Logan
20th Century Fox
Run Time 2h 17min
Rated R
20th Century Fox has gotten a lot of flack over the years about their handling of the X-men cinematic universe. Some of the flack, this author feels MIGHT be warranted, other parts not-so-much. The success of Deadpool and the fact that Fox has basically let Marvel call the shots with the next wave of films is starting to show promise.
Now it is time to get back into the X-men Universe with the release of Logan. Directed by James Mangold, this is the last of the Jackman-Wolverine solo movies, and it is a thrill ride from the first frame to the last. Set in the not-too-distant future, Logan places you in a world where the mutants are all but extinct. The world actually resembles today, Xmen are now comic book characters, action figures, and pictures on t-shirts. Mutants are the stuff of legend and lore. So when people hear about the Wolverine, it is almost mythical.
The story is about an aging Logan, trying to help care for an ailing Professor X in an outpost near Mexico. Along with Caliban, they have a pretty peaceful existence, until Logan is contacted by someone needing his help to save a young girl, and here is where things get interesting.
The next piece of the story without spoilers is the X-23 project. If you are a fan of the comic you know the story. For those who don’t, in Logan, the central focus is the little girl Laura aka x-23. She is the result of a government genetic program designed to create new mutants as weapons. Some of the doctors are not happy with what they are seeing, so they help some of the kids escape. Logan is sought out and this is where things get crazy. It is up to Charles and Logan to save her and make it to Eden.
The story between Laura, Charles, and Logan is the highlight of this film. The banter between those three is the glue that holds the movie together. There is a point in the movie where Logan refers to Charles as his “dad”, and it fits so perfectly. Laura is actually genetically Logan’s daughter and unwittingly acts like it throughout the film. The emotion is woven into the fabric and pacing of the film.
The emotion holds the story together, but it is the gritty action and fight scenes that keep the story moving. The scenes in this film are some of the most intense we have seen in the Wolverine cinematic universe to date. These scenes are also very satisfying and very relevant to the story. Logan is trying to save his “family” while helping a cause that is is not 100% on board with. The pacing of the action sequences is a thing of beauty. The young actress playing Laura (Dafne Keen) is a great action star. She has the same disdain for people that Logan has at first, but as the story progresses, she learns she can count on friends.
Logan is the perfect way to showcase Hugh Jackman’s final solo Wolverine performance. This film has what great films need, great writing, on point pacing, great performances, edge-of-your-seat action, and most of all, heart. You will not be disappointed with this film. This author recommends viewing it more than once.
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