I have seen Wolverine naked.
I have seen THE WOLVERINE (hence shall the movie be called). I have many thoughts. I will share them with you now, mostly because my friend John e-mailed me after he saw it. So, blame him.
1) Not all comic book movies will be The Dark Knight. I don’t want every comic book movie to be The Dark Knight. Much in the same way that the comic book form of The Watchmen remains literature to me, I want The Dark Knight to be the pinnacle of comic book movies, never the common place.
2) I do not want to see comparisons to Iron Man, though I am sure there is. I’ve read somewhere that THE WOLVERINE wasn't as good as THE IRON MAN, but I believe that to be an unfair comparison. Because the three X-Men movies were made, THE WOLVERINE had to tie into the movies. Movies do not have an Ultimate or Elseworld line, only "relaunching the franchise." And since it hasn't been so long since the last X-Men was on the big screen, THE WOLVERINE was forced into an establish Universe and follow the established Universe's timeline. Unlike THE IRON MAN who had a blank slate to work from, THE WOLVERINE was required from the get-go to make the two ends meet.
3) I find that most comic book fans usually fall into two schools (not all comic book fans do): Golden/Silver Aged or Post-Modern Aged. The Golden/Silver Aged fans tend to believe in the ultimate good and evil and the line that is drawn between. The hero always saves the day and the bad guy is always defeated. The Post-Modern Aged fans tend to see the world in grays. The hero does the right thing, but it isn’t necessarily the good thing to do. Villains can be used as a means to an end and evil sometimes triumphs.
Now, when trying to make a movie, you want to pull in a much of a fanbase as you can. You sprinkle you movie with both beliefs in hopes of making as much money as you can. Wolverine is vicious for the adult fans, but the distinct lack of blood makes it okay for kids to watch. While the true villain cannot die (as he shows up later in the timeline in a movie already released), the villain's plans are ruined and his creation died, but our hero never knows of the great act of saving mutant kind or the woman he loved.
THE WOLVERINE succeeds as a movie. I enjoyed it. Easily, I entered the story and was only thrown out twice (Emma’s diamond effect and the creepy young Xavier because the special effects to de-age the actor just look creepy). It is a linear story, like most comic book stories are. It has some very typical comic book clichés. The special effects were wonderful. The action was breath-taking. I liked Logan's story and following him along it. I don’t regret giving the time or movie over to the movie.
1) Not all comic book movies will be The Dark Knight. I don’t want every comic book movie to be The Dark Knight. Much in the same way that the comic book form of The Watchmen remains literature to me, I want The Dark Knight to be the pinnacle of comic book movies, never the common place.
2) I do not want to see comparisons to Iron Man, though I am sure there is. I’ve read somewhere that THE WOLVERINE wasn't as good as THE IRON MAN, but I believe that to be an unfair comparison. Because the three X-Men movies were made, THE WOLVERINE had to tie into the movies. Movies do not have an Ultimate or Elseworld line, only "relaunching the franchise." And since it hasn't been so long since the last X-Men was on the big screen, THE WOLVERINE was forced into an establish Universe and follow the established Universe's timeline. Unlike THE IRON MAN who had a blank slate to work from, THE WOLVERINE was required from the get-go to make the two ends meet.
3) I find that most comic book fans usually fall into two schools (not all comic book fans do): Golden/Silver Aged or Post-Modern Aged. The Golden/Silver Aged fans tend to believe in the ultimate good and evil and the line that is drawn between. The hero always saves the day and the bad guy is always defeated. The Post-Modern Aged fans tend to see the world in grays. The hero does the right thing, but it isn’t necessarily the good thing to do. Villains can be used as a means to an end and evil sometimes triumphs.
Now, when trying to make a movie, you want to pull in a much of a fanbase as you can. You sprinkle you movie with both beliefs in hopes of making as much money as you can. Wolverine is vicious for the adult fans, but the distinct lack of blood makes it okay for kids to watch. While the true villain cannot die (as he shows up later in the timeline in a movie already released), the villain's plans are ruined and his creation died, but our hero never knows of the great act of saving mutant kind or the woman he loved.
THE WOLVERINE succeeds as a movie. I enjoyed it. Easily, I entered the story and was only thrown out twice (Emma’s diamond effect and the creepy young Xavier because the special effects to de-age the actor just look creepy). It is a linear story, like most comic book stories are. It has some very typical comic book clichés. The special effects were wonderful. The action was breath-taking. I liked Logan's story and following him along it. I don’t regret giving the time or movie over to the movie.