Movie Review: Logan

DF-18976 - Hugh Jackman stars as Logan/Wolverine in LOGAN. Photo Credit: Ben Rothstein.

Written by Dylan Deppe. Media by John Freeman.


MILD SPOILERS AHEAD

Logan” is written and directed by James Mangold, produced by Hutch Parker, Simon Kinberg, and Lauren Shuler Donner, stars Hugh Jackman (Logan/Wolverine and X-24), Dafne Keen (Laura), Sir Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier), and Boyd Holbrook (Pierce). It was distributed by 20th Century Fox on March 3, 2017.

The story follows an aging Wolverine who is hired by a mysterious woman to take a young girl to a mutant safe-haven in North Dakota. But, the biotechnology corporation’s chief of security, Donald Pierce, kills the woman and hunts for the young girl, Laura, to build an army of mutants. When Pierce attacks Wolverine’s safe house, Logan and friends are forced to run away. The rest of the film tells about their journey across the country trying to stay low and evade Pierce’s men and their secret weapon.

First off, it’s about time we got an R-rated Wolverine movie. It’s entertaining to watch Wolverine slice government goons up with his claws, but the lack of blood was always kind of distracting. This movie earns its R-rating; it’s the Wolverine movie that viewers need and deserve.

Logan isn’t the only one that gets feisty–so does Laura. In fact, she’s even more brutal than him. She seems to relish dismembering and beheading dudes, whereas Logan is a bit apprehensive about violence (200 years of killing strangers and living through all of your friends dying twice does that to a person).

Speaking of everyone dying twice, Deadpool was right–these timelines are really confusing. We know the setting of the movie is 2029, but which timeline is it in? The third-act finale of the original movie is referenced, but “Days of Future Past” erased that timeline. At the end, Beast said that sometimes the timeline likes to try and go back. So, which branch of the timeline does this movie sit in? That’s a great question–but it really doesn’t matter here. This movie looks at the continuity problem of its franchise and finds a brilliant way to step away from it.

“Logan” also succeeds in its presentation of the future. There’s nothing special about this future–no flying cars or robot baristas, just the regular mutant action we get with “X-Men.” In fact, this future totally sucks. Society is still intact but more animal species are going extinct: Professor X accidentally killed most of the X-Men, there’s a corporation experimenting on kids, racist dudes are probably harassing people like Farmer Munson across the nation, and there’s an undercurrent of other bad stuff going down. Not to get too political, but this could be a representation of America’s political situation. Especially since the drunk kids yell about America near the Mexican border.

This movie triumphs in its representation of villains, music choice, and the little details. Marvel movies (and even some “X-Men” films) have villain problems. “Logan” has at least three villains: Pierce being cool, X-24 being way better than he should have been, and that one corporation guy just being there for a bit. So, good job juggling all of that and coming out clean. I love it when comic-book movies include comic books. Captain America: The First Avenger was the last movie to do this and it’s great to see someone else step up. Also, it’s impressive that we don’t have a scene about Logan freaking out over Jean Grey.

“Logan” will probably go down the annals as being one of the best comic-book movies ever (and for good reason).  It’s a really good action movie as well as a great drama. The acting is top-notch and the feels are strong. “Logan” gets an 8.5/10, which is a B, if you’re concerned.

1 COMMENT

  1. I can’t call this film a 100% comics-movie. This film is about the importance of the family, about the need to value each other and that even superheroes aren’t eternal. Many say that by the middle of this film is a little boring, but it makes more sense there, film turns in the opposite direction and shows us that Logan or X are ordinary people who need love…

    This film isn’t for everyone and even if you are a big fan of comics or films about Wolverine, you might not like it. Make sure that you are ready for a rather emotional sight — bloody and having such an uncompromising atmosphere. Also understand that this isn’t quite an action movie, but rather a personal drama of our favorite characters, telling about important things and speaking frankly with us. And if you are ready, if you are in the right mood, you’ll get a unique film of its kind, an unforgettable two hours and just the perfect ending to this long history of Logan…

    Thanks for your review! It was interesting to know your opinion about this movie!

Leave a Reply to Lizzie Smith Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here