Logan Review (Spoilers)

Logan sees Hugh Jackman don the claws as Wolverine for the final time. Jackman has played the character in 9 films, spanning 17 years, and has been a fan favourite for his long run. But it's in this film that Jackman gets to finally shine as Wolverine. This film is an amazing interpretation of the character. From the acting to the violence and the relationships between characters. Safe to say Hugh Jackman got to end his run on the X-Men franchise with a bang!

The film sees Logan (Hugh Jackman), Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Caliban (Stephen Merchant) in hiding after mutants have been practically wiped out and the X-Men have been killed. But when a mysterious young girl comes seeking their aid, it's up to them to get her to 'Utopia' and secure the future of the mutant race.

Story

The story for Logan is loosely based off of Mark Millar's graphic novel Old Man Logan (Where all the X-Men are dead and Wolverine lives in a dystopian world). But this is perhaps the most character-driven Superhero film I have ever watched. Focusing more on the relationships in the film, such as Logan and Xavier or Logan and Laura, which really brought the heart of this film. But what I really respect from both the filmmakers and 20th Century Fox, is the dark tone of the film. With dark and serious superhero storylines being something of a controversial subject at the moment (Just look at the critical reception of Batman V Superman) I thought it was quite brave of them to go down that route in order to give audiences a true Wolverine experience.

Wolverine

Despite being in 8 other films as the character, Logan is the film where audiences truly get to see Hugh Jackman actually play Wolverine. In the other films, he's gotten close but has usually been held back, particularly with how violent the character really is. So it's mainly the R-Rating which has allowed Jackman to really embody the character. He does a really good job of portraying both the emotional, self-loathing that Wolverine has been known for, but also his angry, animalistic side as well. He was close to getting this down in The Wolverine back in 2013 but it's in Logan that his performance is polished to perfection. A truly brilliant send-off to an actor who has dedicated years to the role.

Xavier

This is perhaps one of the most heartbreaking parts of Logan. In the film we find Xavier exiled to confinement. He has developed dementia, which is affecting his psychic abilities, causing Logan to medicate him so that he doesn't spiral out of control. There's also an implied incident with Xavier's issue that happened in Westchester (Where the Xavier School is meant to be), where Xavier may have killed the X-Men. This was inspired by Old Man Logan where it's Wolverine who was mentally tricked into murdering the X-Men. But I'm glad they've given this to Xavier as it adds more of a vulnerable side to him. For anyone who has read the comics or watched the films, it's almost impossible to watch Xavier and not be heartbroken. Seeing this kind, generous and all-powerful being reduced to an old shadow of his former self. Patrick Stewart is in stellar form in this role. As he's had to take a different approach to his performance as the character. It was a very realistic performance of a much older character: Grumpy, slow and a tad selfish. This was a brilliant way to end Stewart's run on the character. However, I wasn't too happy with his death. I felt like Xavier's death should have been bigger. Instead, it felt like he was pushed to the side instead, which was really frustrating.

Laura (X-23)

Joining the X-Men universe is Laura. A.K.A: X-23. I think the actress, Dafne Keen, does a good job as Laura. I thought her fight scenes were fantastic and she did a great job of emulating the animalistic side of the character. That being said, I found it quite difficult to relate to the character. Mainly because of her lack of dialogue. But she did a good job as kid-Wolverine, and I would like to see her get her own film. In the comics, at the moment, Laura is the official Wolverine. Perhaps we can get to see her take on her father's mantle?

X-24

X-24 was a character I did not expect. And I congratulate Fox on keeping him a secret. X-24 is a clone of Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman. I thought he was a great idea to have. As when Wolverine first sees him he's not just seeing a younger version of himself he's also seeing all the horrible aspects of himself embodied in one person. When he first sees X-24 he's almost paralysed with horror. A really good method of getting Wolverine to reflect on himself as a person.

Violence

If any fan can find one issue with Jackman's Wolverine is the lack of violence that the character gets to either take or dish out. But that is no longer an issue in Logan. Deadpool got to be Deadpool and now Wolverine gets to be Wolverine. The brutality and gore are everything fans have been demanding for so long and have now finally gotten. Frome Wolverine's feral bezerka rage to X-23's almost ballet-Esque style of brutally mauling her victims. It was everything that wolverine should be: Violent, brutal, gory and amazing!

Finale

I don't know about anyone else but the finale of Logan reduced me to tears. But I was also in awe of it. Wolverine and X-23 teaming up to take down soldiers were amazing, the final battle between Wolverine and X-24 was fantastic. But it's the final scene between Logan and Laura that really got me. Wolverine has finally found someone worth fighting for and worth dying for, he's regained a family. So when his last words "So this is what it feels like" are uttered it's like a stab through the heart. And I thought it was very fitting that Laura took down the cross on his grave and laid it on its side to make an 'X'. Marking the end of the last X-Men. The right way to honour such an iconic character.

X-Men franchise

Now, whilst the finale was beautiful in its own right, it does no favours for the franchise as a whole. At the end of the film, all of the characters from the previous films (And the next films in the series) are dead. And it's going to be really difficult to watch the next films knowing that, as it feels like everything they're fighting for will be for nothing. I do truly hope that future films can address this. Or if Logan just took place in an alternate timeline. Either way, Fox needs to figure this out!

Overall

Overall, Logan is a beautiful, violent, dark and emotional farewell to one of the longest running Superheroes and his actor. It finally allowed Jackman to really play Wolverine and did it such a sophisticated manner that you wouldn't be blamed for thinking this wasn't really a Superhero film. All the actors were fantastic, the action was perfect and the story was tear-jerking. We will miss you, Wolverine!