"The Wolverine" Claws Its Way Back To Top of Superhero Movies

By Luis Monteagudo, Jr.

Into this summer of high-flying superhero movies and giant-robots-vs.-giant-sea-monsters spectacles arrives, “The Wolverine,” a refreshing change of pace for the comic book crowd and, really, for any film fan.

This is not your typical big budget, special effects heavy genre blockbuster. No, this is a spaghetti western, a black-and-white samurai flick.

The special effects are limited. The battles are more personal and don’t destroy whole city blocks. And there is but one explosion, although it’s a big one.

That explosion is the atomic bomb destruction of Nagasaki during World War II and it propels the movie’s plot that finds Wolverine saving the life of a young Japanese soldier named Yashida who eventually grows up to become the head of a technology empire and whose family has been targeted by the Yazuka.

To the rescue comes Logan, the ferocious mutant known as the Wolverine, once again played by the underrated Hugh Jackman. When we find him, Wolverine resembles anything but a superhero. He’s alone and haunted by nightmares of past battles and lost loved ones. He at first refuses to help Yashida but as the Yakuza makes its move, Wolverine is forced into battle as he tries to protect Yashida’s granddaughter.

Jackman by now is comfortable with the role, and brings out both Wolverine’s ferocity, but also his pain and isolation. Director James Mangold does a superb job of mixing in the action at the right time to keep the movie going, yet never losing track of the characters and their turmoil.

Not that there isn’t action. There’s a spectacular fight scene atop a speeding bullet train and there’s Wolverine taking on legions of black-clad samurai.

But this is an old-fashioned movie for modern times. It’s a superhero film that’s less about saving the world, and more about loyalty, honor and controlling one’s own personal demons.

Jackman’s last sluggish Wolverine movie had threatened to drag down the franchise but with “The Wolverine,” he has moved the character back atop the current list of superheroes gracing the big screen.

Make sure to stick around after the end for one of the best and most-intriguing post-credit scenes in recent years. It’s a scene that will have X-Men fans giddy with excitement and beautifully sets up the evolution of Marvel’s next big movie.