The Wolverine

...The Wolverine was released this past Tuesday and having missed it in the theater over the summer, I did the unusual and made the purchase sight unseen. Generally speaking, it will not be often that I use this space to review any specific films or albums. In this instance, I chose to do so with this film not only because of my feelings on the X-Men franchise, but the X-Men universe as a whole. From the comics to the character detail, the X-Men are akin to the Star Trek universe in terms of what can be done.

In short, The Wolverine is ultimately another entry in the growing library of X-films. What I mean is that when taken as a complete tale, it abides by the comic book structure of being other-worldly. The final battle is between Wolverine and Silver Samurai. In the essence of the franchise, nothing about this seems amiss. However, in the essence of this particular film by itself, it felt off despite it being in line with the story that it was loosely adapting.

The beginning of the film finds Logan living in the woods, looking very much like Viggo Mortensen's character from The Road. He is having recurring nightmares about Jean Grey and as a result, choosing to live a solitary existence like the wild animal which he views himself as being. Immediately, the tone of this entry into X-Men franchise looks to be attempting something off kilter and it works well. Rather than just another X-film, this feels more like a character study that plans to examine the guts of Logan as a complex being. The gamble, if you can call it that, pays off.

As The Wolverine moves to the East, specifically Japan, the story takes on a different shape. Set in modern day Japan, there are nods to films like The Last Samurai in how it calls out literal aspects of the culture surrounding the story. Little things such as the placement of chopsticks during a meal indicate the storyteller wanting to view this iconic character in a very grounded setting to see how he reacts. As one might expect, Logan is as unvarnished as ever, playing the fish-out-of-water on a dime. The moments like this, and there are many, add new depth to the story.

Adding further emotional weight to The Wolverine is the budding relationship between Logan and Mariko Yashia. In the beginning, Logan is reluctantly thrust into becoming her protector. Given his natural disposition, one can ascertain that he is not thrilled with the task. Moving through the film and adding the layers between them, the viewer comes to learn the reasons why Logan actively tries to avoid humanity. His anger and dark outlook is born from the pain of having everything and everyone he has ever loved be taken from him. When you consider that for a moment, that can be powerful emotional baggage to live with.

So, as the the final act unfolds, we find Logan essentially making his way to the tower to save the princess. As he has attempted to avoid, it becomes evident that he has developed love for Mariko. Up to this point, The Wolverine is succeeding in its course to break new ground in the genre. The tone is darker in the same manner of the Nolan trilogy. It intertwines the comic book universe with stark reality that will go very far into adding longevity into both the franchise and genre as a whole.

So, for me, despite his/its inclusion in the X-Men universe, the final battle with the Silver Samurai feels like a strange add-on rather than a fluid climax. In a normal X-Men film, this battle would have made perfect sense. Even in the context of the dual on its own, it was enjoyable to watch. In The Wolverine, it felt as if it came from a different film. It is possible that another viewer may feel as if I am attaching more gravitas to The Wolverine than might feel warranted. As the comic book film genre continues to plow forward, there will remain those that will never allow the genre to grow from its origins in their own minds. At one time, I would have agreed with such a sentiment. However, the potential for the genre is limitless and I recognize it.

The Wolverine is a film that explores this potential at many points throughout prior to the final showdown. It almost felt as if the film was winding down shooting and someone panicked, feeling that the ending needed to go big before it severed its appeal with the core audience. On one hand, its a shame because as much as I enjoy an epic superhero battle, I also appreciate a director placing his or her own stamp on a known universe. On the other, The Wolverine feels like a strong glimpse into a bright future for the genre. As a whole, it is a brave step forward in the expansion of the comic book film. While not pitch perfect on either side, The Wolverine is an intriguing milestone for the superhero on celluloid.