The Wolverine (Mangold, 2013)

Finally: The Wolverine story comic fans have waited to see. Logan's adventure in modern-day Japan is a very popular story, and the loyal X-Men followers have patiently waited to see it on the big screen for over a decade.

After the disappointing X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), The Wolverine is a welcome return to the famous X-Man. Benefitting from a strong performance by Hugh Jackman, the film will delight both hardcore franchise fans and newcomers alike. The Wolverine is one of the few members of the X-Men capable of standing alone in his own film, and this movie remarkably proves that point.

Set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, The Wolverine sees Logan having to deal with the haunting memory of a former lover (whose cameo is cool at first, but repetitive as the film progresses), and has frequent flashbacks to his troubled past. But almost out of the blue, he meets a mysterious Japanese warrior (Rila Fukushima), who informs him that her master wants to say goodbye to the Wolverine that saved his life so many years ago. Logan reluctantly follows her to Japan, and discovers a shocking truth in the country he has not seen since World War II. The Wolverine must now make a fateful choice that could drastically affect his future forever.

The Wolverine is Hugh Jackman's vehicle; it easily remains the actor's best performance in the role that made him a household name since 2003's X2: X-Men United. James Mangold proves a better director than Origin's Gavin Hood, and captures the essence of the comic book story by maintaining the titular character's personality as well as the beautiful locales of Japan.

The villains are pretty pathetic, and normally would not stand a chance against Wolverine. The screenwriters, although they did a fair job otherwise, should have chose better bad guys to at least make the cockamamie villainous plot seem somewhat threatening. Nevertheless, there are several genuine thrills to experience in the picture.

As an action movie, there's enough mutant battles and samurai fights to keep audiences interested. The stunt work is incredible and (almost) believable. However, the drama portions are also well done, thanks in part to the committed performances. The Wolverine does not rely on CGI to craft a well-integrated story, which is a nice change of pace from the normal superhero fare.

There's plenty for comic fans to chew on, but those new to X-Men can still find enjoyment from this solid action flick. I would recommend reviewing X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), but this is a story that rightfully depends on Hugh Jackman and the viewer's appreciation for Wolverine. Thankfully, it succeeds on both these levels.

Four out of five stars.