The Wolverine - Claws for Celebration

X-Men - my favourite of the Marvel franchise. Therefore I was a bit underwhelmed back in 2009 when we were served up X Men: Origins - Wolverine. Ok, the film was alright I suppose, yet even Hugh Jackman himself admits it wasn't great. I was thus very excited to hear that this new outing for Logan was head and shoulders above its predecessor.

Whereas Origins was a prequel, The Wolverine focuses its action after the events of The Last Stand. Still coming to terms with the death of Jean Grey, Logan is wandering from place to place drinking and living like an outcast. He is forced back into action though when he receives a summons to Japan to visit a dying man; somebody he had helped years before. Pressed into service to protect the man's granddaughter Logan must face a new threat when a dangerous mutant comes after his most sacred ability - his power to heal and evade death. Working without the aid of the X-Men, Logan must now act alone in a journey that takes him across Japan facing many threats along the way. What this gives us is a rip-roaring adventure that can stand proud in the X-Men cannon.

Hugh Jackman's preparation for the film is clearly evident. Gaining a pound a week over 24 weeks through a 6000 calorie per day diet of steak, chicken and rice, Jackman has stated that this is the best physical shape he has been in for any of his outings as Wolverine. He would even dehydrate himself thirty-six hours prior to filming a shirtless scene in order to emphasize his muscle definition. Wolverine has never been in stronger shape. The film is obviously all about Wolverine, with Jackman dominating the movie. Some good support comes, however, from Rila Fukushima as the clairvoyant Yukio and Famke Janssen reprises her role as Jean Grey, albeit it as a figure from Logan's subconscious.

The film also looks brilliant. The Japan setting makes for some breathtaking cinematography and provide the backdrop for some excellent set-pieces. The fight on top of the speeding bullet train is particularly impressive. One criticism? The film is just over two hours long, which is about twenty minutes too long. There were a couple of places where long stretches of dialogue could have been scratched. As it stands the movie occasionally sagged in places, making us more relieved when the action finally returned.

Without any spoilers, the most exciting part of the whole film however comes from a scene mid-way through the end credits. I won't spoil anything but it sets up events for next year's merging of all previous films in X-Men: Days of Future Past - and that will be truly spectacular.