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The winning streak snowballs with the retelling of Logan's journey as the Adamantium animal, Wolverine. It's one to praise this franchise for its overall excellent filmmaking jobs. It's another to credit the makers for not having a beam of ignorance, by acknowledging other continents & parts of the world.
Opening with the Hiroshima-Nagasaki atomic bombing, you taste a pinch of Logan's past. He heals in the well after an absolute abomination, and oh boy is it spectacular! Cutting back to the present, we see what's happening exactly right now. Taking place after the events of The Last Stand, this good basic premise deals with Wolverine's long-ago acquaintance.
One of the biggest pluses in this film is the setting. Tokyo, Japan. It sets off an eerie, mystical, oddly intriguing, pacifying, mysterious & traditional suspense in the air. Marco Beltrami's soundtrack is a pillar. The tone is rich, but sometimes during the chase & stunt sections, the camera gets shaky. You'll love how Ross Emery highlights the random entry of a bear in the woods.
Speaking of the titular persona, this guy is everything! You learn more about him in this film. He is easy to lure & has a soft spot despite of who he claims himself is. Hugh Jackman convinces once again as the beefy, hunky & broad-shouldered beast! Although he is amazing in the foot-stomping bullet train action sequence, we get to experience another unseen facet of him. Vulnerability. How would Wolverine be like if he no longer cures as fast as he could before?
Your heart would break once Wolverine loses his metal claws in an incredible climax with Ichirō Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi) drilling out the healing sap! The reverse aging of both these characters at the time is mind-blowing. Retrieving the suppressant bug from heart, confronting powerful villains at the climax, withstanding ensemble of arrows on the back & pushing Noburo Mori (Brian Tee) from the window are great scenes! Silver Samurai & motion-sensor positioning bed, awesome tech is awesome!
However, the involvement of Logan in this story feels too convenient. He is an invited guest. There are no reasons as to why he should agree on shaving his hair & stuff prior to meeting the dying head of Yashida Industries. Similarly, nothing convinces us that he should stick around to solve Mariko's problems instead of walking away. Speaking of Mariko (Tao Okamoto), she is a weak character. The blossoming relationship between her and Logan feels even dullsville. But, there's one dinner table scene to watch out for, that subtly yet vividly shows the difference between two cultures through mild nuances.
The character Harada (Will Yun Lee) is unneeded. Trippy dream visions don't work. Anytime & every time, things will be referenced to 'grandfather story' to a point where it became too mechanical & annoying. How many times are we supposed to hear the same freaking thing?
Politics surrounding the Yakuza & Black Clan are so discombobulated! Audiences are left clueless without a clear idea of which is which! What are their motivations? Who are they working for? The whole agenda circumference of murdering Mariko by her dad or granddad isn't buyable either.