A huge improvement

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2013)

This is much better than the 2009 "X Men Origins". It has an onward momentum, involving characters and an exotic story set in Japan with a bit of WWII. Wolverine protects a Japanese friend's daughter.
Liked the seaside setting in Nagasaki and the Tokyo villa. The mostly Asian cast is good from Korean American Will Yun Lee to the two different but attractive Japanese actresses: the lovely model like Tao Okamoto as Mariko and Rila Fukushima as a feisty sidekick. Hiroyuki Sanada from Revenge plays Marikos evil father.
The action sequences aren't tedious. Liked the bullet train scene. The various martial arts sword fighting and arrow sequences are clearly done. If there had been any more fights it would have been repetitive. Only the last part was a bit too overblown. Unfortunately the Famke Jansen flashbacks are a bit annoying - she is getting a bit old for the flashbacks. Didn't really need to have the Japanese girl and gaijin hookup.
Hugh Jackman still is fine in his tough role despite the passage of time and puts a lot of effort and intensity into it.
Overall if you are thinking of giving this one a miss it would be a mistake. This is a worthwhile summer blockbuster to see on the big screen.