It’s been said that this is a Golden Age of comic book films, with Marvel smashing it out of the park with phenomenal and enormously successful movies. We now can see legitimate manifestations of our favorite heroes, popping out in vivid action year after year in our theaters. And after the Deadpool, no-holds-barred approach to R-rated content, Logan marks a confirmation in a new renovation in comic book cinema, one where no punches are pulled for the sake of reaching a wider and younger audience. Potential commercial success aside, Logan reveals a gritty, endlessly dark and superb cinematic experience that contains emotional sophistication and thematic integrity.
Let me begin by saying, this is not an easy film to watch. You will share in the suffering of two of the most beloved characters in the X-Men franchise, Logan, who has shed his title as The Wolverine, and Charles Xavier. The story takes place in their twilight years, and time has not been kind to these two friends. The era of the mutants has passed and the years have trampled on relentlessly, along with all the inevitable effects of aging. This is where the Logan adventure begins, as we learn about the pathetic life that Logan has carved out in the aftermath of their glory days. He manages an emotionally draining and treacherous balancing act with an ailing Xavier whose mental powers have become a dangerous liability while his own regenerative powers grow less reliable. Enter a desperate woman seeking help for a very special child and our heroes embark on an action drenched adventure to save the last generation of mutants. While the film takes bits and pieces from several comic book storylines, as far as I know, it is its own unique story.
It’s a heart-pounding thrill ride with more blood and violence than I have ever seen in a Marvel film. Those of you seeking excitement will not be denied, and there is an abundance of eye-popping action sequences, punctuated with the perfect amount of character development to up the stakes. Special effects are beautifully crafted and there is a fair amount of gore in Logan.
Performance-wise, you get the same solid offering from Hugh Jackman, now decades older and seasoned in his gruffness. He brings a dependable theatrical charisma that makes the comic book legend come to vibrant life, as always. Patrick Stewart is glorious as a ninety-something Xavier, at times a bumbling senior citizen, and at other moments the compassionate paternal figure X-Men fans have all come to know and love. Also, new to the film world is Dafne Keen, who plays Laura. This child is wonderfully talented and delivers a powerful performance that is both emotional and extremely physical. Her only previous work is in a television show, The Refugees. As Laura, she is a force of nature and fits the role perfectly. I would also be remiss not to mention Stephen Merchant who plays Caliban. He is delightful on screen as well.
The movie is beautifully relevant for the times, without being blatantly political, unlike the Captain America franchise. And while I do enjoy the Captain America films, it’s nice to take a break from letting the message of a film lead the story. Here the story and the characters lead the way, letting the thematic elements take a side seat to the struggle of flawed heroes. This gives the movie more of a character driven feeling, which works to be a thousand times more emotionally engaging than other Marvel films. Instead of focusing on what’s right or wrong, it focuses on the motivations of Logan as he fights his ever-present inner demons. His character blooms more dynamically than in any previous manifestation and I love that the movie takes itself seriously. It doesn’t toss out Easter eggs for shits and giggles, it delivers story with purpose and motivation, while be at once, extremely gratifying to the nerd in all of us.
Poignant and masterfully crafted, James Mangold delivers a fabulous film, leagues better than The Wolverine, of which he too directed. A surefire favorite for X-Men and Marvel fans, Logan is joining the top of my list for 2017, even so early in the year. Check it out as soon as you can and let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading,
The Diva Del Mar
