I am The Wolverine!
Hugh Jackman as the comic book character Wolverine is hands down or shall I say blades down the best of the best in this category. He’s got it– don’t even try to take this character away from him. First and foremost ‘the body,’ he looks like he’s been in the gym 24-7 since the first film in 2000. The big hair, bushy eyebrows and mutton chopped beard give him the perfect man–wolf look. Lastly, those 3 blades of steel as his claws (hands) are larger, longer, shinier and more threatening than their debut way back in “X-Men.” Make no mistake, Hugh Jackman is the Wolverine!
I have to confess that I wasn’t expecting to like this film because the trailers looked somewhat silly. To my surprise, from the beginning of the film, I was mesmerized by the back story of this wolf-man character as his on screen presence is so alluring. His character has a good soul and I believe that’s what makes him likable. It’s difficult not to take your eyes off of him as the pace of the film is so fast and the editing so tight that you dare not or you may miss something.
New characters have been added, Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed/ Sabretooth, the evil brother and nemesis. Kayla Silverfox, as Lynn Collins portrays Wolverine’s girlfriend/love interest. Ryan Reynolds is the mutant Wade Wilson (Deadpool) and Danny Huston plays William Stryker an evil military scientist focused on exposing the mutant community.
The film begins in 1845 showing our hero Logan as a young sickly boy being attended to by his father. Next, young Logan kills his biological father who had murdered Logan’s adoptive father and he flees with his brother Victor into the woods. (Don’t even ask, this story is based on a comic book!) Fast forward to the brothers early 20’s and they now serve together in many wars. Victor is clearly the evil one and shows no mercy in his killing.
Next the duo is recruited by William Stryker to serve in a special unit compiled of mutants. This ‘special unit’ is nothing more than a ‘killing unit’ and Logan has huge issues with this life-style. He quits the unit and goes off to live a normal, quieter life of peace in the Canadian Rockies with his girlfriend later to be known as the Silver Fox. Ah… this part is so nice. But, only for a few scenes as brother Sabretooth can’t stand to be alone and wants his bro by his side for all of the killing; (It’s just not as much fun without Bro alongside) –I guess?
Logan does return to Stryker and I’m not going to tell you why but he wants to become indestructible and these scenes reveal the origins of the steel-bladed Wolverine’s creation. These sequences are incredible as the Frankenstein transformation is astonishing, eye-popping cinema at its best. All I can say is WOW.–This is the ‘money shot’ scene and worth the price of admission. As I said earlier, Hugh Jackman is Wolverine, he’s earned it, lived it, paid the physical price.
As you’ve surmised by the story-line so far, the brothers do reunite and battle against evil as Sabretooth says to Wolverine rather sarcastically, “No one is allowed to kill you except me…” Yes, it’s brotherly love as these two wolf creatures go at it together and battle the ultimate mutant at the end of the film.
Be aware that the film is violent and has lots of killing and images that are not for children. One scene in particular is disturbing as an innocent elderly farm couple is shot down for no apparent reason. You’ll also find some adult language.
All in all I enjoyed ‘Wolverine’ as much if not more than the first X-Men film. This film leaves me with questions regarding the other mutants’ origins and it’s a strong possibility that we will see more films of this genre. I say ‘bring it on’!
Sarah Adamson © 2009