Hugh Jackman is RIPPED y’all!  Okay, now that I’ve stated the obvious, is this second foray into Wolverine’s story worth the trip to the multiplex when there’s so many other superhero flicks out/slated for this year?  Sure, you could just look at IMDb and say “James Mangold directed?  He did Walk The Line!”  You could go with that, but remember; he also did Kate & Leopold.  *shudder*  I’m here with more intel; The Wolverine is definitely worth skipping Pacific Rim for another week…for.  In other words, it’s an artfully shot bit of cinematic beauty that manages to tell an epic story (epic in the Hollywood sense; this is definitely a Hero’s Journey flick) where the action comes fast and frequent, and the title character is crafted well enough that you want to know more about him, and root for his success.  Of course Jackman’s biceps don’t hurt that cause any.

The Wolverine starts us out with poor Logan’s nightmares, and as this story begins shortly after the occurrences in X-Men: The Last Stand, he’s got a lot of scary rattling around in his brain.  Still reeling from killing the love of his life, Jean Grey, he’s also replaying other dark times in his past.  Like the time he was in Nagasaki during WWII, when the Allied Forces dropped THE bomb.  Logan manages to survive, and saves Yashida, a young Japanese Army soldier (Ken Yamamura) that was too scared to commit seppuku with the rest of his bretheren.  Flash forward to the present day and Yashida (now played by Hal Yamanouchi) is dying, and wants to see Logan to say goodbye.  As Logan is very busy beating himself up emotionally, it takes quite a bit of persuading (and a good deal of emotional blackmail) by Yashida’s emmisary Yukio (Rila Fukushima, a funny and badass scene stealer whenever she’s onscreen).

But at last Logan heads to Japan.  However, we all know it’s not gonna be a simple goodbye, right?  Right.  Logan gets himself into trouble with the Yakuza, who want to kidnap Yashida’s granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamoto), as well as a mutant with some truly killer powers.  That’d be Viper, played by Svetlana Khodchenckova (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), and she’s a nasty piece of work, though she works a latex bodysuit like nobody’s business.  Yeah, there’s a ton of stuff going on in The Wolverine, and it all fits together by the time the credits roll.  But this ain’t the kind of superhero movie where you can just let the action wash over you; in order to reap the maximum benefit, you’ve gotta pay attention.  The stories are twisty, turny affairs that make you work for your ah-ha moments.  Are most of those moments ones you can spot easily if you’re paying attention?  Absolutely.  But dang if Mangold doesn’t make it a fun trip.

What I love best about The Wolverine is that in this film Logan is allowed to be the grumpypuss comic book fans know and love.  He’s unpleasant, solitary, and at the beginning of the film, downright pissy.  Jackman IS Logan, so deeply does he submerge himself in this role.  Okamoto, as Lady In Peril/Love Interest, aquits herself well, but it’s Fukushima that I couldn’t wait to see onscreen.  This film has been called a “stand-alone tale”, but I’m really hoping to see more of Yukio.  Hear that, Bryan Singer?  Get this girl a part — however brief — in X-Men: Days of Future Past.  Please.

I want to say a special Thank You to production designer François Audouy, whose work on this film is absolutely perfect.  And I’m not just saying that because he designed Yashida’s house, which I’m currently in love with, from the amazing landscaping of the front yard to the in-house dojo.  Audouy, whose work on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Watchmen blew me away, runs the gamut of designs here, from the snow-covered mountans of Alaska to the beautiful gardens of Japan and the cyberpunk gleam of 21st Century tech masterminds.  Another thank you goes to the folks that went above and beyond in the fight choreography and stunt department.  The action is non-stop, and it’s a heckuva fun bit of whupass every time things get brutal onscreen.

My only problem with The Wolverine is the mutant villain.  (SPOILER ALERT Y’ALL.)  Viper/Madame Hydra is friggin’ fascinating.  She’s immune to all toxins…”including the human toxin”?  Oh what I wouldn’t have given to have seen more backstory on her character.  Is she really unable to feel, or was she just messing with Logan?  Why is she all about the Benjamins, morality bedamned?  There’s definitely a cool story here, but in The Wolverine she’s nothing more than a Big Bad.  She’s Mr. Burns evil; in fact I expected her to rub her hands together in wicked glee on several occasions.  Pity.  (END SPOILER, FYI AND ALL THAT.)

The Wolverine is Logan’s soul journey, one that takes him from the complete and utter anguish of killing Jean to moving into a world where he has to live (and live, and live) with himself.  It’s a great start.  Oh, did I say start?  A’yup.  Remember, this is a Marvel film people.  There’s gonna be an end-credits scene, and for fans it’s a doozy.  Here’s a hint: Trask Industries.  Hope that’ll tide you over ‘til X-Men: Days of Future Past….