during the battle. Although Muriko wants to flee alone to a safe location, Logan tags along as he knows she will not be able to survive by herself and needs him to protect her. The rest of the movie is an unpredictable story with solid plot twists. Most importantly, we learn the reason for the assassination attempts on Muriko and who is truly responsible. Moreover, we find out the reasons Viper took away Logan’s power and why Mariko does not have a great relationship with her father. I like that the movie reveals fragments of the answers to these questions throughout the movie before finally putting all the pieces together for the viewer near the end. The movie definitely keeps me engaged and interested in anticipation of the revelations that will answer my questions.
Tao Okamato is a star in this movie as Mariko. Her first appearance on screen is with a face mask as she helps care for her dying grandfather. When she takes off the mask, Logan is stunned by her beauty. It is a sentiment that was shared by the audience in the movie theater. Nevertheless, Mariko is not just a pretty face. She is a great character because she shows strength through her grace and dignity at all times despite the attempts on her life. She is completely dedicated to her family and respectful to her elders. While her father arranges her engagement to a prominent politician in order to strengthen his political power, Mariko accepts the arrangement as to decline is to dishonor her father. As it is portrayed in the movie, her father Shingen is only concerned about the well being of the family company and his power within it instead of his actual family. His daughter’s happiness is of no consequence to him. Nevertheless, as is her culture, Mariko knows and is willing to perform her duty for her family. I also like the relationship she develops with Logan while they are fleeing from her pursuers. The contrast between the characters is one of the better aspects of the film. As we know, Logan is the Wolverine. As such, he is not very cultured, blunt, vulgar, and a brawler. He is the complete opposite of Mariko. As it is often said, opposites attract and the two individuals develop a respect and fondness for each other. One of the better scenes in the movie is when Logan wakes up in the middle of the night after having a nightmare that included Jean. He gets up frantically with his claws fully extended. While it may have scared most people, Mariko remains poised and calm. She begins telling a story her grandfather once told her when she was a child. The story and the soothing demeanor Mariko delivers it with is able to calm Logan down. I truly enjoy that Mariko’s personality and strengths as a person are able to sooth Logan, who is a tormented soul, as well as gain his respect. This scene is a perfect example of Mariko’s grace as a character and the unique relationship she develops with Logan.
Another solid character is Rila Fukushima as Yukio. I must admit that I was not a fan of the character at the beginning of the movie. When she is first on screen, she is portrayed as a cute, little Asian girl that acts innocent but is able to slice and dice you with a sword and a smile. At first, I thought it was annoying as I saw it as another lame attempt by a film to put a sword in the hand of a pretty Asian girl. However, Yukio grows on me as the film progresses as her character has a lot of substance. Yukio is born in poverty. As a young child, she is adopted by Mariko’s family so Mariko could have a friend growing up. As such, Yukio feels Mariko is like her sister and she is also indebted to the family for saving her from poverty and raising her. As such, Yukio is completely devoted to the family and will do anything to protect it, especially Mariko. She also develops an affinity for Logan and truly cares for his well being. During the film, her mutant powers give her a vision of Logan’s death. As he is no longer able to heal, she is gravely concerned and is in tears as she warns him. After actually listening to Yukio for a little bit, Logan simply states “I don’t have time for this crap” and continues on. Nevertheless, Yukio follows him and tells him that she will be his bodyguard. Yukio’s concern and deep care for Mariko and Logan during the movie rubs off on the audience and makes it actually care as much about those characters as Yukio does.
In regards to Hugh Jackman, he has a solid performance reprising the role of Logan/ Wolverine. Of course, it helps that he looks exactly how we would envision Wolverine. He also has the rugged and tough demeanor down pat as it is his 6th time playing the character, which includes a quick, yet hysterical cameo in X-Men: First Class. The best scene in the movie that demonstrates the character’s personality is when he questions Mariko’s fiancé about the attempts on her life. Logan threatens to throw the man out the window if he does not like the answer. Although Mariko’s fiancé is completely honest out of fear for Logan, it does not matter. Logan does not like the ugly truth and throws the man out of the window anyway into a pool. Yukio looks down and is amazed as she asks Logan how he knew there is a pool. In response, Logan notes that he did not know. I also like that Logan loses his mutant power in the movie. First, it actually adds to the thrill of the movie. In past movies, Logan is simply indestructible and can rush any opponents while absorbing any damage as his wounds will heal quickly. Without his powers, there is a heightened sense of danger as he is actually at risk and could die. I also like that Logan realizes to appreciate his powers. As he has been alive for a lot longer than any normal human being, he has taken his powers for granted. Once he loses his powers, he appreciates the need for his ability to heal in order to help people. While there are negative side effects of having such a power, it still does more good than bad.
The weakness of this film is its villains, who are B list villains from the Marvel Universe. Viper is the first of these villains. The one major change from the comics to the film is that she is a mutant in the movie. She is very mysterious at the beginning of the story. As such, I was hoping that she is shrouded in mystery because the movie would reveal great back story. Unfortunately, she turns out to be just a pawn in the overall plot rather than a lead antagonist. Similarly, the Silver Sumarai appears in the movie. While he does have a significant part to play in the story, he makes more of a cameo than being a lead villain. I feel the movie could have done a lot more with the material in the comics and done a lot more with these characters. However, I think it does an acceptable job with the villains. One of the reasons the movie is interesting is that the plot is complex enough where you are constantly trying to figure out who the villains are until it is finally revealed to you. As such, the lack of development of Viper as a femme fatale and Silver Sumarai fits in with the structure of the movie. As Viper and Silver Samurai are not mainstream Marvel villains, I am willing to live with the decision.
While The Wolverine is an action movie, I do not remember most of the action scenes. It did have one great concept when Logan is fighting the Yakuza on the roof of a bullet train going at full speed. Nevertheless, I think it is a positive that I remember the characters rather than the action sequences. The problem with action films most of the time is that the director is so focused on filming great fight scenes and explosions that he forgets to develop characters you actually care about in the movie. The Wolverine does not have that problem. While I will not say it is a must see in the movie theaters, I definitely recommend it as it is a good movie.
Comic book fans will also drool over the post credits scene. In terms of Marvel post credit scenes, it is one of the best. I do not want to spoil too much. As such, I will just say it foreshadows a new threat in the upcoming X-Men: Days of the Future Past and features a couple of old friends.
About Pat Wong
Patrick is a contributor for Rookerville. He is an avid sports fan. Before joining Rookerville, he was part of a defunct New York Yankees message board, NYYankeefans, where he was its top poster and was inducted in its Hall of Fame for his contributions. Patrick is also a passionate fan of movies. He has enjoyed reading movie reviews over the years and is excited about the opportunity to review movies.