I really wanted to love “The Wolverine”. Seriously, I really did. But, I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Yes, Hugh Jackman is back as Logan aka The Wolverine — and that “The” is apparently important as this movie, Jackman’s sixth in the role, is supposed to be THE definitive take on the character. After four “X-Men” movies and his first solo outing, “Orgins: Wolverine”, Jackman is back and  in Japan this time. Set years after “X3”, Logan finds himself alone and running from his heroic past.

For the most part it’s an interesting character study, mainly because Jackman owns the role. Director James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line) definitely gets the character and does his best to deliver a Wolverine that fans of the comics can truly appreciate.

Where he fails is in the supporting characters. None of them, except for a future seeing mutant named Yukio (Rila Fukushima) are interesting at all. Then there are the villains. They are easily the worst comic book villains in recent memory.

The action is pretty awesome, although not as messy as you’d think it would be considering Wolverine is slashing and slicing with ademantium claws. Overall, the film is better than “X3” and a significant improvement over the last Wolverine solo flick but it still feels like it’s just another piece of the messy puzzle that has become Fox’s super hero franchise.

Continue reading my full movie review of The Wolverine at Examiner.com

Release date: July 26, 2013

Directed by: James Mangold

Written by: Mark Bomback, Scott Frank, and Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee, Hal Yamanouchi, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, and Hiroyuki Sanada

The theatrical trailer for The Wolverine

Photo and trailer are property of 20th Century Fox