Movie review of The Wolverine

Watched the movie The Wolverine last night.  It focuses on Wolverine, of X-Men fame, spending time in Japan -- was darned good until the last 20 minutes or so.  And then it became "okay".

This review -- not that anyone reads them! -- has partial spoilers.


The movie was based on a Marvel mini-series (either four issues or six issues, I forget) from the '80s or '90s:  I have it, but I haven't read it for a decade and a half, probably longer.  On the whole it kept fairly faithful to its origins -- and in the DVD "extras", the producer (or director?) stated that he wasn't intending to do a literal rendition, but rather evoke the underlying themes.  Fair enough.  But.

From a comic book fan point of view:  the last twenty minutes screwed up The Silver Samurai.  It's supposed to be a mutant who has the ability to make a regular samurai sword glow and cut through things; instead, it was a giant suit of armor (like the "bad guy" armor in the first Iron Man movie), with special glowing sword.  Also, the character The Viper was changed from the comic books, including making her an amazing fighter to rival Yukio.  (Yukio was changed a little from the comic -- but to a forgiveable degree.)

From a movie-goer's point of view:  the old rich guy was eternally grateful for Logan (Wolverine) saving his life during World War II -- but then at the end of the movie was willing to kill him (or at least, to steal his mutant healing abilities against his will):  that was a complete change of character.  Also:  some mechanical device that was implanted on the side of Logan's heart was enough to sap his healing abilities?  The mechanics of that doesn't even make sense!  Some sort of poison, maybe; but not a mechanical "suppressor"; and, why on his heart?  Stupid.


Over all, it was a pretty decent movie -- despite the final 20 minutes.  The first three-quarters or so were solid and engaging.

Worth watching if you're at all into super heroes, or just want a decent popcorn flick.  It contains comic-book style violence (of course), and a few swears.  No obvious sex, nor any nudity (although you get to see Hugh Jackman splashing around in a Japanese bath -- but they don't "show" anything).

Borrowed the DVD from my sister-in-law; no plans to own it, or even re-watch it.  But -- again -- worth seeing once.


--GG