Is It Bad?: The Wolverine (2013)

 2009's X-Men Origins- Wolverine was received in such a bad way that future Origins Films got cancelled.

2017's Logan got critical praise and was a massive hit.

So, what about 2013's The Wolverine? 

Pro: This Intro- with Logan surviving the blast at Nagasaki- is a creative one.

With a character like Logan who is nigh immortal and ageless, why not?

Con: Making a Plot Point about the US dropping a nuclear bomb on a real place that killed lots of people is kind of tasteless.

It's a fine line.

Pro: Logan lives in the Woods now, having left the X-Men in the wake of X-Men: The Last Stand.

Con: No other X-Men *really* appear in this one.  Darn.

Pro: Jean Grey is back from the 3rd X-Men Film, appearing to Logan in his dreams.

Con: It is kind of a cheat, no? 
Plus, it requires you to remember *that* X-Men Film.

Pro: He's recruited for a new Plot involving a trap to Japan to meet the guy he saved.

He's dying and wants to offer Logan 'a warrior's death.'  He's pretty mopey, so he considers it.

Con: The bickering Family is a bit cliche.

Pro: Hiroyuki Sanada is the corrupt Dad.  He's great.

Pro: The death of the old man leads to a massive Funeral.    

It is attacked by the Yakuza, leading a fun fight.

It culminates in a fight on top of a Bullet Train.  Great stuff.

Pro: Rila Fukushima is great as Yukio.  She can see people's deaths and warns Wolverine that she can see his.

His powers are failing- due to Plot reasons- and now the stakes are raised.

Pro: It all builds to a series of great battles, from Ninjas to the big boss.

Ninjas are always a Pro.

Con: The final battle with Silver Samurai is...something.

It looks great, but it raises so many questions.  I won't talk about it too much in-depth, but...yeah.

What Is Good?

The Film feels like a unique adventure, taking the Character out of his usual location and Supporting Cast.  It is risky to take that all away for an X-Men adjacent Film.

The new Cast is great, from Fukushima to Sanada to Tao Okamoto as 'Mariko.'  The Plot works him in nicely.

Jackman really delivers as well.

What Was Bad?

The finale with the giant Silver Samurai- all of the stuff going on with him and how he exists to set up the bone claws for the next Film.

It is presented as part of the Plot, but feels way too sci-fi with the rest of the Film.
The same with how much they lean into Viper by the end.

So...

Is It Bad?

No

The Plot takes a weird U-turn in the 3rd Act.  It definitely defines the Film- for better or for worse.

The rest of the Film makes the most of Jackman and company, playing with the Fish Out of the Water element, enjoyable action and a complex Story.
It has stripped all of the X-Men elements out- for better or worse.

At least Jean Grey came back...for no other appearances (see above).