A breath of fresh air, but far from a masterpiece

Rating: 7/10 (5 March 2017)

I've wanted a rated R wolverine movie since X2. This film certainly wet the appetite for R-rated wolverine violence. I applaud the performances and Fox for finally taking the plunge after a decade.
That being said, the movie as good as it is, is not the masterpiece fanboys are heralding it as. I like the movie and am not trying to be overtly critical, but its certainly not flawless.
One, it was a missed opportunity by Mangold not to wait on the slashing and dashing. There was a missed opportunity to ratchet up the tension to a moment that could have felt more earned for the claws. Instead they dish it out in the first two minutes. A perfect example of this is the X2 mansion scene. The tension is boiling and the payoff of wolverine's fury is felt and a bit more awesome, even with the PG-13 rating.
The second biggest mistake of the film was the X-24. It added nothing to the narrative of the film and I think was its biggest misstep. The film didn't need a mutant bad guy and we have seen wolverine face off against someone similar to himself on multiple occasions. This felt like the Deadpool scene in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, or the Silver Samurai in The Wolverine. It was unnecessary and for me, took me out of the real world that had been already established.
The movie loses its steam in the third act and the intrigue in where the story is headed dwindles. Its a weak third act rather with no narrative surprises and little character development.
Lastly, the film would have benefited from a more involved score to ratchet up the tension and the emotional stakes. I don't know why Hollywood has consistently chosen the minimalist approach to scores. There is a hint of one in a few scenes at the end, but its quickly drowned out by the action and violence.
Overall the movie was really good. Its new, its refreshing and its unlike anything we've seen yet in the superhero genre. Kudos to the film making team. But just because its unique does not automatically make it a classic. More like a welcomed step in the right direction.