THE WOLVERINE - Reviews and Discussion Thread

[Trekker4747]

Titanic's frontal-boobs scene with Kate Winslet would've been R in any universe, and it would be today, but James Cameron is special and can achieve whatever rating he want,

Cameron hardly had that sort of weight back in 1997. Especially when Titanic had gone radically over budget, was backed by two competing studios and was a huge, huge gamble that no one expected to pull off what it did.

Kate's nudity didn't warrant the R rating not because of the politics of the MPAA (which are messed up) but because of the context they were shown in. They were shown in an artistic context and not for titillation. If she had shown her boobs in a sex scene the movie would have been rated R. But it was an "art" scene so they could be shown. You can even show breasts on broadcast TV in the right (though narrow) contexts. As what happens when Roots is shown on TV, an episode of the TV series "Chicago Hope" had shown the results of a woman's breast reconstruction surgery and the various incarnations of CSI have shown topless female corpses in autopsy scenes.

Never the less, the MPAA and the ratings system in America can be a bit messed up when it comes to sex and violence (the former being a taboo the latter being okay) and in showing preferences depending on the producers/director of the movie.

 

[DarthPipes]

The MPAA is screwed up big-time on swearing. The King's Speech was practically a PG-rated film but was given an R rating because of one scene where the main character drops an F-bomb constantly. They refused to look at the context of the scene and just slapped the movie with an R-rating, which was absolutely ridiculous. That was a movie you easily could have taken kids to see. It was ridiculous.

Cameron definitely didn't have the stroke back in 1997 that he does now. He had been widely ridiculed for Titanic being so overbudget. The consensus was that the film would bomb or at least not do very well when it came out.

 

[Trekker4747]

Well, the instance of the F-Word has also been an MPAA thing for quite some time. Take the great comedy movie of "Plains, Trains and Automobiles" a good, funny, movie starring Steve Martin and John Candy. It's rated R. Not because it was trying to be a twenty-first century raunchy sex comedy in the 1980s but because of one scene in the movie where Martin gives an F-Bomb laden rant at a rental-car counter.

PG-13 movies are allowed one use of the F-Word and even then if it's used in a non-sexual context.

These little "rules" are certainly odd ones but it's what it is because parents don't want their 13-year-old kids to go see a movie and have their ears melt from hearing the F-word twice.

TV has a similar oddity when comes to censorship, see an infamous bit with George Carlin talking about the problems of saying "piss" on broadcast TV. Like movies and the F-word you CAN say "piss" on TV. But you can't say it in the context of the bodily function/fluid.

 

[Zaku]

Well, the instance of the F-Word has also been an MPAA thing for quite some time.

And don't forget Bully!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_(2011_film)#MPAA_rating

 

[Relayer1]

The first two thirds of the film were comfortably in the above average/excellent category. The script, plot, casting, acting, cinematography and whatever else, were all truly top notch.

The last part of the film just fell apart after Logan was captured.

Very sad...

 

[TheMasterOfOrion]

Also stay for the post credits scene, it's got some familiar faces and sets up the next X men movie

I think I'll go see this tonight

 

[T'Baio]

I thought the movie was terrible. Other than the few scenes they took directly from the Miller/Claremont mini series, the script was incredibly weak and ham handed. The final act was Origins level embarrassing.

I just can't figure it out...one of the most beloved storylines of one of the most beloved characters in the last 30 years. In a comic book, which is practically a storyboard. What's so difficult? Why change it so much?

Why, when Wolverine is told that they want to suck out his healing ability, does Wolverine say "you can't change me, you can't change what they did to me?" Umm..."they" had nothing to do with his healing ability.

I see lots of reviews that say this is the closest we've gotten in movies to the comic book Wolverine. With the exception of the intro scene with the bear, this movie was NOTHING like the Wolverine of the Claremont/Miller mini series.

 

[Admiral2]

I just can't figure it out...one of the most beloved storylines of one of the most beloved characters in the last 30 years. In a comic book, which is practically a storyboard. What's so difficult? Why change it so much?

Ask the people who made Galactus a giant gas cloud. I'm sure they have the answer.

 

[Worfmonger]

I voted Average.

What I liked: Great fight choreography; nice character work from Jackman, Tao Okamoto, and Rila Fukushima; good pacing; nice to see some resolution with Jean, or at least Logan's internal demons manifesting as Jean.

What I didn't like: Pretty much everything else. So much stuff happening without explanation, such a cardboard cutout female villain, so many times I said to myself "Ok, why the hell is that happening?"... and the big bad at the end was spontaneously predictable and disappointing. Really, it's a testament to the three leads that they were able to elevate it from a waste of time into a pretty decent movie through acting chops and chemistry alone.

Oh, and I now have a thing for Tao Okamoto; Sweet Flying Zombie Jesus but that woman is lovely!

 

[Admiral2]

I voted Average.

What I liked: Great fight choreography; nice character work from Jackman, Tao Okamoto, and Rila Fukushima; good pacing; nice to see some resolution with Jean, or at least Logan's internal demons manifesting as Jean.

What I didn't like: Pretty much everything else. So much stuff happening without explanation, such a cardboard cutout female villain, so many times I said to myself "Ok, why the hell is that happening?"... and the big bad at the end was spontaneously predictable and disappointing. Really, it's a testament to the three leads that they were able to elevate it from a waste of time into a pretty decent movie through acting chops and chemistry alone.

Oh, and I now have a thing for Tao Okamoto; Sweet Flying Zombie Jesus but that woman is lovely!

Rila's hotter.

 

[Worfmonger]

I voted Average.

What I liked: Great fight choreography; nice character work from Jackman, Tao Okamoto, and Rila Fukushima; good pacing; nice to see some resolution with Jean, or at least Logan's internal demons manifesting as Jean.

What I didn't like: Pretty much everything else. So much stuff happening without explanation, such a cardboard cutout female villain, so many times I said to myself "Ok, why the hell is that happening?"... and the big bad at the end was spontaneously predictable and disappointing. Really, it's a testament to the three leads that they were able to elevate it from a waste of time into a pretty decent movie through acting chops and chemistry alone.

Oh, and I now have a thing for Tao Okamoto; Sweet Flying Zombie Jesus but that woman is lovely!

Rila's hotter.

Ya know, I think she's sexier, yeah, and more the type I'd go for if I met her irl. But Tao is a straight-up classic beauty, graceful and statuesque.

 

[Set Harth]

Why, when Wolverine is told that they want to suck out his healing ability, does Wolverine say "you can't change me, you can't change what they did to me?" Umm..."they" had nothing to do with his healing ability.

Yeah, in a couple places it seemed like the writers were acting as if Logan's healing was given to him along with the adamantium.
On the other hand, the method used to suppress his healing factor doesn't seem to bear that out, so who knows?

nice to see some resolution with Jean, or at least Logan's internal demons manifesting as Jean.

I hope it wasn't really Jean. When she said she was all alone, I thought, "What, isn't Scott there with you?"

 

[AvBaur]

"The Wolverine" is far more entertaining and engaging than I expected! It's downright refreshing to see a superhero movie that isn't about destroying massive cities and saving the entire planet. Especially when, while being somewhat "small-scale," the movie still has stakes that matter and characters you can relate to despite their superhuman abilities. The fight scenes are really exciting - not because they're spectacular and expertly choreographed and shot (which they are), but because you're genuinely concerned about the people in them.

 

[Pauln6]

"The Wolverine" is far more entertaining and engaging than I expected! It's downright refreshing to see a superhero movie that isn't about destroying massive cities and saving the entire planet. Especially when, while being somewhat "small-scale," the movie still has stakes that matter and characters you can relate to despite their superhuman abilities. The fight scenes are really exciting - not because they're spectacular and expertly choreographed and shot (which they are), but because you're genuinely concerned about the people in them.

Exactly. I hope they've take a leaf out of this book for the upcoming Captain America movie. You do not need massive explosions and stunts that it would only ever be possible to do with CGI to make a good hero movie.

nice to see some resolution with Jean, or at least Logan's internal demons manifesting as Jean.

I hope it wasn't really Jean. When she said she was all alone, I thought, "What, isn't Scott there with you?"

Well, if they intended to follow the comics it's entirely possible that the Phoenix in X3 was a psychic projection 'conjured' by Scott's grief and manufactured from atoms held together by her telekinesis on a molecular level, which we know she has by the number of people she 'deconstructs'.

My personal preference is that she's now in a lab occupying a comatose cloned body created by Mr Sinister and Cyclops, captured on the beach after having his mind blown by the Phoenix is right next to her Roll on X4.

 

[Set Harth]

Exactly. I hope they've take a leaf out of this book for the upcoming Captain America movie. You do not need massive explosions and stunts that it would only ever be possible to do with CGI to make a good hero movie.

The funny thing is that today's commercials for the film are still showing a massive explosion that I don't think survived the final cut.

 

[Dream]

I really liked the movie. Much better than X3 and Origins.

GOOD:
1) Hugh Jackman is great as always as Logan. I think his characters works much better in solo movies.
2) I thought the Mariko and Yukio actresses were excellent. Badass too.
3) The exotic Japanese settings were cool, especially at night.
4) Something about Wolverine's fighting felt more real compared to previous movies.
5) I loved the final fight between Logan and Silver Samurai. Don't know why some people are complaining about it.
6) Enjoyed Ghost Jean. I'm okay with this probably be the last time we see Famke Janssen's Jean character.

BAD:
1) The Viper character was terrible. She was completely out of place in this movie, and felt like something from X3 or Origins. Also she might have been called Poison Ivy with her similar powers, green outfit, and how over the top she was.
2) All the Japanese males didn't make much of an impression, they were all overshadowed by the Japanese female characters.
3) We never got to see the Wolverine vs huge group of Ninja in the trailers! It was likely cut to keep the PG-13 rating.

AWESOME:
The post credits scene! Wow, it made up for all the flaws of the movie. Glad I wasn't spoiled or ruined it for myself by watching it online.

 

[Trekker4747]

There were other women in this movie? I was solely focused on Famke Janssen.

You know at some point down the road there's going to be a "need" for an X-Men movie "reboot" and require the recasting of Wolverine and I think it's going to be as big of a problem as recasting Superman has been since Reeve. Hugh Jackman utterly owns this role and does a fantastic job at it.

 

[knine]

So maybe I missed it..... did Logan get his pre-shot in the head memories back at some point? WWII was clearly before that happened with the bone claws. But he knew where he was kept and other things. For a while I thought he might be playing along knowing it was someone he once knew, but the more the movie went, the more clear it was he had his old memories....

 

[Pauln6]

Exactly. I hope they've take a leaf out of this book for the upcoming Captain America movie. You do not need massive explosions and stunts that it would only ever be possible to do with CGI to make a good hero movie.

The funny thing is that today's commercials for the film are still showing a massive explosion that I don't think survived the final cut.

I vaguely recall one massive explosion... can't quite put my finger on it...

 

[Captaindemotion]

Why, when Wolverine is told that they want to suck out his healing ability, does Wolverine say "you can't change me, you can't change what they did to me?" Umm..."they" had nothing to do with his healing ability.

I thought he also said 'You can't change what I am.' Which would refer to his innate healing ability, as oppose to the adamantium which was grafted on. Maybe I misremember.

Anyway, I enjoyed it a lot. Not an out and out classic but I much preferred its low-key, almost Bourne/Casino Royale approach to that of Man of Steel and its 'throw the kitchen sink at the screen' route. I actually enjoyed the relative lack of other mutants in the movie, when compared to the gratuitous cameos which Origins threw in at every opportunity. This worked well alongside the more vulnerable, human Logan. Though seeing an invulnerable Logan survive a nuclear blast was also pretty impressive!

I'd agree that the weak point was the more typical superhero movie climax, and I didn't care an awful lot for Viper's Poison Ivy costume and powers. Having said that, seeing Logan have his claws cut off and so forth was quite shocking and unexpected. I also enjoyed the little-known (to me anyway) Japanese cast and thought that the female leads were engaging and strong.

Jackman totally owns the role and, as someone else said, he's going to be very difficult to replace (I'm glad we'll get to see him at least once more in DOFP and I think the guy looks good enough to do at least another film beyond that). He was in simply fantastic shape, not just for his age, but any age, and he captured Wolvie's rage and fury here better than in any other film. I liked his character growth with Jean and Mariko.

As for the ending - Wow. Good idea putting it mid-credits as oppose to the very end. A few casual fans in the showing I attended were walking out and stopped and I even heard a 'what the f*ck?' when Xavier appeared! My friend, who incidentally didn't care for the film, thought that this scene alone made going to the cinema worthwhile!