**Spoilers Ahead**
The film opens with us in Japan. We see a military camp of some sort, and many people are frantically searching for safety. Soldiers are guiding the people, and we are following the perspective of one particular soldier. We quickly learn it is WWII, and the nuclear bombs are on their way. Wolverine watches this event from a nearby metal bunker. As the bomb drawers near, each soldier decides to commit suicide in an effort to avoid the inevitable doom that is coming. The soldier we were following not too long ago, cannot bring himself to accept this fate and waits while the bomb goes off. Still debating what to do as the blast comes closer and closer, Wolverine takes the soldier to the bunker and protects him from the oncoming aftermath. The soldier sustains minimal injuries while Wolverine is nearly gone. However, knowing his power, we unsurprisingly watch him revive and get back to normal. The soldier is shocked yet grateful for what just happened. And then the film moves on to present day.
Wolverine is struggling with inner demons all throughout the film. These demons mainly involve the events of X-Men: The Last Stand when Jean died. He consistently dreams of her and while some of them are nice dreams, some of them turn into nightmares. The film captures this grief quite well and I thoroughly enjoyed Hugh's performance in this light. However, I couldn't help but think, "Inception spin-off much?"
A young Japanese girl visits Wolverine and convinces him to travel to Japan. The soldier he saved many years ago is dying and wants to say goodbye. This is not the case. The soldier wants Wolverine to transfer his power over to him in an effort to keep him from dying. Wolverine deems this impossible, but the soldier's doctor believes otherwise with the technology they have been using (thanks to the soldier's company). Should this be successful, Wolverine would become non-mutant and above all....mortal.
The doctor makes Wolverine mortal in the middle of the night after he declines the offer. We learn that this doctor is no good and is the villain of the film. However, my challenge with her is that her motives were never explained. Who is she? Where did she come from? What is her purpose? And I couldn't help but think of her as a twisted version of Poison Ivy from Batman with all the green outfits and toxins she uses in her seductive ways in killing people.
Another challenge I have is with the other side story that develops after the soldier dies. The son of the soldier is losing his mind because he cannot accept the fact that his daughter is the one that will inherit her grandfather's company. He even tries to have her killed at some point, which is the same plan the doctor has as well. So my question is...is this a side story? Are they working together? Do they have different reasons for wanting her dead?
Just when I think my questions might be answered, I meet another young man who was once close to the granddaughter Wolverine is so desperately trying to protect now. Is he bad? Is he good? Whose side is he on? We see this man fight Wolverine, then the granddaughter, than the doctor, than save the granddaughter. I had no idea whose side he was on at all. Very confusing.
The main plot twist is that the soldier never died and faked his death with the doctor's aid. Ok...so they're working together. The soldier fights Wolverine in a metallic suit he made that will help him stay immortal and strong. Obviously, he loses that fight as does the doctor.
My main concern with the film was that there was so much happening at once. The actors spoke with thick Japanese accents, making it hard to understand what they were trying to say. I felt as if I might have missed key plot details due to this annunciation challenge. I could sense the director was trying to capture an emotional connection between Wolverine and the surrounding characters. This did not work for me. The middle portion of the film went quite slow and I felt the objective was not achieved. I did not feel that connection with any of the characters, except Wolverine with what he was dealing with on his own.
My honest opinion is that this was a half-fast produced film and it lacked major attention to detail with plot and human chemistry. I don't recommend seeing this movie unless it's on TV someday and you just happen to come across it.
My rating: C
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