7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 3.6 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
Based on the celebrated comic book arc, this epic action-adventure takes Wolverine, the most iconic character of the X-Men universe, to modern day Japan. Out of his depth in an unknown world he faces his ultimate nemesis in a life-or-death battle that will leave him forever changed. Vulnerable for the first time and pushed to his physical and emotional limits, he confronts not only lethal samurai steel but also his inner struggle against his own immortality, emerging more powerful than we have ever seen him before.
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Svetlana KhodchenkovaAction | 100% |
Adventure | 86% |
Sci-Fi | 73% |
Comic book | 65% |
Fantasy | 63% |
Martial arts | 3% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
D-Box
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
What is it with superheroes these days, anyway? One might think they wouldn't have a whole bunch to complain about, what with their superpowers and everything, and yet more and more films about our favorite good guys tend to wallow in supposedly intense psychological introspection, where moodiness has replaced any simple formulation of a valiant soul fighting for truth, justice and the American Way (or something like that). It’s notable that this latest iteration of Marvel’s Wolverine character seems to have taken a page from the recent glut of “reboots” like Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy or this year’s Nolan produced Man of Steel . And yet it’s just as notable to realize that the X-Men franchise has always trafficked in introspection more than the typical superhero outing. After all, mutants by their very definition are different (something that Man of Steel sought to exploit to varying effect). That may in fact be one reason why X-Men Origins: Wolverine met with a fair degree of withering critical response, for it seemed to divorce the character, at least in part, from his troubled psychological underpinnings, delivering instead a more or less straight ahead live action cartoon (some therefore may tend to find the disappointment many felt in this film ironic, considering that it was after all based on a comic book character). The Wolverine may have been marketed as a balls to the wall action spectacular, but it’s actually more of a character piece, albeit a character piece with an adamantium skeleton. The film plays up Wolverine’s torment over the loss of Jean Grey (from X-Men: The Last Stand), while also investing the character with a rather complicated backstory hinging on his imprisonment during World War II in a Japanese concentration camp. (Maybe a future outing can have Wolverine and Magneto commiserating about who had it worse in this regard.) Wolverine’s innately heroic tendencies actually come back to haunt him years later, when a man he helped to save in the camp turns out to have designs on one of Wolverine’s most alluring powers—his ability to regenerate, healing himself from any wounds or illness, giving him something approaching immortality.
The Wolverine slashes its way onto Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1 from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The Wolverine boasts a gorgeously sleek and well defined image, courtesy of the Arri Alexa. While director James Mangold and his DP Ross Emery have occasionally rather aggressively color graded certain sequences, the bulk of the film features a natural looking palette with extremely well saturated color. The opening Nagasaki sequence is tinted to a suitably late summer amber color (see screenshot 3 in this review as well as screenshots 6 and 7 of the Blu- ray.com The Wolverine 3D Blu-ray review), while Wolverine's exploits in the Yukon are cool blue (see screenshot 4 in this review and screenshot 9 in the 3D review). Later, when Logan gets to Japan, a seminal moment in Yashida's compound is similarly blue tinted (see screenshot 14 in this review). Fine detail is exceptional throughout this presentation, offering beautifully precise renderings of things like Mariko's finely textured kimono or the henna red strands of Yukio's hair. A lot of The Wolverine is rather dark, which does tend to rob the film of shadow detail, especially in the climactic scene in the mountaintop fortress. There is also one noticeable moment of motion judder as the camera pans quickly left during the funeral scene at about 35:46, but otherwise this is a problem free presentation.
The Wolverine's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix is one of the best examples of total—and at times smart— immersion in recent memory. What may shock some listeners is the relative lack of "oomph" at the first expected moment— when the atom bomb hits Nagasaki, but there's a low frequency rumble that soon builds to impressive proportions, quelling any doubt that this is going to be a very forceful and aggressive mix. But even better than that obvious approach are some very subtle touches. Listen, for example, in the Yukon scene when Logan traipses through the woods with a grizzly bear walking nearby. The occasional "caws" of crows are brilliantly placed around the soundfield, as is the crunch of the ground under both Logan's and the bear's feet. Later, when Mariko's erstwhile lover, now a ninja, shoots arrows to and fro, there's a fantastic "whoosh" that zings through the soundstage and may provoke an involuntary "duck" response. The quicksilver sounds of Logan's adamantium claws as well as Yukio's katana are given nicely metallic foley effects as well. Dialogue is cleanly presented, though it must be stated that several of the Japanese actors are a bit hard to understand at times (there are optional subtitles to help in this regard). (It should also be noted that some of the film is in Japanese, with subtitles automatically provided.) Marco Beltrami's score is rather well done for a film of this type and is effective while being relatively unobtrusive most of the time (for those who pay attention to this sort of thing, listen to how Beltrami seamlessly segues during the climax as different characters' activities are being explored).
Note: This list of supplements is based on the Theatrical Version Blu-ray disc included in The Wolverine 3D.
Say goodbye to the cigar chomping, quipster Wolverine in The Wolverine. This is a much more tamped down enterprise, for better or worse. Action fans may come away from this film (in any of its versions) wondering if there was enough "there" there, but the film, while patently odd at times, benefits from strong, sure performances and one incredibly visceral thrill ride on top of a speeding bullet train. The Wolverine may ultimately be seen as a kind of cinematic placeholder, a virtual calm (more or less, anyway) before what may be the storm of X-Men: Days of Future Past. That aspect may wear on some fans' patience, but the good news is it seems Logan is poised for battle once again by the end of this film. This Blu-ray sports exceptional video and audio and comes with some appealing supplements. Recommended.
Unleashed Extended Edition
2013
Unleashed Extended Edition
2013
2013
Unleashed Extended Edition
2013
Bonus Digital Download
2013
Unleashed Extended Edition
2013
Marvel Infinite Comic
2013
2013
2013
2013
Unleashed Extended Edition
2013
Icons
2013
Unleashed Extended Edition | Includes Two Deadpool Themed Patches | Deadpool 2 Movie Cash
2013
2013
2014
The Rogue Cut
2014
2016
2009
2011
2013
2018
2013
Icons
2000
2003
2012
2011
Extended and Theatrical versions
2011
2008
Cinematic Universe Edition
2015
2005
15th Anniversary Edition
2004
2016
2019
2013