Logan (movie review)

"Stewart is amazing, portraying the role of an old man losing control over his mind with poignant understanding and realism"

This is by far my favourite movie of 2017.Not just the best super hero movie of 2017, the best movie of 2017. If you don’t want to read my review I’ll let you in on a little secret.  Without a shadow of doubt it gets a rating of 10 out of 10 planets. But, if you want to know more, read on...

Now, before you give out, this movie is R rated. (18’s in Ireland).  It’s rated as such because it is brutal, bloody and violent.  Let’s face it, if you have 6 x 12 inch unbreakable blades sticking out from your fists things are going to get violent.  Thank the heavens this movie wasn’t Disneyfied with the bloody parts taken out.  It is what it is.  Get over it.  AND NO, your 8 year old son shouldn’t watch it.

(photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

There are 2 stories intertwined in this movie, the first a sad story of Professor X and Logan, the only 2 surviving original mutants and secondly a story about a new generation of mutants created in a lab. (Manticore and Dark Angel anyone).

The first part of this story, strangely enough, diverts the movie from the category of fantasy/super hero and rather it is a movie of 2 old friends, one suffering from a decaying mind and one suffering from a decaying body.  It’s not the usual story of mutants battling the good fight.  Both main characters, Patrick Stewart (Professor Xavier) & Hugh Jackman (Wolverine/Logan) are a perfect fit for the roles.  Stewart is amazing, portraying the role of an old man losing control over his mind with poignant understanding and realism, inspired acting which of course is not acknowledged by the Hollywood hierarchy because Logan is “just another super hero movie”.  

Of course, if you are losing your mind...that’s a dangerous thing if you happen to have the most powerful mind in the World.  At different moments during the movie seeing the lost, helpless, vacant look on Prof. X’s face is heartbreaking, but, and not to give too much away he still continues to help Logan find his humanity. Simply put, Stewart is a genius. The make-up was also good as Stewart isn’t really that old.

(photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

This brings me onto Logan/Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman.  It’s really hard to keep track of superhero movies, there’s so many but one constant has been Wolverine/Logan since the 2000 movie X-Men.  Jackman has played the role of Logan/Wolverine in 9 movies at this stage with varying levels of success but by far this is the best of the lot. Logan’s super power of healing makes it easier for him to be in multiple movies and not age like his counterparts but it’s interesting to see how he has matured even with the help of make-up in each reincarnation, frankly he looks hotter each time.  

(Like a good single malt whiskey.)

Logan has several roles in this movie, looking after Prof X, continuing to fight even though his body is finally starting to succumb to old age, protecting the next generation of mutants and finding a sliver of his remaining humanity. He has a huge list of to-dos but manages to pull it off.  Whilst I’ve loved Jackman in practically everything he has done (can’t wait to see The Greatest Showman) Logan will remain in my heart as one of my favourite super hero films of all time.  Jackman was so lucky with this movie, an amazing story with a fantastic crew can finally allow one to forget the dreadful “The Wolverine” (when he went to Japan).

(photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

Then we move on to the new mutants. We are introduced to Laura/X-23 (Dafne Keen), a young girl with amazing powers that turns out to be Logan’s daughter.  Her battle scenes are bloody and gruesome, again as I’ve said before, it’s R rated, because it’s a child administering the pain and the chopping and the beheading and the killing. And again, this film is better because these parts are shown and not cut out.  (Think of the first Hunger Games movie, it’s a movie about children killing children but you never actually see any of the killing). Laura and her other mutant friends break out of the lab they are created in and travel towards Canada to start a new life not controlled by the military. With them being chased all the way and with Logan’s help some of them escape neatly setting-up the next round of spin-offs.  It was confirmed in October 2017 that a script is being written for Laura/X-23.

Nevermind DC trying to catch-up to Marvel with movies, they just can’t do it.  In comic form, I would agree that Batman has a slight edge over any of the Marvel creations but overall Marvel is still streets ahead. I’m getting a little fed-up of the conveyor belt of super hero movies over the last few years, with many more to come.  Those worth watching, MARK MY WORDS will be Deadpool 2 and the new Laura/X23 movie.  Just skip the rest.

As I’ve already said, Logan gets a 10 out of 10 planets. There are no bad or disappointing parts to this movie.  Acting was fabulous, especially from Patrick Stewart, writing great, special effects seamless and an awesome storyline. If you only have time for one movie in the next year make it Logan.

Fini

John The Captain Ryan