Title: The Wolverine
Director: James Mangold
Writer: Mark Bomback
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Hiryuki Sanada, Svtelana Khodchenkova, Brian Tee
Haunted by his killing of the love of his life Jean Grey (Famke Jansen) in
X-Men 3 (actually I am haunted by that movie, too, but mostly cause of how shitty it was), Logan, AKA Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), has become a recluse. He has nightmares and is "visited" by her in his dreams (my dreams
with Famke would be considerably more X-rated). He has sworn to give up his violent ways, but when a pretty Japanese girl (Rila Fukushima) asks him to come with her to Japan to say good-bye to a man he saved (in a prologue flashback), he agrees. The man is now and dying, and he wants to take Logan's healing power away form him. That will thus free Logan of his suffering and by adding it to himself, will cure him of ailment.
Logan refuses, but the dying old guy's blonde mutant assistant, the Viper (Svtelana Khodchenkova) takes his healing power away, anyway. In the meantime, the old man dies and soon the Yakuza set their eyes on the old man's beautiful granddaughter Mariko (Tao Okamaoto). Logan finds himself protecting her and, of course, falling for her.
Let me begin by saying that this leaps and bounds over the mediocre and forgettable turd that was
X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It's a direct sequel to the third
X-Men, so yeah that movie really did happen. It sucked, and well we have to deal with that. That's fine though, cause the movie uses that tragic ending as a good way to add the depth of Logan. Wolverine is a great character, because he is so complex.
His violent past and violent tendencies always weigh on him, and the movie knows how to do that right. Jackman is great as Wolvie, and so is the rest of the cast. Comic-book fans should know that Mariko is Logan's great love in the Far East. And, she is bought to exquisite beauty and life by Tao Okamoto, who is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen! Also a babe is Fukushima, and when she kicks ass, well, yum!!
Not as good is Khodchenkovan as the Viper. OK, actually that is unfair. She does what she can with the role, but my God is the character of the Viper shit on! Why call her the Viper if she won't be the sexy terrorist HUMAN villianess that she is in the comics?! Fuck you Hollywood!! You ruined another great comic-book character. God only knows if the Avengers will be able to use her in a future installment, now.
Also Hollywood seems to love stories where heroes lose their powers. Though unlike
Superman 2 and
Spider-Man 2, Wolverine doesn't give it up. It's taken from him. This actually adds nicely to the story cause it makes him vulnerable to attack. That adds to excitement of the action. And, said action scenes are fucking awesome! The movie moves at a nice clip, allowing for story but managing to get back to the ass kicking. There is as much violence as the PG-13 rating will allow these days by having it, mostly, off-screen. So, that there is some blood, and Wolvie kills lots of people, but it never goes into full blown R mode.
In the end this is a solid and very entertaining movie. I say it's the best live action superhero movie of the year, so far. Yes, it's better than either
Man of Steel or
Iron Man 3. And, by saying best live action, I mean to say that
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox DC animated movie is THE best superhero movie, overall, of the year. In comparison to the other X flicks, this one is the best one since the first two. And, yes that means that I think it is better than
First Class. Those of you on the fence, should go see it. I'm sure you will get a kick out of it, and be sure to stick around the end credits for extra geeky coolness.
***1/2 out of ****
50. Tao Okamoto- (last year 46)- This absolutely stunning Japanese beauty goes from being Wolverine's love interest in the character's kick ass movie from last year, to being from Ollie's past in Arrow this season. Clearly this beauty like to be involved in the lives of superheroes with an edge. So, who could be next for her? Deadpool? Punisher? Rocket Racoon? 
49. Lzzy Hale (last year 36)- Halestorm's gorgeous front-woman continues to break the hearts of rockers everywhere. And, she may well be breaking some new hearts thanks to the fact that she played and toured with country signer Eric Church. While, I hate country music with a passion, I still look forward to hearing what the band has up next year, when their new album comes out. If it's even half as good as the band's excellent The Strange Case of... expect her to rank higher next year! 
48. Comic Book Girl 19 (new)- With her tats, punky hair, love for horror and comic-books, and one of my favorite YouTube channels on the net, this sexy, geeky stunner has become one of my personal favorite babes on the net. I LOVE seeing her latest videos, cause not only is she beautiful, but it's fun to hear her talk. And, most importantly, she really knows her shit is not afraid to speak her mind. 
47. Emily Bett Rickards (new)- The gorgeous star of the CW's awesome Arrow continues to reenforces girls with glasses fetishes everywhere. Truly beautiful, with a knockout body, and one of the cutest and most likeable performances in any superhero TV show, help this hottie make her long overdue debut on the list. 
46. Danielle Harris (new)- One of the horror genre's most popular scream queens, this cutie makes her debut thanks to her performance and hotness in the Soska twins highly enjoyable, fun, and superior sequel, See No Evil 2. 
45. Jenny Lorenzo (new)- Gorgeous, Latina, highly opinionated, knowledgeable, a total geek, and a fun on-camera personality, helped this beauty steal my heart and earn her position on the list. I, honestly, get really excited and love it when she posts a new video over on Geekgasm.
44. Danielle Pananbaker (last year ranked 2010- 40)- From scream queen to the most beautiful cast member on the CW's very fun new show The Flash, Panabaker has been a long time favorite of mine. It's great to see that others are catching on to this leggy stunner. Oh yeah, she also has a really nice butt! What?! Just being honest here, you know!
43. Scarlett Johansson (last year 67)- The shapely and talented stunner takes a huge leap on the list by looking hot as fuck in the amazing Captain America: The Winter Solider, the decent Lucy, and, best of all, by getting nude, in the well made arthouse/ horror/ sci-fi flick Under the Skin. 
42. Chelsea Wolfe (new)- I first heard about this gorgeous and highly talented beauty thanks to her being ranked on Revolver's Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue this year. While, she doesn't actually play metal or hard rock, but folk music instead, she has a real love for metal bands like Slayer and Gorgoroth. Black metal definitely has an influence in her sound. Enough so that she has even covered Burzum's "Black Spell of Destruction" . Combine this with her gothily stunning and breathtaking beauty (those eyes!!!), her ethereal signing voice, and beautiful, dark, and haunting music and you have a women who has truly stolen my heart! 
41. Lauren Cohan (last year 44)- Still the most beautiful woman on The Walking Dead, Cohan can make even the worst episode bearable (well, when she's actually onscreen, anyways). Her appearances in mags like GQ, help her move up on the list.
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