The Wolverine focuses on Logan's adventures in Japan. He is asked to visit an incredibly successful Japanese businessman whom he saved from the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during WWII. The man is on his deathbed and he informs Logan that he can take his healing ability. This would allow the old man to live and Logan to finally be able to lead a normal life. When he refuses and the old man dies, the old man's sexy nurse steals Logan's powers anyway, and Logan must save the old man's daughter from conspiring relatives, the Yakuza, and lots of ninjas without the benefit of instant healing.
Hugh Jackman is still great as Wolverine. But it's Rila Fukushima as Yukio who is the real standout of the movie. Not only does she have a very unique look, but she nails the myriad emotions her character is called upon to experience. Maybe it is because she is the only character who has more than one emotional state that allows her to actually act, but she definitely comes across as the great actor of the cast.
There's some excellent action sequences that are separated by long tracts of character building. This gives the action greater weight. The bullet train sequence is the best of the bunch and one of the most memorable action scenes I've seen all year.
The Wolverine does have some tonal issues especially in that last 20 minutes. Once Logan enters the techno-pagoda and fights a giant robot, the movie seems to go a bit off the rails. I'm a fan of schlock, camp, and cheese, so I don't hate the ridiculousness of that final showdown. It just doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the film.
I wish I had more to say about The Wolverine. It's a rock solid Hollywood blockbuster and one of the best films of summer 2013. Do not miss this one (but let's all agree to pretend that X-Men Origins: Wolverine never happened).
7.5 out of 10
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