The X-MEN series is my second most favorite superhero (if Mutants can be called that) series (after BATMAN off course), and WOLVERINE is the most charismatic personality of the whole pack. So, it was but natural to have huge expectations from this movie. The plot seemed interesting and the setting at TOKYO held a lot of promise. But sadly the movie leaves a bad taste in the mouth and frustration in the heart.
Logan, aka Wolverine, heads to Japan with a mysterious redhead, Yukio, on the urging of her boss, Yashida, whom Wolverine had rescued from a nuclear bomb during World War II. Now a rich business magnate on his death bed, Yashida offers Wolverine the opportunity to trade his immortality with him, so that our tormented protagonist can find the death he craves. Nice plot, but the execution fails miserably. Rather than a exploring the questions of mortality which is posed in front of Logan, the film follows the love story between Logan and Yashida's granddaughter Mariko, whom he must protect from an ASSORTMENT of villains. I mean it when I say the word assortment here. It seems the whole of Tokyo wants her dead for some reason or the other. No points for guessing if our hero succeeds in saving the princess.
The least I expected out of this movie was some decent action sequences and martial arts. But I was disappointed here as well. None of the action sequences catches your attention. The hyped sequence on top of a bullet train seems like a cheap videogame scene. The Ninjas jump around without any purpose and even the gigantic robotic Samurai fails to deliver. At one point we come to know that Mariko was the champion with knives during her younger days. This left me convinced that there would be a action packed knife fight at some point, but it never came.The only saving grace was the character of Yukio (Rila Fukushima), who excelled in her part both in comic timing and in her fight scenes.
Hugh Jackman as the protagonist does not do anything special as far as acting is concerned and same can be said about Tao Okamoto as Mariko. Its a drag and sort of boring after a while.A special mention must be made of our villain by the name of Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova). She must be the weakest villain I have ever seen in any movie . The whole point of her doing what she did was absolutely pointless.
Overall, the sixth installment in the X-MEN series left a lot to be desired and by the end of its runtime of around 2 hours, it seemed too long and unbearable. They are called X-MEN for a reason. The seem interesting as a unit hunting down the evil force of Magneto. The makers must take a lesson from this and stop making further WOLVERINE movies.
WORTHY MENTIONS
Watch out for a scene in which Wolverine is pinned down by a horde of archers is obviously inspired by a somewhat similar scene in Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood .
Wait for the credits to roll and don't leave the theater before that. You will be surprised
MY VERDICT
**1/2 - Too bland
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