In this adventure, “the” Wolverine – the film is conveniently titled so as to dispel any confusion as to which Wolverine is meant (sorry, Red Dawn fans) – travels to Japan at the invitation of a moribund Japanese magnate (Hal Yamanouchi) who hopes to persuade the hero to exchange his odd and problematic mutant longevity for the old gentleman’s imminent mortality through a transfusion.
The plot becomes much more convoluted than this synopsis suggests, but furnishes ample opportunity for leading man Hugh Jackman to spring into action, with sexy villainous Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova) a more than adequate adversary. Standout action set pieces include a desperate skirmish atop a rocketing bullet train; Wolverine performing emergency heart surgery on himself as a ninja duel rages in the operating room; and a climactic confrontation with a giant adamantium-plated mecha-samurai that hides a surprise plot twist inside.
4 of 5 possible stars. Ideological Content Analysis indicates that The Wolverine is:
6. Anti-state. A government minister is corrupt in both his private and public doings.
5. Animal rights militant. The Wolverine puts a wounded bear out of its misery, then avenges it when he meets its tormentor in a tavern.
4. Anti-slut. Viper, whose kiss can lay men low, serves as a walking, talking V.D. scare film.
3. Anti-capitalistic. The Japanese corporate world is cutthroat. Viper identifies herself as a capitalist.
2. Antiwar. The viewer witnesses the destruction of Nagasaki.
1. Pro-miscegenation. The Wolverine has the yellow fever.
