Film review: The Wolverine (7 out of 10)

What with the X-Men films (including one brief cameo) and the Wolverine spin-offs, the Marvel comic character has been a good friend to Jackman.

Thankfully this is much better than the last outing in 2009 which looked at how Logan gained his Adamantium skeleton and dramatic knuckle-dusters.

This time it’s based on a much stronger story from the comic series with a greater emphasis on the characters rather than two hours or more of CGI punch-ups.

The plot starts with Logan at the end of the second world war in Nagasaki, just before the nuclear bomb drops, saving the life of a young Japanese soldier, Yashida.

We then speed to present day when Yashida is now a powerful company owner who is dying but wants to thank Logan for his actions all those years ago.

However, thrown into the pot is Yashida’s grand-dauhter Mariko (Tao Okamoto) who is chased by various unpleasant characters.

There’s also a mysterious doctor (played by Svetlana Khodchenkova) who is not quite what she seems.

The tender moments between Logan and Mariko are a pleasant diversion but there’s plenty of action as well to keep everyone happy.

One particular fight scene on top of a speeding bullet train is brilliantly done.

As it’s based in Japan there are the seemingly inevitable samurai sword fights but these are done with due reverance to the culture.

Overall, this is a decent enough addition to the overall X-Men series with some humour, action and decent characters.

Don’t be too keen to rush away as soon as the credits roll as there’s a decent extra scene for the next X-Men movie (Days of Future Past)

Film details: The Wolverine (12A) 126mins

Director: James Mangold

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rita Fukushima

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley

Steve Payne