With gorgeous location shoots in Tokyo and other parts of Japan (and with Australia sometimes standing in), “The Wolverine” is a pleasure to look at. And as with his previous five turns as the title character (in the “X-Men” trilogy and his own origin story, plus a cameo in another prequel), Hugh Jackman continues to practically leap out of the pages of “Wolverine” comics.
Fairly low-key approach
I lost track of (or stopped caring about) the plot machinations about halfway through, but I did appreciate the fairly low-key approach to a superhero blockbuster employed by screenwriters Mark Bomback and Scott Frank. It also probably helps that director James Mangold is not a typical blockbuster helmer.
In a refreshing change of pace, the villain, Yashida, doesn’t seem to want to shape the world the way he sees fit. He simply wants to live forever, and since he suspects Logan/Wolverine — who saved his life back in World War II — hates being invincible, he devises a way to make a trade of mutual benefit.
“The Wolverine” (2013)
Director: James Mangold
Writers: Mark Bomback, Scott Frank
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Tao Okamoto
When Wolverine hems and haws over the deal, Yashida employs the more stereotypically evil Viper — who blows life-sucking kisses like an evil Rogue, and who’s apparently just in it for the cash — to make the trade against our hero’s will.
Although deliciously played by Jackman, Wolverine’s a tough nut to crack. He’s tortured by three interweaving elements: 1) That he’s pretty much invincible. 2) That he can never simply die to escape the pain from the wounds of his violent fights; he always must heal and live on. And 3) That he killed his insane lover, Jean Grey, in order to save the world.
Ultimately, he doesn’t take Yashida’s offer because — although this is never explicitly spelled out on screen — he realizes he has a pretty sweet deal. 1) His healing ability is pretty much the ultimate superhero ability. 2) He just needs to get better at not getting shot. (For example, you don’t see Batman getting shot that often, and he’s just a normal dude.) And 3) Jean brought it upon herself.
Cursed to be ageless
As another undercurrent, Logan is one of those superheroes, like Angel from the Buffyverse, who is cursed to stay the same “age,” thus dooming his hopes for a normal, long-term relationship. But since he’s so tortured and bad with relationships anyway, it’s actually perfect!
He can just keep wading through 20-something women, and he’ll always look about 30 (even though he’s — what — nearing 100?). Indeed, there are a couple potential love interests in “The Wolverine” who happen to be smokin’ hot Japanese women — Mariko, who is basically normal (although she knows a few samurai moves, like everyone in the film); and Yukio, a mutant who can see people’s future deaths.
Yukio’s superpower is pretty horrible, and also absurd because even though she says “I’m never wrong” … well, she predicts Logan’s death in “The Wolverine,” and I’ll give you three guesses as to whether she’s right.
There’s some silly final battle stuff featuring Viper and an adamantium robot, although before that there are several cool action sequences, particularly Wolverine taking on a knife-wielding samurai atop a bullet train. That alone is worth the price of admission.
In general, “The Wolverine” moves more slowly than a bullet, but that’s OK. It doesn’t try to do too much (like more overblown “X-Men” flicks, notably parts 2 and 3 of the trilogy), wisely keeping its focus on the great (albeit confused) title character while showcasing great scenery from the other side of the globe.