What Did 'Japan Saga' Writer Chris Claremont Think Of THE WOLVERINE?

What Did 'Japan Saga' Writer Chris Claremont Think Of THE WOLVERINE?

Before he'd seen it, the writer of what is generally considered to be one of the greatest Wolverine stories out there had some concerns about the changes made to the script when Darren Aronofsky left the project -- but now he's watched the movie for himself, what did he think?

By MarkCassidy - Jul 29, 2013 04:07 PM EST
Filed Under: The Wolverine
Source: Via Vulture

Chris Claremont and Frank Miller's 1982 four-issue Wolverine miniseries (commonly referred to as the Japan Saga) was one of the first stories to really flesh out the character, and is considered to be one of the best to feature Logan. Of course this is why for years Hugh Jackman was so adamant that he wanted to star in an adaptation of this classic tale, and he finally got his wish with James Mangold's The Wolverine. Claremont has previously voiced concerns about some of the alterations made to the script after original director Darren Aronofsky left the film, but now he's seen it for himself..he likes it! Well, all of it aside from that much maligned finale that is.



"The first two acts were kick-ass, and they set this up to be a really exceptional, different movie. It was like the film took this giant step forward. I liked that it focuses on the essence of who Wolverine is and what he does. Hugh Jackman is eloquent, and he owns the character at this point. It’s a surprisingly multidimensional performance.

The third act wasn’t bad, per se, but it was a different tone. That moment he starts motorcycling up the 400 kilometers … he was almost riding into a different movie. It would be interesting to talk to [director James] Mangold and ask why they felt they had to go in that direction."


Do you agree with him? More from Claremont at the link below.


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LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 7/29/2013, 4:32 PM
BEST MARVEL SOLO MARVEL MOVIE SINCE SPIDER-MAN 2











I'm doing this since Nomis did this with TDKRises. But yea I loved the film.
arsonjack
arsonjack - 7/29/2013, 4:34 PM
see even the writer loves the film.
ekrolo2
ekrolo2 - 7/29/2013, 4:38 PM
I can answer why the third act was an action movie, its because CBMs are stuck to a three act structure and they all have to adhere to it no matter how little sense it makes, I still like the third act more than most people but yeah the tone does drastically change.
CoolantTech
CoolantTech - 7/29/2013, 4:39 PM
"It would be interesting to talk to [director James] Mangold and ask why they felt they had to go in that direction."

Think of it as a Fox contribution to Mangolds movie and its probably the reason why Arronofski left.
TayDee
TayDee - 7/29/2013, 4:40 PM
More like Best Wolverine Film.
ekrolo2
ekrolo2 - 7/29/2013, 4:42 PM
@CoolantTech

Every comic book movie turns into a generic action fest in the third act pal, even the ones that really shouldn't like this one, Batman Begins, most if not all of the Iron Man films and so on.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 7/29/2013, 4:55 PM
OMG these third act complaints are being blown way out of proportion.

Claremont nails it though. It isn't bad but different.

Yes, the film focuses on the drama behind Wolverine, which IS important. THIS IS WOLVERINE we're talking about though. The character lends himself to balls to the wall action.

When Yashida cuts off his claws, my whole audience gasped. "I can do this all day, you freak mutant bitch" got an applause. I loved Hanada helping Mariko even though she betrayed him. Shows he did love her. Yashida proclaiming he wanted to be saved again as he was during the Nagasaki blast was great too.

Viper, I admit, was a let down. Still, her powers led to some cool effects. I also loved her death.

YUKIO FTW.


CCR
CCR - 7/29/2013, 4:56 PM
What's all this whining about the third act??? I thought it was good the way it is, although I would've preferred no mid-credits scene to leave this a stand-alone, totally unnecessary imo.

1. Man of Steel
2. The Wolverine
3. Iron Man 3 (and I liked Iron Man 3 btw:)
NBAfanaddict
NBAfanaddict - 7/29/2013, 4:58 PM
Hearing the same thing from people. Awesome first half, last act kinda morphed into nothingness. Looking forward to see it.
sanyaya
sanyaya - 7/29/2013, 4:58 PM
have not seen it planing on seeing it tho movie looks badass
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 7/29/2013, 4:59 PM
It's not so much that the finale was so action packed..that's a good thing! It's just so generic and predictable. ..and yes, tonally almost completely different to what came before. It's just jarring to suddenly be inside a hi-tech, futuristic location with a costumed villain straight out of a pantomime and a frackin giant robot. Not BAD, but given what came before very disappointing. Dropped the movie down from a 4.5 or maybe even a 5 to a 4 star for me.
CrimsonFlash
CrimsonFlash - 7/29/2013, 5:00 PM
Im sad to say this movie was more enjoyable than MOS and IM3. I didn't have my hopes up and was pleasently surprised. 3.5 out of 5 for me.
MrCBM56
MrCBM56 - 7/29/2013, 5:04 PM
I actually agree with Thewonderer. It wasn't bad but different. This movie was great overall. EXCEEDED my expectations.

The after credits scene made up the third act for me.
Greengo
Greengo - 7/29/2013, 5:07 PM
I give a 3.25.
TheDpool
TheDpool - 7/29/2013, 5:09 PM
Was good but I spent most of the movie wishing it would be less modern? I'm a big fan of the 1982 story and I think my hopes were a little too high but nonetheless I enjoyed it.
Techinsane
Techinsane - 7/29/2013, 5:11 PM
Good response Chris, I have rarely known him not to be diplomatic, even when he left the X men and marvel for the first time after twenty years. Any one who had read the book and understood it will see a different Wolverine, especially at the end of the movie. For me the movie just went the way of Hollywood, we have three of Logan loves all mixed up etc.
Franshu
Franshu - 7/29/2013, 5:11 PM
What @Ror said. And I feel Claremont has also expressed it perfectly: the third act isn't bad, at all. I mean, it's an edge-of-your-seat finale, with some unexpected twists, and all, but it just looks lik it was taken from another, more generic movie, one that had little to do with what came in the previous two acts.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 7/29/2013, 5:14 PM
Wouldve been way better with no relation?

Are you guys nuts? The films whole premise relies on the old films

Wolverine is out of shape because all the mutants are dead and he killed jean.

I thought the jean illusions added a ton to the film
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 7/29/2013, 5:15 PM
Yes, the entire movie sucked because Wolverine didn't kill any of those ninjas towards the end. Unbeatable fanboy logic!
TheWolverine08
TheWolverine08 - 7/29/2013, 5:15 PM
I [frick]ing loved this movie. Best CBM of the year for me so far.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 7/29/2013, 5:15 PM
If you know anything about Wolverine is that he always goes on his own path even after a team up. He is a ronin

Yukio and Logan had their journeys and went separate ways. Not that hard to figure out
thewonderer
thewonderer - 7/29/2013, 5:18 PM
And there were obviously implied scenes where Wolverine sticks his claws straight through people.

Shingen for one
The Yakuza

Oh and on that train man. He does some brutal kills
CaptainObvious
CaptainObvious - 7/29/2013, 5:19 PM
When Logan got his claws cut off, I heard rows of people behind me gasp. A movie has to be doing something right to get a reaction like that out of people.
TheWolverine08
TheWolverine08 - 7/29/2013, 5:19 PM
Only thing I didn't like was Viper. She was annoying.
CCR
CCR - 7/29/2013, 5:26 PM
@TheRealRemyLebeau

You said it yourself: It's Logan's fantasy about Jean trying to get him to join her in death. Not the "real" Jean. So this doesn't "spit"(?) all over Cyclops and Jean. And it's impossible for Logan to love Jean w/o them consumating the relationship??? Um ok guy.
PeterDarker
PeterDarker - 7/29/2013, 5:28 PM
HAHAHAHA! Oh you guys. I love you all. So easily pleased. It's just adorable. You just gave me such a boost of confidence in myself. Just to know how differently I feel about settling in life for anything but the best that can be accomplished. I now know I'm on the right path in life. Thank you. Thank you all.
ekrolo2
ekrolo2 - 7/29/2013, 5:29 PM
@BlackJack10

Im gonna assume the time travel stuff will some how alter the time line so that Wolverine will have his claws back, don't ask me how but I assume DOFP will explain it.
MatTaylorX
MatTaylorX - 7/29/2013, 5:29 PM
Bless the idiots who think Iron Man 3 was crap. You know nothing about film. Although I do think that film had problems, it's by far the best CBM so far this year.

It's been a bad year so far for CBM. Here's hoping Kick-Ass and Thor sort it out.
ekrolo2
ekrolo2 - 7/29/2013, 5:35 PM
@BlackJack10

I assume its kind of going to be like how the New 52 time line happened, like most of the stories are the same but certain things happened differently, I know a lot of people hate the New 52 method but honestly I don't see any other way without making every post X2 movie completely non cannon.
TheWolverine08
TheWolverine08 - 7/29/2013, 5:39 PM
Why does every Wolverine article have to deteriorate into an argument about Fox vs Marvel?
TheWolverine08
TheWolverine08 - 7/29/2013, 5:40 PM
Why do Marvelites keep hating on this movie just because it isn't from Marvel Studios?
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