Re-Origins

Once again a ridiculous movie scheduling in Japan where a film set in Japan opened later in Japan than anywhere in the world*. The Wolverine is the sequel to the prequel of the original trilogy which is actually a sequel to the original X-Men trilogy. In other words, a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine but actually a sequel to X-Men The Last Stand. It stars as usual Hugh Jackman but with more unknown actors who are mostly Japanese. Besides Hiroyuki Sanada, I have never heard of the other Japanese actors before. The film is directed by James Mangold who made Knight and Day.

The story starts when USA bombed Nagasaki during WW2, Logan/Wolverine saved Yashida, a Japanese commander from the atomic bomb. Many years later, Yashida searched for Logan to say thank you and stuff. So, the physically wounded Logan who have nightmare after killing Jean Grey in The Last Stand, goes to Japan. There he actually faces danger and this time he's alone without the help of the X-Men.

While The Wolverine is definitely an improvement from X-Men Origins, it does not improve much. It shows that a solo Wolverine film isn't as compelling as the full mutant gang. The story is quite nice, but not in the scale of an expected superhero film, especially a big summer release too. But Hugh Jackman is always awesome as Wolverine. Apart from Viper and Wolverine, the film lacks mutants to make it more 'superhero'. It's just like a normal film, nothing special. Also, being in Japan makes me have a different perspective on the film. Yashida, the soldier who's rescued by Wolverine, isn't worth the rescue. Sure, he saved all the POWs but he didn't honor the bushido code, all that suicide shit y'know. In simpler words: he's a fucking chicken. And also the Hollywood bullshit ensues, Yukio drives all the way from Tokyo to Nagasaki and back in one day. WHAT THE FUCK.

Anyway, let's get to the good parts. The action is cool and quite crazy. Marco Beltrami did a great job scoring the film, it is definitely one of the high points of the film. It's kind of pleasing to have Famke Janssen as Jean Grey back although it's more like a cameo role despite her top-billing. Hiroyuki Sanada is appearing in many films lately, this year he still has 47 Ronin and the great-looking The Railway Man with Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman. Tao Okamoto is definitely the best Japanese girl I've seen, although her acting still needs brushing. And the post-credits scene is jaw-dropping, shoe-stopping amazing. Psyched and pumped for X-Men: Days of Future Past next year! It's on the top of my 2014 summer films. And please tell me, if I missed the Stan Lee cameo because I didn't see him at all in the film. The Wolverine: rated 3/4.

*Japan's scheduling, for once, is for a reason. If they released the film in July it would be too close to the atomic bomb memorial in early August.

Later today, summer re-cap
Next week: Neil Blomkamp's Elysium.