Wolverine, The (12/03/13)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, some sexuality and language.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto and Rila Fukushima

Directed by James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma and Walk the Line)

TODD’S WORD: Because of the other X-Men films, I walked into the theater with X-tra high expectations.

JONATHAN’S WORD: Me too. That was a mistake.

Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.

TODD’S WORD: First of all, I need to admit I never read the Chris Claremont/Frank Miller Marvel miniseries from the 1980s. Perhaps if I had, I would have been able to fully appreciate this film.

JONATHAN’S WORD: Me neither, but I don’t think it would help this script.

TODD’S WORD: That being said, let’s begin the discussion with Hugh Jackman. After all, The Wolverine marks the sixth time the actor has played the surly superhero (yes, six; don’t forget his brief but salty cameo in X-Men: First Class), a streak that’s even more impressive since most actors tap out after two or three appearances. Not to mention that Jackman hardly needs this role — his resume is pretty impressive including the big budget Real Steel and an Oscar nomination for Les Miserables. I believe he loves the character and wants to do right by it. Unfortunately, I also believe that without the rest (or at least some) of the X-Men, it’s just not cutting it. And because of this my score for this film went from “Theatre Worthy” to “Rental.”

JONATHAN’S WORD: I don’t think the rest of the X-Men could have saved this script. Jackman was great. And the film was actually interesting. It kept my attention. It was just… confusing.

Here’s the issue: are we to believe that he’s immortal, or mortal. At one moment, he can’t die. But then (SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT) some venomous girl easily poisons him and he’s vulnerable.

Really? You mean we could have just poisoned him all along and he would die?

Then he frees himself from that poison and is immortal again.

Oh wait… now he’s mortal again and getting the lift sucked out of him by some other bad guy who links up to him.

Huh?

Really?

It was just too much for me to believe. Too bad, because the film had potential.

TODD’S WORD: I’m with you. But for me, the shortfall was in the villains. Often times, the Superhero movie is judged as much by the villains as by the heroes. And this is where The Wolverine went from “Theater Worthy” to “Rental.” From the Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) to the Silver Samurai to various ninjas, the bad guys are boring and underdeveloped. And the disappointment doesn’t end here; the late Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) appears in Logan’s dreams to offer him life lectures…like a boring nightmare that I can’t wake up from. These scenes really slow down the film, and it seems rather pointless to include her character at all.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I think it was just an excuse to show Janssen in a nighty. Let’s be honest, this film was trying so hard to be good that it kept pulling from the low hanging fruit of eye candy.

TODD’S WORD: For me, the redeeming moments were really in two scenes, one being the opening scene with Logan saving Yashida’s life during the bombing of Hiroshima and the battle on the bullet train. These two scenes show us the dichotomy of who Wolverine is. In the opening scene we see his compassion, honor and sacrifice. And during the fight scene on the bullet train, we see his intensity, strength and viciousness.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I agree, those were entertaining, which is why I’d give it a score of “only if it’s free.” I also enjoyed the first kidnapping scene with the Japanese Legalos shooting Yakuza left and right. But even that scene was laugh out loud ridiculous. Did no one see the Ninja on the roof? Guards are everywhere and a man dressed in all black is on a light colored roof in broad daylight.

This film required us to check out brain at the door… and I just can’t do that.

TODD’S WORD: Although this wasn’t my favorite superhero film, I’m still giving it a “Rental.” That being said, the Wolverine is still one of my favorite characters and I can’t wait to see the upcoming X-Men film. Speaking of which, make sure you stay in your seat to see the post credit scene with Wolverine and two very familiar faces.

JONATHAN’S WORD: You’re being too nice. This film is a coaster plain and simple, but I actually enjoyed it a little… so I’m being gracious giving it a score of “only if it’s free.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This film is extremely violent because so much of the action is hand-to-hand combat. Between Wolverine’s claws and the ninja’s swords, we see a lot of death and carnage. There is also at least 1 F-word, 1 cut off F-word, 4 uses of the S-word, and about a dozen other mild profanities.

Add to that several scenes of eye candy, including a scene where two girls in their underwear seduce a man who strips to his underwear.

CONVERSATION STARTER
According to Hugh Jackman, a major theme in the film is Wolverine being surrounded by death while being unable to die due to his healing factor. He recently said, “He realizes everyone he loves dies, and his whole life is full of pain. So it’s better that he just escapes. He can’t die really. He just wants to get away from everything.”

Unfortunately, we’re not immortal. In fact, James 4:14 says, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”

According to this verse our lives are very short and not only should we live our lives with purpose, but we should also prepare for the afterlife.

1. So what are you doing to really live your life?


2. How have you prepared for eternity?